Nov. 8—BERLIN — A plane bound for Paris was the last to take off from Berlin's Tegel airport, which officially closed on Sunday after six decades of service, making way for a new airport in the south-east of the city.
Tegel, in the city's north, is due to remain on standby for the next six months, before its license runs out on May 4, 2021.
The final departure from Tegel was a special Air France flight that took off for Paris at 3 pm ( 1400 GMT), packed with guests of honour and journalists, and observed by the city's mayor, the French ambassador and other dignitaries.
The airport's closure had been a much-debated topic among Berliners for years, with nearby locals complaining about noise while others praised its manageable size and proximity to the city.
"Ladies and gentlemen, with this last take-off we are closing a chapter of 60 years of European airport history," Captain Christophe Ruch said as the plane was on the runway. "Enjoy it."
The aircraft took off to cheers and applause, while people below lit fireworks from their homes, before the plane landed in Paris to even more clapping.
Hundreds gathered at fences around Tegel and waved as the airplane took a farewell lap over the airport, while passengers on board waved back.
Air France was also the first airline to land a plane in Tegel when it opened in 1960. The last regular passenger flight took off from Tegel on Saturday, viewed by hundreds who came to say goodbye.
The beloved city airport is known for its unusual architecture, with the main terminal building shaped like a hexagon around a drop-off point, allowing for a short walking distance to each gate.
However, the Cold War-era airport, popular among locals, became increasingly cramped, as it was built to serve 10 million passengers, but handled 24 million last year.
The new airport, Berlin Brandenberg, or BER for short, welcomed its first passengers a week ago after years of delay that became a source of embarrassment for the German capital. The new terminal opened nine years behind schedule.
The transition comes as air travel is significantly reduced due to restrictions to contain the coronavirus, with only a third of the usual number of flights taking off compared to normal levels.
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