Tempelhof operators keep fighting airport closure

Berlin Tempelhof airport operators are challenging recent decisions by both a Berlin lower court and the city authorities to close the downtown airport on

By Thierry Dubois • Writer

May 31, 2007

Berlin Tempelhof airport operators are challenging recent decisions by both a Berlin lower court and the city authorities to close the downtown airport on October 31 next year. Windrose Air and six other executive air charter operators–AFI, AAF, AeroKing, Heli Union, Rotorflug and TAG–have filed a complaint against the latest judgment with the objective of bringing the dispute to a federal court.

Supporting the operators’ position, a Windrose spokesperson told AIN, is the recent acknowledgement by the national government that closing the airport will be expensive. For example, replacing the 24/7 fireman service with a mandatory fire suppression system would cost $52 million. The Berlin airport authority currently pays for fireman service, but the national government would pay for the automated fire suppression system. The national government, which owns 80 percent of the airport, is therefore now pushing to keep Tempelhof open, according to Windrose.

The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background.