<strong>Ongoing saga: </strong>The opening of Berlin Brandenburg Airport Willy Brandt has been delayed for nearly six years.
Ongoing saga: The opening of Berlin Brandenburg Airport Willy Brandt has been delayed for nearly six years.
Günter Wicker / Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg GmbH
<strong>Clear for takeoff: </strong>At a promotional event in March 2012 it appeared to be all systems go for the launch.
Clear for takeoff: At a promotional event in March 2012 it appeared to be all systems go for the launch.
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<strong>Constant setbacks:</strong> The airport, which will become the city's main international airport when it finally opens, was due to launch in June 2012, but this was canceled less than a month beforehand.
Constant setbacks: The airport, which will become the city's main international airport when it finally opens, was due to launch in June 2012, but this was canceled less than a month beforehand.
Günter Wicker / Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg GmbH
<strong>Behind schedule: </strong>A faulty fire-protection system, ill-fitting escalators and structural faults in the ceiling are among the many problems that have contributed to the delay.
Behind schedule: A faulty fire-protection system, ill-fitting escalators and structural faults in the ceiling are among the many problems that have contributed to the delay.
Günter Wicker / Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg GmbH
<strong>New dawn: </strong>Brandenburg is supposed to represent a new era in German aviation and take the pressure off the city's Tegel and Schönefeld airports.
New dawn: Brandenburg is supposed to represent a new era in German aviation and take the pressure off the city's Tegel and Schönefeld airports.
Sean Gallup/Getty Images
<strong>Tumbleweed: </strong>Brandenburg's tarmac has remained unsullied as ill winds continue to blow.
Tumbleweed: Brandenburg's tarmac has remained unsullied as ill winds continue to blow.
Sean Gallup/Getty Images
<strong>No air traffic to control:</strong> The tower was ready for business in 2012.
No air traffic to control: The tower was ready for business in 2012.
Andreas Rentz/Getty Images
<strong>Information, but no flights:</strong> Boards were switched on and displayed flight information from nearby airports to make sure they worked.
Information, but no flights: Boards were switched on and displayed flight information from nearby airports to make sure they worked.
Adam Berry/Getty Images
<strong>Welcome to Berlin: </strong>Signage and marketing was in full swing with a positive message to the world.
Welcome to Berlin: Signage and marketing was in full swing with a positive message to the world.
Adam Berry/Getty Images
<strong>Runway to nowhere: </strong>But the airport remains dormant, a vast aviation hub sitting idle as air traffic piles up elsewhere.
Runway to nowhere: But the airport remains dormant, a vast aviation hub sitting idle as air traffic piles up elsewhere.
Sean Gallup/Getty Images
<strong>Over the fence: </strong>Services to nearby Schoenefeld Airport continue as the Brandenburg project drags on.
Over the fence: Services to nearby Schoenefeld Airport continue as the Brandenburg project drags on.
Sean Gallup/Getty Images
<strong>Temporary solution: </strong>Tegel Airport is currently being used as the main international airport for Berlin. It was expected to close when Berlin Brandenburg went into service, but locals voted to keep the airport open in a 2017 referendum.
Temporary solution: Tegel Airport is currently being used as the main international airport for Berlin. It was expected to close when Berlin Brandenburg went into service, but locals voted to keep the airport open in a 2017 referendum.
Maja Hitij / Getty Images
<strong>Embarrassing debacle:</strong> Germany's largest daily newspaper BILD has called the situation a "disgrace for Germany."<br />
Embarrassing debacle: Germany's largest daily newspaper BILD has called the situation a "disgrace for Germany."
Günter Wicker / Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg GmbH
<strong>Heavy fall-out:</strong> Berlin's then-mayor Klaus Wowereit (pictured right) stood down as head of the supervisory board overseeing the project in 2013 after facing criticism.
Heavy fall-out: Berlin's then-mayor Klaus Wowereit (pictured right) stood down as head of the supervisory board overseeing the project in 2013 after facing criticism.
Carsten Koall / Getty Images
<strong>Unmitigated fiasco: </strong>No regular commercial flights have ever used the airport's state-of-the-art terminal.
Unmitigated fiasco: No regular commercial flights have ever used the airport's state-of-the-art terminal.
Günter Wicker / Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg GmbH
<strong>Not the foggiest:</strong> No one knows when the airport will finally open. Some reports say not until 2021.
Not the foggiest: No one knows when the airport will finally open. Some reports say not until 2021.
Sean Gallup/Getty Images
<strong>Teasing: </strong>This is the sight officials want to see, but this aircraft from Schönefeld Airport is not on the Brandenburg radar -- it's switched off.
Teasing: This is the sight officials want to see, but this aircraft from Schönefeld Airport is not on the Brandenburg radar -- it's switched off.
Adam Berry/Getty Images
<strong>Construction site: </strong>Around six billion euros ($7 billion) have been spent on building the new airport so far, with many elements having to be started from scratch.
Construction site: Around six billion euros ($7 billion) have been spent on building the new airport so far, with many elements having to be started from scratch.
TOBIAS SCHWARZ / AFP / Getty Images
<strong>Growing weeds:</strong> The new airport has been left to gather dust while the wrangling and rebuilding continues.
Growing weeds: The new airport has been left to gather dust while the wrangling and rebuilding continues.
Sean Gallup/Getty Images
<strong>Unfinished project: </strong>"It is still very difficult to properly and realistically assess the state of construction progress and remaining items, hence the reluctance of anyone stating any new opening date now," says Andreas Spaeth, a German aviation industry analyst and author.
Unfinished project: "It is still very difficult to properly and realistically assess the state of construction progress and remaining items, hence the reluctance of anyone stating any new opening date now," says Andreas Spaeth, a German aviation industry analyst and author.
JOHANNES EISELE / AFP / Getty Images