BERLIN, June 5 (Xinhua) -- German Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer fears that the construction of the new airport Berlin-Brandenburg (BER) will be delayed even further, German media reported on Wednesday.
In a letter to the chief executive officer (CEO) of the Berlin airport, Scheuer warned that "uncertainties regarding the timely opening of BER airport in October 2020" would not have been completely dispelled at the meeting of the airport's supervisory board meeting on May 17, the German media group Funke first reported.
The current schedule would only allow for "extremely small" buffer zones for the necessary inspection of the technical systems in the airport building.
The BER airport was originally scheduled to go into operation in 2011. Due to numerous deficiencies in the construction of the airport, the opening has been repeatedly postponed. The current plan is for the airport to open in autumn next year.
A press spokesperson of the BER airport told Xinhua on Wednesday that letter was not considered as "public" and declined to comment.
An inspection of all safety-relevant systems at the airport is scheduled for the summer. According to the technical inspection association TUEV Sued, the "intended interaction" of the systems, such as the fire alarm system, is to be demonstrated and tested.
In case of an unsuccessful inspection, Scheuer called on the CEO of the new Berlin airport to "submit a written overall concept in the event that the opening date in October 2020 cannot be met". The next meeting of the airport supervisory board will be in August.
