Berlin's BER airport moves to scrap late night noise surcharges

The operator of Berlin Brandenburg Airport has applied to abolish the extra fees charged to airlines for flights taking off or landing after 10pm, a spokesperson for the airport confirmed in response to inquiries. The move is intended to ease the financial burden on carriers that have long complained about the cost of operating at the airport, known as BER.

Under the current fee structure, airlines pay a surcharge on top of standard landing and takeoff charges for flights scheduled in the late evening hours. Airport officials say removing that surcharge would make BER a cheaper and more attractive option for carriers deciding where to route their aircraft.

The application comes after months of pressure on the airport's finances and passenger volumes. Ryanair announced earlier this year that it would scale back its presence at BER, citing high operating costs among the reasons for the decision. The Irish low-cost carrier's reduced schedule has contributed to a decline in passenger numbers at the airport, according to figures tracked by airport management.

BER has struggled since its delayed opening in 2020 to match the passenger volumes once projected for the combined successor to Berlin's older Tegel and Schönefeld airports. The coronavirus pandemic hit air travel in the years immediately following the airport's launch, and the subsequent recovery has been slower than airport officials had hoped.

Airlines operating at BER have repeatedly pointed to fees as a competitive disadvantage compared with other German and European airports. Carriers have argued that high charges, including those tied to noise restrictions in the evening, discourage them from expanding services or maintaining existing routes out of the Berlin hub.

The airport company's decision to seek removal of the late-night surcharge reflects an effort to respond directly to those complaints. By eliminating the extra charge for flights after 22:00, officials hope to persuade airlines, including those that have reduced or paused operations at BER, to reconsider their scheduling decisions.

The proposal still requires approval through the relevant regulatory process before it can take effect. Airport fee structures in Germany are typically subject to review and sign-off by aviation authorities, meaning the surcharge will remain in place until any change is formally authorized.

It remains unclear exactly how much revenue the airport stands to lose if the surcharge is dropped, or how quickly airlines might respond with added flights should the change be approved. The airport spokesperson did not provide a specific timeline for when a decision on the application might be reached.

Noise surcharges at airports are generally designed to discourage late-night and early-morning flights in order to limit disturbance to nearby residents. Removing or reducing such fees can raise concerns among communities located near flight paths, even as airport operators argue the change is necessary to remain commercially competitive.

BER has faced years of scrutiny over its finances, construction costs and management decisions since the airport's long-delayed opening. The push to cut fees for airlines marks the latest attempt by the operator to stabilize the facility's position in a competitive European aviation market, where low-cost carriers in particular have shown willingness to shift operations between airports based on cost.

Officials have not detailed what other financial incentives, if any, might accompany the proposed elimination of the evening surcharge. Airlines with existing operations at BER have not publicly responded in detail to the airport's application.