The opening of Berlin‘s new international airport appears to be headed for another delay as airport chief Hartmut Mehdorn wrote in a letter to the government of the German state of Brandenburg that the facility will likely open in 2016.

In the communication made available to dpa, Mehdorn criticized air transport authorities for adding last-minute specifications for sound proofing for the planned rehabilitation of the north runway, thereby triggering delays. The start of the rehabilitation work would, therefore, be postponed from July to March 2015, he wrote.

Just in January, Berlin‘s mayor and head of the airport‘s board, Klaus Wowereit, had announced another delay for the long-deferred airport, stating it would not open this year.

There had been no new opening date given for the multibillion-dollar airport, which should have begun operations about two years ago, but aviation analysts at the time considered the end of 2015 to be the most likely opening time.

The new airport has been plagued by design problems, rising costs, construction difficulties and problems with the fire protection system as well as allegations of mismanagement.

SOURCE EUROPE ONLINE MAGAZINE Photo: M. van Leeuwen Z.A.P.P.