Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg GmbH (FBB) has been responsible for passenger and baggage controls at BER Airport since 1 January 2024. It took over the organisation, management, implementation and financing of aviation security controls in accordance with Section 5 of the German Aviation Security Act (LuftSiG) from the Federal Police as planned at the beginning of the year.
BER is the second German airport after Frankfurt am Main to assume responsibility for aviation security controls on passengers and their baggage. The aim is to functionally enhance processes and, therefore, further reduce waiting times for passengers. The safety of passengers and employees remains top priority.
The takeover of these sovereign tasks has been prepared in recent months together with the Federal Police. Passenger and baggage controls will initially continue to be carried out by Securitas Aviation Service GmbH & Co. KG (Securitas).
There are also plans to gradually equip the security controls at BER with state-of-the-art CT scanners. The first five of eight CT scanners in Terminal 2 are already in operation. The computer tomography used in the CT scanners enables a wide variety of materials and items to be identified reliably and quickly. Passengers using the new CT lanes no longer have to remove liquids, smartphones and other electronic devices from their carry-on bags. The new equipment will also be installed in Terminal 1, preparations for which are already underway.
Aletta von Massenbach, Chief Executive Officer of Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg GmbH: “We have been carefully preparing for a long time for the management of the security controls. I would like to thank everyone involved in the project for their commitment. By taking over these sovereign tasks, we have the opportunity to better plan processes at our airport and, therefore, organise them more efficiently. The overriding objective remains to maintain the high level of aviation security. We are delighted to have Securitas at our side as a new contractual partner. The Federal Police remains a reliable partner for us.”
Carsten Glade, President of the Federal Police Department Berlin: “In recent months, the Federal Police and FBB have been working together to do everything possible to prepare FBB for the tasks that it inherited on 1 January 2024. We are extremely confident and have complete faith that the required safety standards will be met while maintaining the usual high quality. We are taking this step to the next level together, and FBB can continue to rely on the cooperation and, if necessary, expert advice from the Federal Police in the future.”
Tobias Soppart, Managing Director/Segment Manager Securitas Aviation: “Securitas has deployed around 1,800 employees since BER began operations. As the largest German service provider in the field of aviation security, we are proud to contribute to ensuring security at the capital airport. The new organisational model boosts cooperation between the airport operator, the Federal Police and Securitas. This ensures even closer coordination with regard to staff planning, technology use and service. Passengers in particular will benefit from this, while security remains the same.
