The
new COO of Berlin Airport, Horst Amann, presented the results of his
evaluation of the new Berlin Brandenburg Airport to the airport’s
Supervisory Board.
The
new opening date will be 27 October 2013, i.e. the beginning of the
winter schedule 2013/2014. According to Amann, the first priority is
to finalise all remaining actions plans. Subsequently,
theconstruction works
will resume in the autumn and will be concluded by summer 2013, so
that the official approval procedures can be finalised in time for a
trial period of several months.
The
second key point on the agenda of the Supervisory Board was
the financing of
the new airport. The supervisory board noted in agreement that,
according to the management team’s financingplan, there is an
additional capital requirement of €1.2bn. The supervisory board
recommends that the proprietors’ general meeting should take
decisions as to how this capital requirement can be met. The European
Commission is to be notified of the financing concept in
the coming days.
Mr
Amann stated during the press conference following
today’s Supervisory Board
meeting: ”I have questioned existing assumptions,
commitments and plans. I have pressed the reset button in the area of
building services, analysed the current situation and
decided upon the next steps. Only such a fresh start can get the
airport back on track towards a reliable opening date. “
Mr
Amann stated that in his evaluation he has identified four crucial
issues concerning the fire safety installations:
•
The
existing execution plans suffered from faults and gaps. These plans
had been drawn up by the planning consortium whose
contract was terminated last May by the airport. Mr Amann said: “We
are still lacking plans for a coherent, integrated planning
process. Further work is needed in this area to ensure that
the constructioncompanies have a reliable basis to work from for
the remainder of the project. “
•
Improper
works were carried out on the construction site as a result
of the accelerated work programme ahead of the previous opening date
of 3 June 2012 that have led to issues such as the overcrowding of
cable trays.
•
The
issues around the improper construction works that were
carried out ahead of the previous opening date were made worse
by inadequate coordination and
supervision.
•
The
relationship with the authority responsible for
the construction (Bauordnungsamt) is to be improved. Mr
Amann: “We have to provide reliable information and
unambiguous functional demonstrations of the fire
protectioninstallations
to ensure that the authorities will be able to declare the airport
operational. “
Next
steps towards BER
Mr
Amann said during the press conference that works have
almost been suspended for the duration of the evaluation. The next
steps ahead of the opening will be as follows:
•
Until
autumn 2012: Finalisation of remaining action plans
•
Autumn
2012 to summer 2013: Remaining construction works
•
Summer
2013: Adherence test and subsequent assessment by
the construction authority
•
Summer
to autumn 2013: Conclude operational readiness of the airport and
trial runs
•
Summer
to autumn 2013: Delivery of goods to storage facilities, shops and
restaurants
•
26
October 2013: Closure of the two old airports Schönefeld and Tegel
•
26/27
October 2013: Move to the new airport
•
27
October 2013: Start of operations at BER
Mr
Amann said that this revised timetable is reliable and realistic. He
has already started to create clear structures and responsibilities
among contracted companies. ”The next step will be to strengthen
the position of the airport as the party leading the project.
“Responding to rumours about the construction site, Mr
Amann said: ”Following my evaluation, I can’t confirm
rumours that there is a systemic error in the fire
protection installation. Equally, all those rumours that there
was water in the basement, that the southern runway was bared by
water or that the
tower was leaning are completely without
foundation. “
Mr
Amann also countered criticism that the airport had been planned too
small. ”This is nonsense“, said Mr Amann. “The capacity is
sufficient. We can expand the airport in step with growing passenger
numbers. This is a sound approach that makes economic sense. “
Capital
requirement remains at €1.2bn
The
capital requirement remains unchanged at €1.2bn despite the longer
period until the opening in late October 2013:
•
Additional construction cost
so far: 276m €
•
Additional construction cost
due to delayed opening: 67m €
•
Additional
operational cost due to delayed opening: 230m €
•
Risk
provision for other cost and loss of revenue:
322m €
•
Additional
cost due to noise abatement measures:
305m €
=
Total: 1.2bn €
Schwarz:
Ensure that Tegel Airport remains operational for longer
In
view of continuously rising passenger numbers and the extension of
operations at Tegel, Mr Schwarz announced to evaluate all areas that
could bring potential improvements for Berlin’s largest airport.
According to Mr Schwarz, in the first eight months of the year the
number of passengers at Tegel rose by 7.6%, from 11 to 11.8 million.
“We expect further growth in the coming months. We therefore have
to ensure that the conditions for airlines and passengers at Tegel
are as positive as possible over the coming months”, said Mr
Schwarz. “We have already identified a number of weaknesses at
Tegel, for instance that the error rate is too high for baggage of
connecting passengers. We are working with the airlines and handling
company GlobeGround to get on top of these issues. “
Further
discussions with BER tenants
Mr
Schwarz also announced that the airport company will continue to hold
talks with all tenants of the new airport about the new situation
concerning the opening date. In total, there are about 150 retail
units in the making at BER, among which are 39 restaurants and 20
service providers. Mr Schwarz said: “We want to minimise the risks
for our tenants that have been caused by the delay and aim to avoid
cases of hardship. Our objective is still to keep all tenants on
board, if possible. “ Over the past few months, the airport company
has already discussed individual solutions with tenants such as
providing space at the existing airports Tegel and Schönefeld or
agreeing to the termination of bank guarantees to prevent potential
economic difficulties for individual tenants.
