Exploring cultures and communities – the slow way

What new European airport welcomed its inaugural flight in April this year and has since closed its doors for a long winter break? The answer is Kassel in Germany, which gets the hidden europe wooden spoon for the biggest transport flop of the year.

article summary —

New airports are a touchy topic in Germany. The much-vaunted new airport for Berlin is vastly over budget and years late in opening. Originally scheduled to receive its first flights in 2010, we were looking forward to the much-delayed opening in June 2012. Just three weeks prior to the launch, word came that some minor details still needed attention and the opening would be delayed. Those minor details are evidently not so trivial, for Berliners still have no confirmed opening date for their new airport.

The debacle in Berlin is however not quite as farcical as the events in Kassel (in the German state of Hessen).


This is just an excerpt. If you are a subscriber to hidden europe magazine, you can log in to read the full text online. Of course you can also read the full article in the print edition of hidden europe 41.

About the authors

hidden europe

and manage hidden europe, a Berlin-based editorial bureau that supplies text and images to media across Europe. Together they edit hidden europe magazine. Nicky and Susanne are dedicated slow travellers. They delight in discovering the exotic in the everyday.

This article was published in hidden europe 41.