Berlin Taxis Barred From Picking Up Passengers at BER Airport Starting 2027

Starting January 1, 2027, taxi drivers from Berlin will no longer be permitted to pick up passengers directly at Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER). The Dahme-Spreewald district announced that it has canceled the existing taxi agreement that has been in place since 2020, bringing significant changes to ground transportation at the major aviation hub.

Under the new regulations, only taxis with their registered operating headquarters in Schönefeld will be authorized to pick up passengers at the airport. According to district officials, a significant decline in overall taxi demand means that only 500 to 600 vehicles will be necessary to reliably cover future passenger needs.

Authorities explained that current Berlin-Brandenburg Airport drivers frequently endure waiting times exceeding three hours before securing a fare. The district stated that the primary goal of the policy change is to improve the economic stability and working conditions for local transportation businesses operating within the district.

Furthermore, the district highlighted mounting financial pressures from growing competition within the private hire vehicle sector. Companies utilizing digital booking platforms such as Uber, Bolt, and Free Now have increasingly cut into traditional taxi revenues.

In response to the announcement, Ute Bonde, Berlin's Senator for Mobility, expressed regret over the decision on Monday. She noted that while current market conditions remain exceptionally challenging for the Berlin taxi industry, passengers will still be able to utilize Berlin taxis from the airport by ordering them via telephone dispatch or smartphone applications.

Senator Bonde also pointed to the significantly enhanced rail connectivity to BER, noting the ongoing success of the Airport Express (FEX) train operating between Berlin Central Station and the airport since December 2025. Despite these transit alternatives, local officials lament the negative impact on drivers.

Ordinarily, only taxis licensed in Dahme-Spreewald are allowed to pick up fares at BER, while drivers from other Brandenburg districts must drop off passengers and return empty. This restriction has generally applied to most of Berlin's 6,600 taxis as well.

An exception has historically been granted to roughly 550 vehicles selected through a lottery system, which received a one-year loading authorization to pick up fares at the terminal. The upcoming 2027 policy shift eliminates these allowances, completely reshaping how regional cabs interact with the airport transit hub.