Historic Tempelhof Airport Rescue Bid Fails
An attempt to save Berlin's Tempelhof Airport failed last weekend, with the airport now set for closure in October.
As reported last week by Airport International, a referendum was organised by supporters of the 80 year-old airport - located just 10 minutes from the centre of the German city - in a bid to rescue the historic site from being closed.
However, just 21.7% of the 2.4 million Berliners eligible to take part in the referendum bothered to cast a vote. In order for the referendum to have any effect, at least 25% of Berliners had to take part in the ballot.
This means that the ruling left-wing politicians in Berlin are able to proceed unopposed with their plans to close Tempelhof, first announced late last year, which is part of the wider effort to centralise Berlin air services on the Berlin-Brandenburg International (BBI) hub - set for opening in 2011 on the site of the existing Berlin-Schonefeld Airport in East Berlin.
Klaus Wowereit, Berlin's Social Democrat (SPD) Mayor, welcomed the result of the referendum and said Berliners should now focus on the development of BBI, and the benefits this would bring to the city.
The director of Berlin Airports, Rainer Schwarz, agreed. He said: "For us, our customers, and the banks financing us, this result gives a clear signal - one that provides security". Schwarz said Tempelhof's supporters were "stuck in the past" and that they should look ahead to the economic prospects BBI would bring.
Save Tempelhof Campaigners Fight On
The campaign to keep Tempelhof Airport had built up a critical mass in recent weeks, with business leaders, celebrities, preservation groups and conservative politicians - including the Gerrman Chancellor, Angela Merkel - all throwing their weight behind the campaign.
They argued that Tempelhof's crucial role during the Berlin Airlift of 1948-49, a massive humanitarian operation between British and American forces to keep the city of Berlin supplied in the face of the Soviet blockade; its unique architecture; and its perceived economic value (being so close to Berlin's business district) all mean Tempelhof should be kept open.
Clearly, the result of the referendum showed that the vast amount of Berliners did not agree with them.
However, supporters of Save Tempelhof campaign have refused to accept that their efforts should cease. Friedrich Pflüger, head of the conseravative Christian Democrats (CDU) party in Berlin, said: "The fight for Tempelhof lives on".
Wowereit called on the campaigners to concede defeat. He drew attention to the fact that more than three-quarters of Berliners had either voted 'no' to keep Tempelhof open, or not voted at all, and said: "I would therefore ask the supporters...to respect this majority".
As it stands, Tempelhof will close as scheduled in October.
Tempelhof Could Become Film Studio
Meanwhile, executives at a leading German film studio said they were interested in transforming Tempelhof into a "world-class film location" once it closes.
Carl Woebcken, from Babelsberg Studios based just outside Berlin, said that two of the hangars could be used for film set workshops while the listed terminal building - with its unique crescent shape and art deco architecture - could be put to use as period backdrops on film productions.
Source - Airport International's European Correspondent
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