Berlin Brandenburg Airport begins security search in preparation for opening

On 4 August 2020, the aviation security line at Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) has been enabled in accordance with Section 8 of the Aviation Security Act, and a security search has now begun.

The security search, known as ‘cleaning’, aims to ensure that there are no more dangerous or forbidden items located in the former operating areas of the construction site. The search will take at least 10 days and will be carried out by airport security, supported by state police and under the supervision of the aviation authority of Berlin-Brandenburg, Luftfahrtbehörde Berlin-Brandenburg (LuBB).

CEO of Berlin Brandenburg Airport GmbH, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Engelbert Lütke Daldrup, said: “The ‘cleaning’ is an important milestone in order to turn BER Airport into a functioning building after acceptance of the construction work. Across the whole of Germany, such a large internal and external area has never been searched in accordance with the currently applicable Aviation Security Act. For all employees of the airport company, as well as its’ partners, BER with its aviation security area will be a completely new experience. Taking this step in due time before the opening is an advantage so that we can all further practice the processes under real conditions.”

All of the premises, vehicles and areas that will be in the future security-restricted area must be searched. This includes 970 hectares of external areas – for example, the new southern runway or the aprons in the immediate vicinity of Brandenburg Airport Terminal 1, which are not yet part of the security-restricted area.

In addition, a total of 280,000m² – including the terminal areas of T1, which will be part of the security area, and other buildings, such as the canteen or the Fire Station East – will all be searched. All resident tenants and companies were asked beforehand to remove any dangerous or forbidden items. Among other things, all facilities will be searched by means of visual inspections, explosive trace detection equipment and explosive detection dogs and subsequently sealed. Helicopters will also be used in the external areas.

During the security search, access to the security-restricted area of Terminal 1 is only permitted to search and security staff. Following approval by the LuBB in mid-August 2020, access to the previous operating areas is then only possible with an airport identification card via the corresponding access control points.