Berlin BER Drops Runway Slot Bookings as CT Scanners Take Over

Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) is discontinuing its BER Runway slot booking system from May 26, 2026, after the introduction of modern CT scanner lanes made the dedicated access point increasingly redundant.

The BER Runway, an additional entry point to security control introduced in August 2022, will no longer accept time slot bookings following the Whitsun weekend. The decision comes after Terminal 1's Areas 1 and 5 were fully equipped with CT scanning technology, making the conventional lanes significantly less attractive by comparison. Last month, 90 percent of passengers who had booked a BER Runway slot did not use it, opting instead for the CT scanner lanes at short notice.

The appeal of the new technology is straightforward: at CT-equipped lanes, passengers may carry liquids of up to two litres per person and no longer need to remove liquids or electronic devices from their hand luggage, considerably speeding up the screening process.

The BER Runway lanes in the central section of Terminal 1 still use conventional X-ray technology, where the standard 100ml liquid rule applies and electronics must be removed from bags. However, the airport has already ordered new CT equipment for these lanes, with refurbishment scheduled to begin in autumn 2026.

BER currently operates 24 lanes with modern security technology across Terminals 1 and 2. Waiting time information is available on the airport's website, the BER app, and on-site monitors.