Berlin BER's new security system ends time slot booking: what should Hungarian travelers watch for in summer 2026?

On May 21, 2026, Berlin Brandenburg Airport announced that from May 26, it will discontinue its BER Runway service, which offered pre-bookable security check time slots. At first glance, this may seem like just a local airport process modification, but in reality, it clearly demonstrates how European airport operations are changing before the summer peak season: the focus is increasingly shifting toward new CT-based screening lanes, real-time passenger information, and simpler on-site redirection.

This is important news for Hungarian travelers as well. Berlin remains a popular city-visit destination, and due to flights between Budapest and Berlin, many choose the German capital for short weekend trips, business trips, or as a transit point. The current change does not mean that getting through security will be harder, but rather that preparation must follow a different logic: instead of the previously pre-booked time slot, on-site waiting times and the selection of the appropriate screening point will become important.

What exactly is changing at Berlin BER Airport?

According to the airport's information, the BER Runway appointment booking system will end on May 26, 2026. This was a service providing a separate entrance to security check 2 in Terminal 1, where passengers could arrive in pre-booked 15-minute time windows. The system was free and was previously introduced to make airport transit more predictable, especially during busy periods.

The reason for the current decision is that, according to the airport, screening lanes equipped with new CT scanners have become much more attractive to passengers. Based on BER's communication, the two large screening zones in Terminal 1, areas 1 and 5, have fully received modern CT technology, and because of this, the utilization of BER Runway has declined. The airport specifically highlighted that in the last month alone, 90 percent of passengers who booked an appointment for BER Runway ended up not using this entrance, but instead switched to the new screening lanes.

This is an important message: the airport is not discontinuing pre-booking because it wants to reduce the level of service, but because the traffic flow has actually rearranged itself. The focus is shifting from a fixed booking model to modernized, faster-to-handle screening points.

What can the new CT scanners do?

The biggest advantage of CT technology from the passenger's perspective is that it makes carry-on luggage inspection simpler at certain screening points. According to BER's current communication, at CT lanes, electronic devices do not need to be taken out of the bag, and up to two liters of liquids can be carried per person without having to pack everything separately. This can result in a more convenient and faster process, especially for those traveling with multiple devices, such as laptops, tablets, power banks, or cameras.

At the same time, there is a very important practical detail. BER's own security information page also draws attention to the fact that not all screening points yet operate with this technology. Currently, in Terminal 1, zones 1 and 5, as well as the security check at Terminal 2, use CT scanners, while traditional systems still operate at other points in Terminal 1. At these points, the classic 100-milliliter liquid rule still applies, and electronic devices must still be taken out of carry-on luggage.

Therefore, the airport itself recommends that those who want to be sure should continue to prepare liquids according to the 100-milliliter, one-liter transparent bag logic as a general rule. In short: CT lanes may be more convenient, but it is not worth relying on the fact that a passenger will certainly be directed to such a screening point in every case.

Why could this be important for Hungarian travelers?

The practical significance of the change is that departure must be organized differently. BER Runway provided a kind of psychological security: those who booked a time slot felt that the entry part of the security check was at least partially predictable. After May 26, 2026, this anchor disappears; instead, the airport recommends monitoring real-time waiting times on the website, in the app, and on terminal monitors.

This may be particularly relevant for those flying during morning or evening peak hours, traveling with low-cost flights, traveling with carry-on luggage only, or returning home to Budapest from Berlin after a short city tour. In such cases, many passengers tend to assume that online check-in and carry-on luggage will save time. In practice, however, airport security screening remains one of the most important bottlenecks, especially in summer.

Furthermore, the terminal structure of the Berlin airport is not always intuitive for those who travel from there infrequently. According to BER information, generally any of the security checks at Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 can be used, and all departure gates are accessible, but passengers must still pay attention to which terminal their flight departs from, where luggage must be dropped off, and what waiting time is currently shown on the displays. For those traveling from Berlin for the first time, this may require more attention than the previous pre-bookable model.

Will travel be faster because of this, or more unpredictable?

The short answer is that for some passengers it will be faster, but overall the system will be more flexible. Based on BER's previous communications, the airport has already experienced in screening areas equipped with CT lanes that the vast majority of passengers got through security with a wait of less than ten minutes. This indicates that technological modernization is indeed capable of reducing queuing, especially where there is a lot of carry-on luggage and electronic devices.

At the same time, the end of the fixed time slot means that the system is less personalized. The airport starts from the premise that most passengers now prefer the faster, more convenient CT lanes rather than a separate bookable entry point. This is likely a correct assumption, but it only works well if traffic is evenly distributed among the different screening zones and passengers actually monitor current waiting times.

From the perspective of a Hungarian traveler, therefore, this is not bad news, but rather a change that better rewards foresight in preparation. Those who arrive on time, monitor the displays, and do not join a random queue at the last moment may find the system even more convenient than before. Those who, out of habit, leave their airport arrival for the last hour and a half, however, may more easily find themselves in a stressful situation.

What should those flying home from Berlin or traveling there in the summer watch for?

The most important thing is that in the 2026 summer season, no one should count on BER Runway time slot booking as a guaranteed option. After May 26, before departing from Berlin, it is worth checking the airport's official waiting time displays and not automatically going to the same screening point as during previous trips.

From a practical standpoint, three simple rules can be particularly useful:

• Arrive at the airport with plenty of spare time, even if you already have your boarding pass.
• Continue to prepare liquids according to the traditional 100-milliliter rule, unless you clearly see on-site that you are using a CT lane.
• Keep electronic devices easily accessible, as although they do not necessarily need to be unpacked in modern lanes, they do in traditional screening.

In Berlin, moreover, many passengers fly with late evening or early morning departures, when the timing between public transport connections, luggage drop-off, and security screening can be particularly sensitive. For those with early flights, it is worth checking the terminal, transport connections, and current airport advice the previous evening. In this regard, the BER online flight tracker page can be helpful, as well as hotels near the airport or pre-bookable transfer solutions for those departing at dawn.

What does this say about broader European travel trends?

The Berlin decision fits well into a larger European trend where airports are simultaneously trying to digitize, simplify, and increase capacity. For the passenger, this initially means convenience: less unpacking, faster queues, better information. In the background, however, what is happening is that airports are no longer building on a single special extra service, but are trying to modernize the entire screening process.

This is a favorable direction in the long term because during the summer travel season, the performance of the entire system matters, not a narrow, separately entered channel. If CT technology can indeed handle more passengers faster, then the entire airport experience can become more predictable. However, in the current transition period, old and new rules still coexist, which leaves some uncertainty for passengers.

Summary

The decision of Berlin Brandenburg Airport is not a dramatic tightening, but a change in the operating model. From May 26, 2026, the separately bookable BER Runway time slot will disappear because the majority of passengers now prefer the screening lanes equipped with modern CT scanners. This is good news in the sense that the airport is moving toward faster and more convenient screening, but Hungarian travelers must adapt to the fact that instead of previous booking security, on-site information and time buffers will be the key.

For those heading to Berlin in the summer, the best strategy remains to arrive on time, monitor official airport information, and not automatically assume that every screening point can do the same. Modernization can indeed speed up the travel, but only for those who adjust their departure in practice accordingly.