Berlin is considered one of the most visited cities in Europe, and in order to comply with this status, the city has everything you need. Including the most modern, equipped with the latest technology, railway, automobile and air terminals. One of the largest air hubs in Germany is the Tegel International Airport in Berlin. It has the assigned IATA – TXL code. Berlin-Tegel Airport is visited by many tourists and travelers from all over the world, and it leaves the best impression of the German capital and European level of service.
History
The air harbor was built on the basis of a rocket range. This happened in 1948, in the post-war period - when the need for a training ground disappeared by itself. The country was going through a recovery period and needed civilian facilities and structures. Berlin-Tegel Airport has become one of the projects redesigned from military to peaceful. At that time, the construction of the first runway began, its length was 2400 meters. Two months after the start of construction, the first aircraft was received. For a long time, the new airport served as a cargo airport - during the period of the economic blockade of the Soviet Union it was extremely necessary. Airplanes with provisions and medicines came here. As an international civil "Tegel" began to be used, only since 1960. It developed rapidly, new terminals were built, and infrastructure was improved. Gradually, Tegel became Berlin's main air harbor.
Work in modern conditions
Currently, Berlin-Tegel Airport receives and services about 11.5 million people a year. This is a huge passenger flow, it is recognized as one of the busiest air hubs in Europe. Despite this, the operation of the airport and its services can be called impeccable - there are no interruptions, there are no complaints from passengers and airlines.
Terminals
Tegel Airport includes five passenger terminals, each of which has a name indicated by a letter of the Latin alphabet.
- Terminal A is the main one, it accounts for most of the passenger traffic. In the center of it there is parking, bus stops and taxi rank. There are 16 exits from it.
- B - designed to unload the first terminal, it only works on those days when it is needed.
- Terminal C - also called Air Berlin Terminal - is occupied by the company of the same name and serves only its flights. It began to function in 2008, is one of the newest.
- D is the only terminal that operates around the clock. It serves night flights or flights that take place in the early morning or late evening.
- E - represents the second floor of terminal D.
In addition, the airport owns a tower for dispatchers and two runways. The building is made in the shape of a hexagon, to which planes approach. Disembarkation and embarkation of passengers occurs using special telescopic ladders.
Additional services
The airport building has everything you need for a comfortable stay of passengers while waiting for a flight. There are shops and souvenir shops, cafes, restaurants, currency exchange points. There is a banking and post office. Several recreation areas are designed to spend time between flights with maximum convenience. There is also a duty free shop. The scheme of the airport is hung out in all prominent places, navigation around the territory is quite simple and logical. Lost property, first aid center, car and cell phone rental offices - any trifle is provided so that passengers can find here everything they might need on the way.
"Berlin Tegel" - the airport. How to get to the city
The air hub is relatively close to the center, leaving or arriving at it is not difficult at any time of the day. Berlin Tegel Airport is located at a distance of 8 km from the city, it got its name thanks to the district of the same name. From it, a TXL high-speed bus runs to the center every ten minutes, you can order a taxi. The bus ride to the center of Berlin takes about half an hour, and the route captures many attractions that are interesting for all arriving tourists to look at. The fare to the city is 2-3 euros, tickets are purchased directly on the bus from the driver.
Directions and companies
Berlin-Tegel has the status of an international harbor, many flights from different countries of the world arrive here. In total, it connects about 150 cities. Airplanes from Moscow and St. Petersburg arrive from Tegel from Russia. Airplanes of many large airlines fly to the airport. Among them are Swiss, Air Berlin, Lufthansa, Air France, Aeroflot, Transaero and others. Berlin Tegel Airport by the arrival and departure signboard informs passengers about the timetable and the directions served. All the necessary information is available to any tourist and is available everywhere at the airport terminal.
Reviews
Passengers arriving in Berlin, Tegel, in most cases, note the well-established work of the airport. Despite the extreme workload, registration is very fast, there are no delays. Baggage is also inspected very quickly. Tourists note that it is impossible to get lost at the airport - even without knowing the language, it is very easy to find any service, since the infrastructure is simple and understandable to every traveler. The choice in shops and souvenir shops is wide enough, catering points are available throughout the airport and offer visitors a good selection of dishes and drinks. The prices are reasonable. Thus, we can confidently say that Tegel is an airport quite convenient and meets all the requirements of international civil aviation standards.
Currently, the Berlin authorities have decided to build a new modern airport terminal in the vicinity of the city in order to unload Tegel. Different sources indicate that the airport will be closed immediately after the construction of the new complex is completed. The launch of the new air harbor of Berlin is planned to be held by 2015. Despite this, Tegel is currently operating in the same mode. No planned closure will affect its clear functioning.