Airports in Germany

Frankfurt International (FRA) is one of the busiest airports in Europe, a continental hub for many major airlines. More than 50 million passengers arrive on flights to Frankfurt Airport each year. The stylish terminals have plenty to keep travellers occupied on long stopovers - restaurants, shops, slots or video games, sightseeing tours and a Visitors' Terrace with views of the runways.

In 2009, a beautiful Shopping Plaza was added to Terminal 2, and construction is underway on a third terminal and fourth runway.

Located 17.7 miles (28.5 km) north-east of the centre of Munich, Munich International Airport (MUC) is officially known as Franz Josef Strauss. It is Germany’s second-busiest airport and the seventh-busiest in Europe. In 2010, it handled almost 35 million passengers. In 2011 the airport was awarded the title of “Europe’s Best Airport” (for the sixth time since 2005) and ranked fourth best in the world by air transport research company Skytrax.

The airport comprises two terminals connected by the Munich Airport Centre, a large outdoor tent-type area that accommodates most of the facilities, including a vast array of retail, business and recreational establishments. There is also a Visitors Park which features a Visitors Hill from which sightseers may view Terminal 1 and the westerly aircraft apron. Plans to expand Terminal 2, approved in 2010, will see Munich International’s handling capacity increase by 11 million passengers per year.

With a combination of world-class facilities and efficient services, it’s no surprise that Munich International is ranked among the finest in the world. Clean and modern – it even has its own brewery – with friendly and helpful staff, visitors may look forward to experiencing nothing less than the best from Munich International.

Berlin Schonefeld Airport (SXF) is situated in what was previously East Berlin and is 11 miles (18km) southeast of the city centre.

Berlin Schonefeld Airport is a popular gateway into Berlin and the eastern side of Germany. Although currently the smaller Berlin’s two airports, it is undergoing a major upgrade. From mid-2012 it will be known as Berlin Brandenburg Airport and will accept all air traffic to and from Berlin.

Schonefeld Airport is used by a lot of low-cost carriers offering passengers a cheap and easy option for a weekend break in Berlin. It is a hub for Germanwings and easyJet. Many other airlines offer flights to Berlin Schonefeld Airport and it is connected to a range of cities across Europe and North Africa.

Although the airport is in the midst of an upgrade, German efficiency ensures that it is still a great airport to use when flying into Berlin.

Berlin Tegel Airport (TXL) is the airport that most passengers will use when flying into Berlin. It’s conveniently located only five miles (8km) from the city.

As the fourth-busiest airport in Germany, Berlin Tegel handles more than 15 million passengers per year. A newer airport (Berlin-Brandenburg International Airport) is currently being built at Berlin Schönefeld Airport, and Tegel Airport is scheduled to close by June 2012 when all flights will be routed through Brandenburg Airport.

For now, passengers can enjoy a wealth of shopping opportunities and conveniences at the airport. The main building is centred on an open square and makes for easy navigation and a short commuting distance between disembarkation and exiting the terminal. Remarkably, this distance can be as little as 30 metres between exiting the aircraft and stepping into a taxi, including passport control and luggage retrieval.

Lufthansa uses Berlin Tegel as a focus airport, while Air Berlin and the charter Germania both use Tegel Airport as a central hub. There are a number of airlines including Continental, KLM, and Iberia offering flights to Berlin Tegel Airport from cities ranging from Tel Aviv and Bangkok to Reykjavik, London, New York and Beirut.

Despite its prominence Tegel Airport is still quite a small, almost intimate, airport relative to other major airports in Europe. It provides the perfect hopping-off point to explore this fascinating European city with its rich and turbulent history and dynamic modern attractions.