Missed opportunities: The restructuring of Berlin's airport system and the city's position in international airline networks

After German reunification, Berlin was expected by many to become one of Europe's foremost world cities, but that has not happened, partly because Berlin remains no more than a secondary hub in the global airline industry. This paper traces the history of airports in Berlin, examines the city's stature in international air transportation networks, and describes the long planning process for the new Berlin-Brandenburg International Airport. Although Berlin's history is unique, it is argued that larger economic and political forces affecting all airports have fostered the city's continued marginalization within the world's air transportation system.