BER Prepares for Summer Peak: 3.7 Million Passengers and More New Flights Expected in Berlin

Berlin Brandenburg Airport expects approximately 3.7 million passengers during the 2026 summer school holidays, while several airlines are expanding their offerings. This news is important for Hungarian travelers not only because of Berlin: BER is increasingly appearing as an alternative departure point, a transfer option, or as part of a city visit that must be smartly planned combining flights, trains, and local transport.

According to information released by Berlin Brandenburg Airport on June 30, 2026, approximately 3.7 million passengers may visit the airport during the school holidays in the states of Berlin and Brandenburg, specifically between July 8 and August 23. This roughly matches the traffic of last year's summer break, but based on the details, it is not simply an unchanged season. The airport expects about 400,000 passengers in the first five days of the break alone, with the busiest days likely to be July 10, August 21, and August 23, each with approximately 90,000 passengers.

This is interesting from the perspective of the Hungarian market because Berlin is not just a standalone city visit destination. The Berlin Brandenburg Airport appears as a second or third option for many travelers, compared alongside Budapest and Vienna: some combine the onward journey with Berlin sightseeing, others monitor BER for long-haul and North American flights, and still others build routes via Berlin using low-cost or separate tickets. Therefore, the current summer forecast is not just local airport news, but a broader signal for route planning.

What is Changing in the Berlin Summer Season?

According to the airport, the most popular destination countries will be Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom, Italy, and Greece. These are familiar, strong summer markets for Hungarian travelers as well: the same Mediterranean and city destinations that receive many searches from Budapest and Vienna. The difference lies more in the fact that more airlines appear from Berlin with greater capacity or a different route portfolio, making BER a real alternative for certain trips.

According to the information, easyJet, Ryanair, and Eurowings may provide the most take-offs and landings during the summer break. The expansion of Wizz Air and Eurowings is particularly striking: the Hungarian-linked Wizz Air already flies to twelve destinations from BER, and according to the airport, it has increased its total capacity in Berlin by more than 90 percent compared to last year's summer schedule. Eurowings is stationing two additional aircraft at the airport for the summer schedule, and the expanded offering includes London, Lisbon, Sarajevo, Olbia, Naples, and Kavala, among others. More flights are also departing for Palma de Mallorca.

Network expansion does not stop at European and Mediterranean markets. AJet appears in the summer offering towards Bodrum, Air Uniq towards Sylt, and Middle East Airlines towards Beirut. On the long-haul side, the airport highlights North America: from July 3, Air Canada flights start to Montreal, Air Transat flies to Toronto again, and Delta Air Lines and United Airlines offer daily New York flights during the summer period. For Hungarian travelers, this does not mean Berlin is automatically a better choice than Budapest or Vienna, but it does mean that for transatlantic and multi-city trips, it is worth comparing options based on price, schedule, baggage, and transfer risk.

Why Could This Be Important for Hungarian Travelers?

Berlin remains directly accessible from Budapest by plane, and searching for Budapest-Berlin flight tickets often starts as a city visit. However, during the summer peak, the decision is rarely just about the base ticket price. Checked baggage fees, carry-on rules, airport arrival time, the price of accommodation in Berlin, city transfers, and whether the onward flight from BER is on a separate ticket or in one booking all matter.

Separate ticket routes are particularly risky during busy periods. If someone, for example, arrives in Berlin from Budapest and then continues to North America with a separate booking, airlines generally do not treat the two segments as a single continuous journey. A delay, longer baggage collection, or a security queue can easily lead to missing the second flight. Based on the summer forecast, it is therefore advisable to integrate BER into the itinerary with ample buffer time, possibly with an overnight stop in Berlin or a flexible ticket.

The airport also draws attention to the fact that demand for parking spaces may be high. This is a less common situation for passengers arriving in Berlin from Hungary by car or train, but it is important for those who rent a car for a family trip, drop off a relative at the airport, or end a multi-day German road trip at BER. The airport recommends advance online parking reservations and mentions a separate discounted Kiss & Fly offer for short stops. For those who prefer to rent a car locally, a preliminary comparison of BER airport car rentals can help avoid peak-season rush.

