Berlin International Airport, which opened its doors more than eight years ago at the end of 2020, “quickly” needs more financial help to avoid bankruptcy, the president of the management company FBB said on Saturday.
“We need quick moneyWe need cash, “Aletta von Massenbach told the Berlin newspaper Tagesspiegel.
The liquidity available to the state-owned operator FBB, the Land of Brandenburg – where the airport is located – and the city of Berlin, will last “until the first quarter of 2022,” explains Von Massenbach.
But, the company also has to make a “big payment to pay back its debt” in February and therefore needs help quickly to keep it running on a daily basis.
Until 2026, society should receive about 2,400 million euros ($ 2,774 million) from its public owners.
“That we need so much money for the airport is very bitter,” admitted von Massenbach, who took over the reins of the operator in early October. “There is no plan B,” he insisted.
The airport, whose opening has been repeatedly postponed due to multiple technical problems and suspected corruption, has so far cost more than 6 billion euros ($ 6.936 million), three times more than expected.
It began operating when air traffic collapsed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
In addition, it has recently come under fire again, after the chaos over the weekend due to the departure of the autumn holidays, following endless queues at check-in, which prevented passengers from taking their flights, mainly due to lack of staff.
The media reported other recurring problems, such as overflowing garbage cans, damaged flooring, and regularly out of service elevators and escalators.
According to the Tagesspiegel, the operator’s management must present solutions to fix the problems within the next week.
Reference-www.eleconomista.com.mx