Lufthansa's first flight to BER lands October 31
Lufthansa German Airlines' flight LH2020 was the airline's first to land at the new Berlin Brandenburg Airport Willy Brandt (BER) on October 31.
Lufthansa’s Airbus A320neo Neubrandenburg took off from Munich (MUC) at 12:50 p.m. and landed at BER on schedule at 2 p.m. In addition to the Chairman of the Executive Board of Deutsche Lufthansa AG, Carsten Spohr, around 40 invited guests were on board.
The special flight was 100 percent carbon neutral, as all emissions will be offset via the Lufthansa platform Compensaid, using sustainable fuel.
“The maiden flight to the new airport underlines Lufthansa's special and longstanding relationship with the capital,” said a release from Lufthansa. “The airline has been flying to Berlin for 30 years. Since September, the Lufthansa Group, which flies to the capital with six of its airlines, has been the market leader in Berlin.”
Lufthansa operates 30 percent of all flights to Berline – twice as many as the “runner up” to Lufthansa Group’s leading position. No other airline group has flown as many Berliners all over the world in recent decades as the Lufthansa Group.
Lufthansa has built a 650 square meter lounge with 150 seats. The lounge has been designed in compliance with current hygiene and social distancing regulations. The panoramic window front offers view of the apron and, in good weather, an exclusive view of the famous Berlin TV tower.
Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines and Air Dolomiti flights are handled at “Mainpier,” just a short walk from the lounge. Eurowings flights are mainly handled at the north pier.
On November 8, 2020, Berlin-Tegel Airport will close its flight operations and Lufthansa will move to BER. At 6.45 a.m., Lufthansa's flight LH173 to Frankfurt is scheduled to take off from the new capital airport for the first time. First arrivals at BER are planned for November 7.