Security Checks, Baggage, and EES: Where Could Time Be Lost?

BER highlights several services that can help manage summer passenger traffic. More than 120 self-service kiosks operate in the two terminals, and 21 airlines offer independent baggage tag printing and baggage drop-off. Traveling with carry-on baggage, passengers can go directly to security if they have checked in online in advance and meet the airline's conditions.

An important difference at security is that modern CT scanners are already operating in some areas of BER. Security areas 1 and 5 in Terminal 1, as well as the security zone in Terminal 2, are equipped with this technology; at these points, electronic devices and liquids do not need to be removed from carry-on baggage. However, traditional technology is still in use at the central security areas 2 and 4 in Terminal 1, so the 100-milliliter liquid rule per container remains essential there. This difference is important because a traveler may not experience the same liquid and carry-on handling at every European airport, nor even at every security checkpoint within the same airport.

The airport also gives a specific warning about power banks and e-cigarettes: these cannot be placed in checked baggage and can only be transported in carry-on baggage, complying with airline quantity and safety regulations. This is a particularly useful reminder for those embarking on long city visits, festivals, or transatlantic trips and carrying multiple electronic devices.

Regarding border control, the airport warns of the possibility of longer waiting times at entry or exit of the Schengen area due to the European Entry/Exit System, or EES. Hungarian and other EU citizens are not affected by the system in the same way as non-EU passengers arriving for short stays, but in practice, the effect can be indirect due to queues, mixed-nationality families, non-EU travel companions, and tight connections. Those departing from Berlin to the United Kingdom, Turkey, North America, or other non-Schengen destinations should especially avoid planning a minute-perfect airport arrival.

Families and City Visitors Must Also Plan Differently

During the summer peak, family travel operates at its own pace. In BER Terminal 1, at security check 5, a family lane is available for families traveling with children under 5 years old, with a maximum of two accompanying adults and minor siblings. The airport also indicates that strollers that fold higher than 25 centimeters must be dropped off at the large and oversized baggage counter, while free loaner strollers in the terminals can help the way to the departure gate.

For city visitors, airport transfers are also an important cost and time element. Berlin is large, and BER is not in the historic city center, so it is worth checking the route after arrival in advance. The airport warns of S-Bahn track closures and replacement bus sections between Schöneweide and Treptower Park between August 18 and 31, so on the day of arrival, the FEX, regional trains, or other modes of transport may be more appropriate. For those who would prefer to book in advance for convenience, the Berlin airport transfer and taxi page can help review the options.

Regarding accommodation, it also matters whether the traveler chooses Berlin city center, an airport night before an early departure, or a rest before continuing. For those departing on a morning flight, traveling with small children, or wishing to reduce stress with a separate ticket connection, it may be worth looking at accommodation near BER airport, even if the main part of the city visit takes place in Berlin's inner districts.

Budapest, Vienna, or Berlin: How to Decide?

For Hungarian travelers, the expansion in Berlin does not mean every route must be searched from Berlin. Budapest Airport is in many cases a more convenient, faster, and more predictable departure point, especially if there is a direct flight to the destination. Vienna remains a strong alternative for long-haul and premium network connections. Berlin can be interesting if the schedule, price, available destination, or multi-city itinerary truly adds something to the trip.

It is worth looking at the total travel cost: how the passenger gets to the chosen airport, how much baggage costs, whether a hotel is needed before departure, how much the transfer time is, and what risk is taken with a separate ticket booking. Those who only look at the base ticket price can easily choose a route that is cheap on paper but more expensive in terms of time, inconvenience, or risk. Budapest live flight information, Vienna flight information, and the BER online flight tracker can be particularly useful before departure if the traveler is comparing multiple airports.

The final message of the Berlin forecast is therefore more practical than spectacular: BER is preparing for a steadily high summer traffic, the network is expanding, but the key to a comfortable trip during the peak period is preparation. Online check-in, real-time airport information, conscious baggage packing, ample buffer time, well-thought-out transfers, and a realistic airport choice. For those who handle Berlin this way, BER is not necessarily an additional risk, but can be a useful tool in a more flexible summer or early autumn travel plan.