Tempelhof Airport to close in 2008

Tempelhof Airport, located right in the centre of Berlin, is to close in 2008. But what is to happen with it?

One of the world's oldest airports, opened in 1923, It was Europe's main air hub in the 1930s. Hitler built the terminal, Europe's largest building. The airport was used for the Berlin airlift by the allied forces to feed West Berlin after the Soviet blocade in 1948.

Suggestions for future use are:

1) Disney theme park
2) Luxury health centre (including its own airfield) for the rich and wealthy
3) Let nature take over and create an urban green area
4) Relocate the campus's of the Berlin Free University and Hunbolt Uni there

Whatever, I reckon it is going to cost Berlin yet again.

Deutsche Welle link: Competing visions for historic airport's future

Make it into a green area with a park and something environmentally friendly for a change! I doubt that will happen though.

Well if they finish it off, all we would need to do is add some pikeys and a few lions and crocodiles and stuff

It will Prob. be leveled, and used to make Apartments, Offices, maybe even a park.

Starting in 2011, both Tegel and Tempelhof will be closing. All traffic will be diverted to the new airport currently being built at Schoenefeld.

The New new airport, Berlin Brandenburg International (IATA:BBI) will be the only airport in Berlin.
For more Info have a look at the web site (English) Here

Templehof.. dang.. it was close to my house (compared to the other 2) and easy to get in/out of.

I will say that it looks like a prison and feels like what I would think a prison feels like inside. (no experience with them myself). I will note though, that it could make some interesting condos or something if they decided to save it... but then again, there's Sooo much housing here maybe they could turn it into a prison.

~Rose

I did read it was going to be option two...the luxury plastic surgery centre...

It won't be leveled off- it's landmark protected. It's actually an amazing building, and they offer tours. It was constructed mostly in about 16 months. Nothing like forced labor to get a job done, right?

And the health center proposition won't just be for the rich and wealthy, it'll be for all those who live in the area. The idea is to make it like a one-stop shopping site for medical care, with specialists and physicians in one central location. Aside from the creation of actual jobs if the development idea goes forth, it'll be a wonderful resource for the inhabitants of Tempelhof.
And Beliners will pay to keep the building open, regardless if it's developed or not, because of the landmark protection. If they actually let outside investors in, Berliners will pay less.

The current situation won't allow for air traffic to continue to operate into/out of Templehof. A part of the agreement that lead to the BBI being developed is that no other airports remain in operation in Berlin. I'm not sure who can make amendments to the agreements already done, but I understand that's a deal breaker for the Health Centre as the proposals call for catering to the international wealthy (even if they're not the only client). The guy behind that plan is a Bavarian-American, isn't he? Can't remember where I read that little tidbit.

I heard the space will just be home to more resi/office developments... I assume because the current housing and office space is not adequate to house the bulging economy in Berlin?

I heard a rumour at one point that they were going to use the space for buffalo farming. Really.

This makes perfect sense for Tempelhof, but the decision to close Tegel has always struck me as a dumb idea. I'm not sure where they get the impression that a world-class city should have only one airport. Like, oh, New York, London, Paris, Washington...

Closing Tempelhof is stupid, it should be retained as it is so close to the city centre, like London City. Much as I am fond of Tegel, it has the most bizarre system for the departure lounges and it could do with u-bahn, s-bahn or DB. Schoenefeld is a dump so hopefully BBI will be an improvement.

Templehof is beautiful piece of architecture and should never be closed . That is only my opinion . It has a brilliant safety record as well .
To even consider a Disney Theme Park is sick .. but my views on Disney worlds are best unspoken . As for a health resort . Grief, Germany has enough spa etc . No ------ let us all petition for the keeping of Templehof . It is beautiful and was a pleasure to use . I used to fly with Sabena Airlines to UK from there via Brussels .

Gordon you are right Schoenfeld is a dump ...a terrible place in fact . TXL I quite like . Sort of a cosy bed nests and ok the lounges are odd BUT you dont have miles to walk for your luggage etc . So come on . can't have everything . But the big thing is lets ensure we do get to keep TXL and Templehof . Re the health idea .. Oh please no no no. ! The new American style shopping malls are enough , ie ) awful . Do we want Dr's and health care presented in such a grotty fashion as well ?
Look at the architecture of Templehof . Then think of say the new Forum at Steglitz ! I rest my case .

The health idea is the cornerstone of the concept. And it makes tons of sense- it allows people to have all their medical needs met in one location. Plus, it would cut costs for doctors, who currently have to see exhorbinant amounts of patients per hour in order to break even. And, because Siemens is involved, it would mean the best technology available to the patients, because indiv doctors can't afford that equipment for their private offices.

