German) has, despite much scepticism, collected enough signatures - nearly 200,000 - to enforce a city referendum.

On April 27, Berliners will be asked to vote 'yes' or 'no' to keeping Tempelhof Airport open. Out of a total of 2.5m registered voters, around 600,000 will have to say 'yes' for the motion to carry - though even then Wowereit is not obliged to listen.

Many residents are for the closure on the grounds of noise, pollution and the possibility of a plane crash. A poster popping up around Berlin depicts a woman saying: "I'll gladly fly from Berlin but never Tempelhof".

Other Berliners, however, see the site as integral both to the city's geography and history. With modifications - cosmetics mogul Ronald Lauder, for example, has offered to convert the airfield into a fly-in medical clinic and conference

centre - they're sure the airport could be made profitable.

More emotively, Tempelhof was where the 11-month-long Berlin Airlift took place 60 years ago. The mission kept Allied-occupied West Berlin alive after Stalin's blockade in June 1948.

At its height, supply planes were landing every 62 seconds. Berliners, especially older ones, feel strongly that the airport occupies a central place in their post-war history. For them, the airport's association with their freedom far outshines its dark Nazi profile.

Airlines flying into Tempelhof include Brussels Air, Cirrus, DauAir, Flysmaland and InterSky.