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Tegel’s Role as a Landmark and in Reinventing a City
Once a pillar of strength for West Berlin during The Cold War, Berlin Tegel "Otto Lilienthal" Airport is now set to emerge as the symbol of the city’s innovative focus. Formerly the heart of Berlin’s air travel, Tegel’s story is deeply rooted in both history and aviation. With Project Berlin TXL, this reinvention is not just about Tegel’s redevelopment, but a deliberate move to reimagine how a city can innovate.
During the Cold War, West Berlin was isolated by the Soviet blockade, leaving the city on the brink of starvation, without means to sustain itself. Tegel became one of the most remarkable humanitarian efforts of the 20th century with the arrival of essential supplies through the Berlin Airlift. This historic mission cemented Tegel as an emblem of post-war recovery and a hub of international air travel. A testament to the city’s resilience and ingenuity, Tegel Airport was born out of determination for a better future. It became operational in just 90 days when it opened in 1948. Following the city's destruction, debris from ruined buildings was repurposed to pave the runway, which was later overlaid with asphalt. This resulted in a 2,428-meter runway—the longest in Europe at the time—reflecting Tegel’s early role in aviation advancement.
After 72 years of endless goodbyes, reunions, and journeys that began within its walls and on its runways, Tegel saw its final flight—an Air France departure—on November 8, 2020. Yet, its story was far from over; it was about to evolve into one of transformation and progress.
Project Berlin TXL – A Gateway to Berlin’s Future as an Innovation Hub
The closure of Tegel in 2020 marked the end of an era, but it also paved the way for an even more ambitious beginning. More than an effort to revitalize Tegel, Project Berlin TXL aims to reinforce Berlin’s status as an urban tech city.
Project Berlin TXL includes plans to renovate the area, focusing on research, education, and sustainable technologies. The redevelopment aims to attract tech startups and research institutions in a place where industry and science intersect, while also providing up to 20,000 job opportunities. Companies like DB Engineering & Consulting GmbH, Easymile, and KIS’M, among others, are introducing new solutions such as autonomous transport, driverless systems, and on-demand operations. From the mobility sector to energy to the ICT sector, each company plays a critical role in not only advocating but also transforming Berlin into the epitome of a city that can innovate.
NEX Aero Shaping Tegel into Berlin's Modern Aviation Landmark
By welcoming companies committed to forward-thinking solutions, Tegel itself gains a renewed sense of purpose in their work. Aligned with this vision, NEX has reached an agreement with the Urban Tech Republic’s administration to embed operations at Tegel. Establishing a strategic presence at the Urban Tech Republic, NEX secured two critical testing sites where it will test its heavy-duty cargo drone. The first is located right in front of the former Lufthansa hangar, which will be used for hover tests close to the ground. The second, positioned on the expansive “08 R” runway, allowing for more extended and higher-above-the-ground testing. Considering NEX's current half-scale prototype, it is even spacious enough to conduct acceleration-runs to fixed-wing airspeeds. Drafts of these areas have been amended to an existing operations manual in the specific category – NEX is expecting an approval to operate in the specific category from Federal Aviation Authority (LBA) in the coming weeks. This marks a critical step in NEX’s mission to transform the future of air cargo, with Berlin playing an integral role in that vision.
For the city, Tegel's revival is a powerful reminder of overcoming challenges and embracing new possibilities. Now serving as NEX Aero’s test flight workspace, the celebrated landmark is preparing for a new era, where aircraft will once again return to its storied runways.
