Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg GmbH
Corporate brand
UnclaimedFlughafen Berlin Brandenburg GmbH is the publicly owned German airport operator responsible for Berlin Brandenburg Airport and formerly for Berlin's Tegel and Schönefeld airports.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg GmbH, commonly known as FBB, is a German airport operating company established during the post-reunification restructuring of Berlin's airport system. Its principal role is to own and operate Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER), the major commercial airport serving the German capital region. Before the consolidation of Berlin's airport infrastructure, FBB also operated Berlin Tegel Airport and Berlin Schönefeld Airport. The company's origins date to 2 May 1991, when Berlin Brandenburg Flughafen Holding GmbH was established to coordinate plans for a new airport after German reunification. The proposed airport was intended to replace the fragmented airport system inherited from the division of Berlin and to provide a modern gateway for the capital region. During the 1990s, the company became associated with plans to involve a private operator. Hochtief was considered a prospective owner and operator, and negotiations concerning a possible acquisition of the holding company began in 1998. The privatization concept was ultimately abandoned, and in 2003 the project was returned to public ownership. The company was subsequently renamed Berlin Brandenburg Flughafen GmbH, later commonly abbreviated as FBB. FBB became the owner and project company for the new airport when construction began in 2006. The airport project encountered extensive delays, escalating complexity, technical problems, and management changes. Berlin Brandenburg Airport was originally expected to open in 2011, but the planned opening was repeatedly postponed. The difficulties had consequences for FBB's leadership and governance. Chief executive Rainer Schwarz was dismissed in January 2013, and Hartmut Mehdorn, formerly chief executive of Air Berlin, became CEO in March of that year. Berlin mayor Klaus Wowereit, who had chaired FBB's supervisory board since 2001, also left that role and was replaced by Brandenburg Minister-President Matthias Platzeck. The project remained subject to further controversy during Mehdorn's tenure. Technical executive Jochen Grossmann was convicted in 2014 of corruption and fraud after demanding payment from prospective contractors. Mehdorn announced another target opening at the end of 2016 in December 2014, but resigned three days later. Karsten Mühlenfeld became CEO in March 2015. He was later required to end his contract early after additional delays, including the postponement of an opening target to 2018. Engelbert Lütke Daldrup, Berlin's secretary for housing and construction, succeeded him in March 2017. After years of postponements, BER finally began commercial airline operations on 31 October 2020. The opening coincided with the closure of Tegel Airport and the end of Schönefeld's role as a separate main passenger airport, making FBB the operator of a consolidated Berlin airport system centered on BER. The airport's launch occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, which sharply reduced aviation demand. In January 2021, FBB was reported to have lost approximately 90% of its traffic-related income and to expect a passenger shortfall of 83 million through 2025 compared with earlier expectations. The company also identified a need for an additional €660 million in 2021 to maintain operations, with management indicating that shareholder support would be necessary. FBB remains a publicly owned airport operator rather than a listed commercial group. Its shareholders are Berlin, Brandenburg, and the Federal Republic of Germany. Its business scope centers on airport ownership and operation, passenger and airline infrastructure, terminal and landside services, and the long-term development of the Berlin Brandenburg aviation hub.
