The Decline of German Excellence: How BER and Lufthansa’s Cost-Cutting Damaged a Once-Impeccable Reputation

For centuries, Germany was synonymous with precision, efficiency, and world-class engineering. Whether in automobiles, railways, or aviation, German infrastructure and services were regarded as the gold standard. However, two major failures - the disaster of Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) and Lufthansa’s relentless cost-cutting measures - have shattered this once-impeccable image. These missteps not only exposed deep flaws in Germany’s ability to execute large-scale projects but also revealed a disturbing decline in service quality that once defined its aviation sector.

Few people have had the opportunity to experience BER as thoroughly as I have. Due to my regular assignments as an interpreter and translator for the Federal Police (immigration), I have spent significant time at the airport and its surroundings. What I discovered left me shocked. I expected Germany’s new capital airport to be a shining example of modern design and efficiency. Instead, I found a facility that felt outdated and poorly executed from the very beginning.

Even setting aside the fact that BER opened nine years late and cost over €7 billion - more than three times the original budget, the design and layout are a global embarrassment. The lack of a proper connection to Terminal 2, forcing transiting passengers to walk through rain and poor weather, is something I would expect in a third-rate airport, not in the capital of Europe’s largest economy. The passenger experience is uninspiring, cramped, and inefficient, especially when compared to modern hubs like Doha, Istanbul, or even New Delhi. From my firsthand experience, I can confidently say that many airports in developing countries now offer a far better passenger experience than BER.

However, BER is just one symptom of a larger decline in German aviation. Lufthansa, once a global symbol of reliability and premium service, has systematically dismantled its reputation through aggressive cost-cutting measures. While cost efficiency is essential in modern aviation, Lufthansa’s approach has alienated loyal passengers. On short-haul flights, complimentary meals and beverages have been eliminated, bringing the airline closer to a low-cost model while still charging premium prices. Even on long-haul routes, passenger complaints about declining service standards have grown.

The irony is that Lufthansa's cost-cutting has backfired. Instead of strengthening its position, it has pushed passengers toward competitors like Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Turkish Airlines, which have invested in superior onboard service and modern fleet comfort. Lufthansa still attempts to present itself as a premium airline, but in reality, it now struggles to differentiate itself from budget carriers.

The BER disaster and Lufthansa’s decline reflect a broader issue - Germany is losing its reputation for high-quality engineering and customer-focused service. Once a country that set global standards in infrastructure, it is now struggling with bureaucracy, mismanagement, and a failure to adapt to modern demands. BER should have been a symbol of Germany’s future in aviation. Instead, it has become a symbol of its decline.

Unless Germany rethinks its approach - involving the private sector more deeply in major projects and prioritizing quality over cost-cutting in aviation - it risks falling further behind in the global transport industry. The world is watching, and so far, the verdict is clear: Germany no longer leads in the very areas it once dominated.