1ST LEAD 2017 opening for long-delayed Berlin airport officially ruled out By Stefan Kruse and Marion van der Kraats, dpa

Berlin (dpa) - The long-delayed opening of Berlin‘s new airport will not be in 2017, airport head Karsten Muehlenfeld confirmed Saturday, citing unacceptably high risks if planners stuck to the original timetable."After the latest developments, which I relayed to representatives of interested parties last week, the associated risk for an opening of the airport this year is too high," he said.Although the announcement had been telegraphed long in advance, it still adds another embarassing footnote to the drawn-out process of setting up an international airport in Germany‘s capital. The city is served by two smaller airports, but most experts agree neither is adequate for a city of Berlin‘s stature.The airport was originally set to open in 2011. The decision to open has been delayed about a half dozen times since then. That includes a delay in 2012, when the entire city was decked out with banners announcing the opening and tickets had been distributed for arrivals and landings there, only for the opening to be scrubbed with only a few weeks‘ warning.The 2017 date was thrown into question earlier this week when it was revealed that there were problems with the doors at the airport. Other concerns that have prompted delays over the years included worries that the building‘s roof was in danger of collapse under the weight of a ventilation system, as well as the designation of the airport‘s internal walls as a fire hazard."At this moment, we are at a point where we have to say that 2017 can no longer work for an opening," said Berlin Mayor Michael Mueller, speaking at a meeting in Erfurt, Germany, before Muehlenfeld‘s announcement.Muehlenfeld said the oversight board would meet February 7 to discuss next steps. Mueller said he expects the airport‘s management to explain what consequences there will be after the most recent delay. The problem, involving 1,200 faulty doors, only came to light last week. There were also new concerns aired about the airport‘s sprinkler systems.He also expects a meeting in Berlin‘s City Hall to talk with contractors with whom cooperation "once again is not working.""We‘ll have a lot more certainty in the next two weeks about where we stand."After German reunification, Berlin was served by three airports: Tegel, Schoenefeld and Tempelhof. Tempelhof shut down in 2008. Tegel is supposed to shut down when the new Berlin Brandenburg Airport opens. The new facility will absorb parts of Schoenefeld.