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Safety fears delay Berlin airport Safety fears delay Berlin airport
(40 minutes later)
It had been hailed as Europe's most modern airport and was seen as one of the last major building blocks in the project to turn Berlin into a world-class metropolis, two decades after the fall of the Iron Curtain. It had been hailed as Europe's most modern airport and was seen as one of the last major building blocks in the project to turn Berlin into a world-class metropolis, two decades after the fall of the iron curtain.
But the €2.5bn (£2bn) scheme is in disarray with politicians and planners alike licking their wounds after news that the opening of Willy Brandt airport is to be delayed for months owing to safety shortcomings.But the €2.5bn (£2bn) scheme is in disarray with politicians and planners alike licking their wounds after news that the opening of Willy Brandt airport is to be delayed for months owing to safety shortcomings.
Managers have cited faulty fire safety equipment as the main problem and experts are worried about evacuation times in an emergency. They cited the devastating fire at Düsseldorf airport in 1996 in which 17 people died as to why they are not prepared to take any risks.Managers have cited faulty fire safety equipment as the main problem and experts are worried about evacuation times in an emergency. They cited the devastating fire at Düsseldorf airport in 1996 in which 17 people died as to why they are not prepared to take any risks.
"This is a major embarrassment for Germany and the capital," said Rainer Bruderle, a member of Angela Merkel's ruling coalition. "This is a major embarrassment for Germany and the capital," said Rainer Brüderle, a member of Angela Merkel's ruling coalition.
"It's a sign that we haven't got the most capable people at work on this.""It's a sign that we haven't got the most capable people at work on this."
Germany's media have criticised planners. Die Welt said Berlin was "the laughing stock of the world", while the Berliner Morgenpost said: "This mistake is going to cost millions … what a disaster."Germany's media have criticised planners. Die Welt said Berlin was "the laughing stock of the world", while the Berliner Morgenpost said: "This mistake is going to cost millions … what a disaster."
A new opening date is likely to be set by next week. Some insiders have hinted they think the safety issues have been used to cover up a multitude of other shortcomings. Just weeks ago 20 new check-in counters had to be ordered because it was discovered the number planned was insufficient.A new opening date is likely to be set by next week. Some insiders have hinted they think the safety issues have been used to cover up a multitude of other shortcomings. Just weeks ago 20 new check-in counters had to be ordered because it was discovered the number planned was insufficient.
The airport has been in the planning since the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. But it has been beset with problems, from political rows over its name and location to construction delays, cost over-runs, disputes over flight paths and the bankruptcy of the initial developer.The airport has been in the planning since the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. But it has been beset with problems, from political rows over its name and location to construction delays, cost over-runs, disputes over flight paths and the bankruptcy of the initial developer.
When finished the airport, named after the former West German chancellor, is expected to handle up to 45 million passengers a year. The PR machine behind the project has done much to plug the airport as a great example of famous German efficiency. But many observers say it has been anything but.When finished the airport, named after the former West German chancellor, is expected to handle up to 45 million passengers a year. The PR machine behind the project has done much to plug the airport as a great example of famous German efficiency. But many observers say it has been anything but.
In an effort to avoid the blunders which overshadowed the opening of Heathrow's fifth terminal in 2008 – when dozens of flights were cancelled and thousands of passengers were delayed – 10,000 volunteers have been deployed over a period of several months, as well as 20,000 staff, to ensure the smooth operation of the airport.In an effort to avoid the blunders which overshadowed the opening of Heathrow's fifth terminal in 2008 – when dozens of flights were cancelled and thousands of passengers were delayed – 10,000 volunteers have been deployed over a period of several months, as well as 20,000 staff, to ensure the smooth operation of the airport.
In a carefully coordinated operation unprecedented in German transport history, the city's two other airports, at Tegel and Schönefeld, were to be shut down hours before the opening of Willy Brandt in the early hours of 3 June. In a carefully co-ordinated operation unprecedented in German transport history, the city's two other airports, at Tegel and Schönefeld, were to be shut down hours before the opening of Willy Brandt in the early hours of 3 June.
Hundreds of thousands of passengers due to fly from Willy Brandt from that date will now have to be issued with new tickets. Airlines that are likely to lose millions from the delay are said to be seeking compensation for the debacle.Hundreds of thousands of passengers due to fly from Willy Brandt from that date will now have to be issued with new tickets. Airlines that are likely to lose millions from the delay are said to be seeking compensation for the debacle.
"This presents immense logistical problems for everyone involved," said Hartmut Mehdorn, chief executive of Air Berlin which is Germany's second largest airline. "It will also cause additional costs which we have yet to calculate." "This presents immense logistical problems for everyone involved," said Hartmut Mehdorn, the chief executive of Air Berlin, which is Germany's second largest airline. "It will also cause additional costs, which we have yet to calculate."