In 2019, the final year both Berlin airports, Berlin Tegel and Berlin Schönefeld, operated alongside each other, 35.6 million passengers passed through Berlin’s airports. This rendered the city the third largest airport hub in Germany. Aircraft engines are the main cause for skyrocketing noise levels along runways.
The German Act for Aircraft Noise Protection (FluLärmG) stipulates that there must be designated noise protection areas at all commercial and military airports. For example, hospitals, retirement homes and similar facilities may not be built there. There are restrictions to building apartments, which must meet sound insulation requirements.
Noise protection areas are established based on standardised noise measurements and consist of two daytime protection zones and, if necessary, an additional night-time protection zone. The location and size of the areas are determined by the state government.
With the opening of Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) on October 31, 2020 and the permanent closure of Berlin Tegel on May 5, 2021, Berlin’s air traffic is now concentrated around BER. In addition to legal requirements, the airport must meet additional noise protection specifications resulting from the planning approval of 2004 (only in German) and the plan amendment of 2009 (only in German). Residents within the daytime protection zone, for example, are entitled to financial compensation or the installation of sound insulation. This shall ensure that a noise level of 55 decibels is not exceeded inside buildings during the day.
Please note: previous protection areas for Tempelhof Airport (THF) and Tegel Airport (TXL) have been archived and continue to be available in the maps of 2009 and 2019.