History
Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg GmbH developed out of the airport-planning institutions created after German reunification. On 2 May 1991, Berlin Brandenburg Flughafen Holding GmbH was founded to coordinate the creation of a new airport for the reunified capital region. The project was intended to replace Berlin's historically divided and increasingly fragmented airport system with a single modern hub. During the 1990s, the company explored private-sector participation. Hochtief was regarded as a possible future owner and operator, and negotiations about its acquisition of the holding company began in 1998. The privatization plan did not proceed. In 2003, the airport project was placed under public ownership, and the company was renamed Berlin Brandenburg Flughafen GmbH, commonly known as FBB. FBB became the owner of the new airport project when construction began in 2006. The construction and commissioning of Berlin Brandenburg Airport became the defining episode in the company's history. The airport had initially been expected to open in 2011, but its opening was repeatedly postponed. The delays affected technical planning, project governance, executive management, and public confidence. Rainer Schwarz was dismissed as CEO on 16 January 2013. He was succeeded by Hartmut Mehdorn, formerly the chief executive of Air Berlin, who began his FBB tenure on 8 March 2013. The supervisory board also changed: Berlin mayor Klaus Wowereit, who had chaired it since 2001, stepped down and was replaced by Brandenburg Minister-President Matthias Platzeck. Management turnover continued as the project missed further targets. During Mehdorn's tenure, technical executive Jochen Grossmann was convicted in June 2014 of corruption and fraud after demanding payment from prospective contractors. Mehdorn announced in December 2014 that the airport might open at the end of 2016, but he resigned only three days later. Karsten Mühlenfeld became CEO in March 2015. The project continued to experience delays, and one of Mühlenfeld's final announced targets placed the opening in 2018. His contract was subsequently ended early, and Engelbert Lütke Daldrup became chief executive in March 2017. BER ultimately began commercial airline operations on 31 October 2020. Its opening enabled FBB to consolidate Berlin's principal passenger aviation operations. Tegel Airport and Schönefeld Airport, which FBB had operated before the transition, closed as separate operating elements of the former system. The launch took place during the COVID-19 pandemic, when travel restrictions and weak demand severely damaged airport revenues. In January 2021, FBB was reported to have lost around 90% of traffic-related income. It also anticipated a cumulative passenger shortfall of 83 million through 2025 and identified an additional funding requirement of €660 million for 2021. Management indicated that the company could not continue without shareholders assuming part of its debt burden. FBB remains a publicly owned airport company. Berlin and Brandenburg each hold 37% of its shares, while the remaining 26% belongs to the Federal Republic of Germany, represented by the federal ministries responsible for transport and finance. Its current institutional role is the ownership and operation of Berlin Brandenburg Airport, together with the management of the aviation infrastructure and commercial ecosystem supporting the Berlin metropolitan area.
- 2020
Berlin Brandenburg Airport opens
[1]BER began commercial airline operations on 31 October after years of delays.
- 2006
Construction of the new airport begins
[1]FBB became the owner of the new airport project when construction started.
- 2003
Airport project returns to public ownership
[1]The planned privatization was abandoned and the airport project was placed under public ownership.
- 1998
Privatization negotiations begin
[1]Hochtief was considered as a prospective private owner and operator, and negotiations concerning the holding company began.
- 1991
Berlin Brandenburg Flughafen Holding founded
[1]The airport holding company was established on 2 May 1991 to advance plans for a new airport after German reunification.
Products and positioning
A publicly owned airport operator and infrastructure company serving Germany's capital region through the consolidated Berlin Brandenburg Airport hub.
Airport · 2020
Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER)
Berlin Brandenburg Airport is FBB's principal and current airport operation. It serves the Berlin metropolitan region and became the central commercial passenger facility for the capital after beginning airline operations on 31 October 2020. BER replaced the former fragmented operating arrangement involving Tegel and Schönefeld and functions as the company's core aviation infrastructure asset.
Former airport operation
Berlin Tegel Airport
Tegel was one of the airports previously operated by FBB in Berlin. It served as a major passenger gateway before BER opened and was subsequently closed as the city's airport system was consolidated around Berlin Brandenburg Airport.
Former airport operation
Berlin Schönefeld Airport
Schönefeld was another airport formerly operated by FBB. Its passenger role was absorbed into the Berlin Brandenburg Airport system when BER entered commercial service, ending the previous separate-airport structure.
Controversies
Brand decisions
2021
Seek shareholder support during the COVID-19 downturnStrategyBackground
The pandemic severely reduced air travel and FBB was reported to have lost approximately 90% of traffic-related income.
Action taken
The board identified an additional funding requirement of €660 million for 2021 and indicated that shareholders would need to assume part of the company's debt burden.
Aftermath
FBB faced a prolonged recovery period and a projected passenger shortfall of 83 million through 2025 compared with earlier expectations.
Additional funding requirement. €660 million (2021)
2020
Launch Berlin Brandenburg AirportProduct launchBackground
The new airport had experienced repeated delays after construction began in 2006 and was initially expected to open in 2011.
Action taken
FBB opened BER to commercial airline traffic on 31 October 2020.
Aftermath
The launch enabled the consolidation of Berlin's main passenger-airport operations and was followed by the closure of Tegel and the end of Schönefeld's separate role.
2003
Retain the airport project under public ownershipStrategyBackground
A proposed privatization involving Hochtief did not proceed after negotiations that began in the late 1990s.
Action taken
The project was placed under public ownership and the company continued as the public airport owner and project company.
Aftermath
FBB proceeded with the development and eventual operation of Berlin Brandenburg Airport as a state-owned infrastructure enterprise.
Sources1 sources
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