Berlin tegel Otto Lilienthal Airport (TXL)

Berlin has three airports, namely Tegel, Schönefeld and Tempelhof. Berlin Tegel airport, which is situated in the district of what was formerly known as West Berlin, is the busiest among the three airports in Berlin and in 2010 it served some 15 million passengers as their main hub for international flight connections. It is also the major airport for international flights into and out of Berlin. Though there are many other airlines operating from the airport, Lufthansa as the largest German airline together with carrier Air Berlin has the widest choice of connections and therefore dominates this airport.

Travellers planning to fly via Berlin Tegel Airport should know that Berlin Tegel Airport will cease to serve passengers on the 12th June 2012, when all flights will be shifted to Schönefeld, which is has been renamed Berlin-Brandenburg International Airport in honour of former Chancellor Wilhelm Brand, who was instrumental in bringing about Germany’s re-unification.

Berlin Tegel Airport has a certain place in aviation history. Dating back to the early 20th century, when a Prussian airship battalion was stationed in the space now serving as the airport, the place was then known as the Luftschiffhafen Reinickendorf and in 1906 a hangar was erected for testing and housing Germany’s giant Groß-Basenach and Parseval type airships.

During the cold war era following the Second World War, Berlin’s special status and the subsequent necessity for a major airlift operation during the Berlin Blockade in 1948, when Western Allied Troups had to save Berlin’s population from starvation, meant that the Western Allied forces had to make use of whatever airport facilities were on offer. Berlin Tempelhof airport was not large enough to cope with the number of aircraft needed to take off at short intervals, so Tegel came to the forefront.

The French military, at that time in charge of Berlin Tegel airfields, organised the construction of a 2,428-metre (7,966 ft) long runway, at that time the longest in Europe. The French also ordered the construction of provisional airport buildings and installed a basic infrastructure. It is safe to say that by doing so, they saved millions of lives, as only 90 days later the first American aircraft landed with food and the most basic supplies to keep Berlin’s population alive.

Modern Berlin Tegel Airport is located 5miles or 8 kilometres northwest of Berlin City Centre. The hexagonal terminal building erected around a centre court distinguishes it from other airports in Germany. The unique design means walking distance from the aircraft to the terminal exit is just 30 m thanks to positioning and architecture of the terminal buildings.

There are four terminals servicing Berlin Tegel Airport. Owing to the small size of the airport when compared with other main airports, the terminals can be seen as boarding areas or halls even though officially they are called terminals. Terminal A, which is hexagonal in shape, is the main arrival and departure area for all major airlines. Terminal B, which is also known as Nebek-Hall, has just a bus-boarding aircraft stand providing services. Terminal C is mostly used by Air Berlin and this explains why it is affectionally known as Air-Berlin-Terminal. Terminal D is a car park converted into a temporary terminal building.

Travellers coming to Berlin Tegel Airport or departing from Berlin Tegel Airport should note that there are no direct trains connecting the airport and the city. However, passengers wishing to get to their onward destinations by train should follow the signs to bus line number 128. The bus runs to the closest metro station located at Kurt Schumacher Platz. There is also another fast bus service going to the stop called Berlin Zoo. Taxis as well as car hire services are available at Berlin Tegel Airport.

Car parking services are also provided at Berlin Tegel Airport. There are short and long term parking facilities as well as valet parking. The parking lot for short term parking is located at the hexagonal terminal A. the cost is 1 Euro for the first 15 minutes. Subsequent charges are 2 Euro for every 15 minutes of parking. Short term parking services are also available in P1 and P2. The P5 car park is dedicated to long term parking.

Berlin Tegel Airport has excellent disabled facilities for disabled passengers like the restrooms, wheelchair accessible telephones, wheelchair ramps and adapted elevators. There are also parking lots for disabled passengers at P2 car park.

The Airport Service Centre operates a business centre where business travellers can send faxes or make photocopies. They can also obtain these services at VIP lounges at Berlin Tegel Airport.

Branded and independent shops offer clothes, perfume, electrical goods and souvenirs as well as books, guides and maps for the city. Berlin Tegel Airport has 5 and four snack bars for refreshments during waiting times.

Other facilities available at Berlin Tegel Airport include ATMs, a post office, a bank and money exchange offices. All these are located at the Central Hall. The wireless internet connection covers the entire terminal.

The Air Transport Association (IATA) code for Berlin tegel Otto Lilienthal Airport is TXL. Berlin tegel Otto Lilienthal Airport is also officially known as Berlin-tegel / Otto Lilienthal. We have provided the GPS location for Berlin tegel Otto Lilienthal airport which are as follows 52.56111, 13.28944 to help either your arrival directions to Berlin-tegel / Otto Lilienthal or perhaps give you directions from Berlin-tegel / Otto Lilienthal Airport to your chosen destination.

Below is a sample of routes flight times and Airlines that fly from Berlin-tegel / Otto Lilienthal.

Air Berlin, Lufthansa and BMI are the three busiest Airlines that fly out of Berlin tegel Otto Lilienthal Airport; together they cover around 78 routes out of the total of 80. The busiest which is Air Berlin covers a total of 657 flights per week out of Berlin tegel Otto Lilienthal Airport and goes to 54 destinations. Air Berlin covers 21% of all outbound traffic movements out of Berlin-tegel / Otto Lilienthal Airport. Air Berlin airline offers flights to Franz Josef Strauss, Cologne/bonn, Düsseldorf International Airport, Stuttgart Echterdingen, Schwechat International and London Heathrow among others.

You can see below a selection of nonstop flights covered from Berlin tegel Otto Lilienthal Airport with approximate times

Many popular hire car companies are located at Berlin tegel Otto Lilienthal airport and are situated either in the Arrivals lounge or very close by. Please bring your valid driving licence and credit card if your require a hire car on your trip to Berlin tegel Otto Lilienthal Airport. For your FREE Berlin tegel Otto Lilienthal Car Hire quote please follow the link.