Berlin — Operators of Berlin's BER airport assured the supervisory board on Friday that the Christmas travel season would be less chaotic than the autumn holiday period, when hours-long queues generated negative headlines.
Traffic will once again be processed via both runways and coordination with airlines and ground service providers will be improved, the operators said, following the meeting.
It will be easier for travellers to find their way around the terminal and more seating is to be added to waiting areas.
A second terminal, which is ready but not in use due to the coronavirus pandemic, is to open next summer.
Despite the measures, the situation remains tense.
"We have also made it clear that the structural staffing shortage at the airport and the high additional expenditure due to pandemic-related travel regulations will pose major challenges at BER until well into the coming year," airport chief executive Aletta von Massenbach said.
The chaos seen during the second weekend in October was blamed on staffing shortages and more complex checks due to Covid-19 rules. Many travellers missed their flights as a result.
In November, airport management came back under fire after an evacuation caused by a faulty fire alarm led to delays and cancellations.
The supervisory board also discussed the difficult economic situation faced by the airport, which is run by a company owned by the states of Berlin and Brandenburg and the German federal government.
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