The capital of the Federal Republic of Germany has several airports. The main one serving the lion's share of passengers is called Tegel. It has been working since the days of the GDR. True, it was located on the territory of Germany, in West Berlin. Despite the reconstruction and expansion, it gradually ceases to cope with the growing passenger flow. To help him, the Berlin Brandenburg International is now under construction. This giant aviation complex in the future will completely replace Tegel. But Berlin has another airport - Schönefeld. Our article will be devoted to him.
Schönefeld now mainly accepts low-cost fires. But if you fly from Russia aboard the Aeroflot airliner, then most likely take the first steps on German soil in this hub. Where Schönefeld is located relative to Berlin, how to get from it to the capital of Germany and how not to get lost in its terminals, read this article.
Airport History
In 1934, at this place, near the town of Schönefeld ("Beautiful Field"), the Henschel aircraft factory was built. Fourteen thousand aircraft were built on it until the end of World War II. To run them into the sky, laid three runways 800 meters long. When in 1945, Soviet troops occupied this base, the plant’s equipment was stolen and transported to Russia, and what they couldn’t take away, it was blown up. But already in 1946, the command changed its mind and decided to make Schönefeld Airport the main airport in the occupied German Democratic Republic. By order of the Soviet military administration in Germany No. 93, the construction of a civilian hub began with the year nineteen forty-seven. According to the plan, this airport was supposed to serve up to eighteen million passengers annually. And indeed, from 1960 to 1990 it was the main airport of the GDR.
With the fall of the Berlin Wall, Schönefeld’s importance declined. Many airlines have moved to a more developed and equipped Tegel. Schönefeld was given a second life by charter flights and low-cost. And now the airport serves them mainly. According to old Soviet tradition, the hub remains an air gateway to Germany for Aeroflot airplanes departing from Moscow and St. Petersburg.
Scheffeld Airport Scheme
Although this hub is inferior in size and passenger flow to Tegel, but it is also a mini-town. An unprepared traveler can be confused here. But, if you think about it, Schönefeld is not a tangled maze. You do not need to scam from one terminal to another - unless you have a connecting flight of various airlines. The board of Schönefeld Airport will tell you about where to follow in this case. There are four terminals in it, named plainly, according to the first letters of the Latin alphabet. A and B are located in the main building of the hub. If you travel with Aeroflot, then upon arrival you will be met by the first terminal. It also serves Ryanair and several others. The authoritative low-fire EasyJet has completely occupied Terminal B for its needs. Standing at a distance C serves special flights. D is the newest. It opened in the two thousand and fifth year to unload the main three terminals. It is used by the Norwegian Air Shuttle and Condor airlines.
Where is the airport
The former main air gate of the GDR is located eighteen kilometers southeast of central Berlin. Schönefeld, named after the airport, is located nearby. Since this hub was of great importance earlier, it is connected with the center of the German capital by a highway and a railway. Below we will look at how to get from Schönefeld Airport to key locations in Berlin. The easiest way is by taxi. This is the most expensive way, but not the fastest, because there can be congestion on the streets of the metropolis. But the driver will take you to the very place of your destination - just say the address or name the hotel. A taxi rank is located in front of the exit from terminal A. All cars operate on the counter. A trip from the airport to the central district of Berlin (Mitte) or to Charlottenburg will cost you about forty-five euros (at the daily rate).
Schönefeld Airport (Berlin): how to get to the city by rail
If your goal is the main station of the capital of Germany, then Airport Express is the best solution. This train leaves every half hour. But with trains of the German Railways you need to be careful. A five minute walk from the main airport building is the station. But both regional RE trains and the Schönefeld Airport - Berlin Main Station express train and S-Bahn trains leave from it. To get to the city as quickly as possible, you need to stand on platforms 3 and 4.
You should get a ticket in advance. It costs 3,20 € and is sold in vending machines. If you cannot establish a relationship with a soulless machine, you can purchase a ticket from a cashier who knows English and works next to the information desk in the arrivals area. Automatic machines are located both in the main airport building, and at the railway station and at the bus stop. You need a ticket covering areas AC. It is universal and operates on all types of public transport. But the ticket should be stamped before boarding the train. Right on the platform platform are special red columns. If you want to use regional trains (RE7, RB14, 19, 22), then you need not to mess with the direction. You need those trains that go to the main train station in Berlin.
By train
In Berlin there are two types of railway transport - U-Bahn and S-Bahn. And if the first is a subway, then the second is a suburban train. Schönefeld Airport is connected with the center of Berlin by two branches. Trains run on both at intervals of ten to twenty minutes. S9 will take you to the Pankov area, making stops at Adlershof, Schöneveid, Ostkreutz, Schönhauser Alley. S45 departs to the south of the city, in Südkreutz. The ticket is the same as for the train. He also needs composting. The penalty for illegal travel is forty euros.
By bus
What if you arrive in Berlin late at night? How to get from Schönefeld Airport to the city center? Is it really necessary to fork out for a taxi (at a night fare, such a trip can cost about sixty euros)? There is a bus service for this. Stops are located both at the railway station and at the exits from the terminals. For passengers in a hurry, express X7 is provided, next to Art. m. "Rudov". Closer to the center, route 171 takes you (the final stop is to Hermann Platz). From midnight to early morning passengers are served by two night buses. N7 follows the entire city to Spandau, and makes stops at Rudov, Hermann Platz and Jakob Kaiser Platz. N60 - express. He follows non-stop to Adlershof.
Services
Berlin Schönefeld Airport, although inferior to the metropolitan Tegel in chic and brilliance, is nevertheless equipped with everything necessary to make passengers waiting for their flight feel comfortable. Numerous displays, visible from everywhere, will help even those who do not understand a word in German. Passengers board aboard through the sleeves, so there is no need to expose themselves to the hardships of the weather. So if you follow the beaches of tropical countries through Schönefeld, you can change clothes right at the airport accordingly.
All four terminals have pharmacies, a first-aid post, bank branches and currency dispensers, exchange points, a post office, and mother and child rooms. There are many restaurants and cafes in the arrivals and departures halls. In the neutral zone duty-free work. There are many souvenir shops and boutiques in the free access halls.
VAT refund
What needs to be done to return the value added tax on purchases? Schönefeld is an airport with a Tax Free service. In order to return the amount of VAT (and it is sometimes accumulated by avid shopaholics a lot), you must present purchases with checks when passing through customs control. You will be given a form. You need to fill it out and contact him at the counter labeled Global Blue. It is located in Terminal A on the second floor. If you want to recalculate VAT on your bank card, then this service is free. For VAT refunds in cash, a fee of three euros will be charged.
Schönefeld Airport Service Traveler Reviews
Those passengers who have happened to be in Tegel call Schönefeld small. Nevertheless, German accuracy also reigns here. Everything is designed without unnecessary chic, but with maximum functionality. Queues are observed at the peak of the tourist season, since charter flights arrive at short intervals. But if you are registered and are in the international zone, you can relax.
Schönefeld Airport is very convenient for shopping. Prices here are the same as in the city, without extra charges. Duty free shops have a wide selection of perfumes, watches, children's toys, sweets, tobacco and alcohol. Cafes offer coffee and delicious pastries. There is an observation deck at the airport, where it is interesting to watch the takeoffs and landings of the airliners. Despite the fast and clear work of all services, tourists are advised to arrive at the airport in advance. Since the hub is small, queues may occur. Especially for a long time you can stay at the security checkpoint.