Objections to the closure from the 13 airlines that use the Airport were thrown out of court yesterday in Berlin.

Actual closure date set for October 2008.

Historic Berlin Airport Set to Close in 2008

I saw something in one of the german tabloids about one of the Lauders (of Estee Lauder) wanting to send a letter to every Berliner informing them of the Lauder proposal and letting the people decide. That was as much as I could make of the story with my limited German. Anyone know anything more? Thanks!

It was an "open letter", i.e. a form of press release.

The reason Schönefeld was chosen is because it is the only one with a runway long enough to take a Jumbo Jet and also, presumably, because there is loads of space for expansion. If it is true that part of the deal was that there would be no other airport in Berlin, then it's the logical choice. However, if Tempelhof is to close next year, they will have to get their skates on to complete enough development and expansion to absorb the extra traffic.
I actually quite like Schönefeld. I would imagine that it has not been radically modernised and improved before because they were waiting for the go-ahead on BBI. I hope they will build a rai/S-Bahn spur direct to the terminal(s)

The comparatively few flights Tempelhof has will easily be absorbed by the other two airports.


That's an important part of the plan, especially as the new terminal will be even further away from the existing station.

i was told by my neighbours when i used to lived in tempelhof that the luftwaffe might step in to take control of the airport, but i doubt that it's true...

Most certainly not.

During the 80's it used to be under the control of the American [i]Luftwaffe[/url] though.

AP: German court OKs Berlin airport closure

The referendum to keep Tempelhof open failed yesterday.


Bid to Save Berlin's Iconic Tempelhof Airport Fails

A recommendation has been introduced to move the Allied Museum from the old Outpost Theater on Clayallee (all you brats remember that, right?), to Tempelhof, effectively making it the Allied Museum. Sounds cool,,, has a nice ring to it...incorporates the history into something useable and significant...but i DO kinda like enclosing it and turning it into a lake...the underchambers are already flooded, whats a few more feet of water?

So, the airport closes for good October 31. I went down there to have a look around today, since I'd never flown in or out of THF. It's a funky place; the main hall almost feels more like a train station than an airport. I'm also not sure I saw any passengers. It seemed to be 80% people with cameras, 15% staff, and 5% people with petitions to protest the closing.

With only 3 small airlines actually operating full time at Tempelhof offering a handful of flight per day that doesn't surprise me
that the place was empty except for Airport supporters and Journalist. It's been pretty much deserted since 2006. Have a look
at this picture (Yes, the pic was actually taken during a normal working day)

Another weird thing was that about half of the arrivals were from "Berlin Tempelhof" which I assume are tourist flights around the city.

According to this month's Exberliner magazine, the Senate is now talking about using the site for a new Hertha Berlin football ground.

A truly rubbish idea, if you ask me.

Does anyone know if there will be some kind of closing ceremony for Tempelhof airport? I live right next to the airport, and there are lots of old-fashioned planes landing today, or doing flybys, or whatever...

...and scaring the shit out of Yorkshiremen a number of times today.
It's an old DC-3 taking people on nostalgia tours over the city. They've got special permission to fly low today... Thursday evening will see the last flights, just before midnight in front of 800 guests of the mayor. There'll also be a candlelight vigil of protestors against the closure...

The more, the merier then is what I say...

Sounds like to me its another air lift going on
as every 10 mins I hearing planes lets hope the old buses are airworthy after all the sudden extra work they are having to do this week

also will they have the red bull air race there any more as the disused air field would make a great Drag strip

BBC News: Auf Wiedersehen, Tempelhof

Went there soon after 4pm yesterday to say my goodbyes - the interior was already closed off for the farewell party.

Anyway, for what it's worth, I took a picture in the pouring rain of the immortal word "Zentralflughafen" before the lights went off - forever.



I'll miss the old Candy Bomber roaring over my house - I'm in Friedenau on the (former) flight-path to and from Tempelhof.

It seems that there are ideas to turn Tempelhof into a Air and Space Musueum - good idea in my opinion - and I hope there will be some acknowledgement (apart from the Platz der Luftbrücke) of the airport's role in the Airlift.

http://www.tagesspiegel.de/berlin/;art270,2649589

Adé Tempelhof!

> I'll miss the old Candy Bomber roaring over my house

+1000

The old girl used to fly over our house in Wilmersdorf as well. The sound of those P&W Twin Wasps...

Nice photo Keefy! Thanks. -- J

I believe it is going to exist as it's listed, another era passes.

Interesting speculation, but the city has detailed plans as the currently exist on the Stadtentwicklung website:

http://stadtentwicklung.berlin.de/planen/s...hof/index.shtml

They actually don't have plans yet... it says on the site that they are holding a competition for ideas of what should be done with it...