April 23, 2026

A Milestone at FRA: the First Landing at Terminal 3

TThe first plane to be welcomed at Frankfurt Airport’s new Terminal 3 – flight CZ8021 from Shenyang, operated by China Southern Airlines – arrived on the morning of April 23 at 5:25 a.m. The aircraft was handled at position J3. A total of 12 arrivals and 12 departures carrying a total of about 6,000 passengers have been scheduled for Terminal 3’s first day of operation.

“The first plane that we handle on Terminal 3’s first day of operation is a special moment that will go down in the history of Frankfurt Airport,” says Alexander Laukenmann, the head of Fraport’s Aviation Division. “It’s much more than just a familiar procedure at a new building. It marks the culmination of years of planning, finally becoming reality thanks to years of dedication and effort by everyone involved. This special moment belongs to everyone who has helped build and take Terminal 3 live here at Frankfurt Airport.”

April 22, 2026

A Historic Moment: Fraport Inaugurates the New Terminal 3 at Frankfurt Airport

More than 400 invited guests celebrated Terminal 3’s festive opening / Landmark project completed on schedule and budget / Initial flight on April 23

Today (April 22), Fraport AG officially opened the new state-of-the-art Terminal 3 at Frankfurt Airport with a ceremony attended by more than 400 invited guests from government, business, and the aviation industry. The inauguration marks the completion of the largest infrastructure project ever undertaken by the MDAX-listed company, ushering in a new era in Frankfurt Airport’s history. Guests of honor included German Federal Minister for Transport Patrick Schnieder; Hesse’s Minister-President Boris Rhein; the Lord Mayor of Frankfurt, Mike Josef; Michael Boddenberg, Chair of Fraport’s Supervisory Board; and Christoph Mäckler, the architect responsible for designing Terminal 3.

“Today is a special day – for Fraport, for Frankfurt, for Hesse, and far beyond,” emphasized Dr. Stefan Schulte, Chief Executive Officer of Fraport AG. “With the inauguration of our Terminal 3, one of Europe’s most advanced terminals, we are positioning ourselves for long-term success. This brand-new structure is more than just a major step forward in our airport’s evolution; it also stands as a symbol of the outstanding collaboration among all those involved in the project. Each of them has contributed to its success with their expertise, lifeblood, and abilities,” he added.

Minister-President Boris Rhein stated: “It’s a great achievement that the new Terminal 3 is being inaugurated this Wednesday. As Europe’s largest privately funded infrastructure project, it demonstrates what Germany is capable of. Germany can build. We can deliver ambitious projects. ‘Made in Germany’ remains a badge of quality. The new terminal strengthens both our

airport and our economy. We need strong air transportation hubs to keep our country internationally connected. That is why we want to further enhance Germany’s competitiveness in the global aviation industry.”

The grand opening of the new passenger terminal was celebrated with an impressive light show and a choreographed dance performance in Terminal 3’s central marketplace. The official program concluded with the announcement: “Terminal 3 is ready for check-in!”

First flight on April 23 – Relocation of 57 airlines set to begin

Terminal 3 starts regular operation on April 23. Among the first users of the new facility are all 57 of the airlines that are permanently relocating to the new terminal and will be operating their flights from there going forward. The move is taking place in four waves and will be concluded by June 9. In addition, Condor – the second-largest airline at Frankfurt Airport – will be switching to Terminal 3 in the summer of 2027. In the airport’s youngest terminal, airlines, concessionaires and passengers alike will benefit from timeless architecture, short paths and leading-edge technology. In addition to fully automated luggage check-in and security checks with CT scanners, the terminal offers passengers a wide range of food & beverage outlets and shopping opportunities. A total of 64 stores and restaurants are available for passengers to choose from.

Terminal 3 completed on time and on budget

The construction of Terminal 3 was a remarkable achievement. The groundbreaking ceremony for Europe’s largest privately funded infrastructure project took place on October 15, 2015. At its peak, up to 3,000 skilled tradespeople from various professions were working simultaneously on the

construction site. The result is a terminal with an initial capacity for up to 19 million passengers per year, utilizing Piers G, H, and J. In a future second phase, this capacity could be increased to up to 25 million passengers annually by adding Pier K. Fraport has invested approximately €4 billion in the construction of Terminal 3.

Fraport Ausbau Süd GmbH (FAS), a wholly owned subsidiary of Fraport AG, was responsible for all facets of the construction project. “FAS was the driving force behind the project’s success,” said CEO Stefan Schulte. “It takes credit for completing Terminal 3 on time without exceeding the budget.” Despite numerous challenges – including the Covid-19 pandemic, Russia’s war against Ukraine and disrupted international supply chains – the company successfully concluded the Terminal 3 project.

• The new Sky Line people mover supplements the existing system by connecting Terminal 3 to the north of the airport. It lets passengers travel between Terminal 1 and Terminal 3 in eight minutes or less, 365 days a year.  
• The new system can carry more than 4,000 Schengen and non-Schengen passengers an hour in each direction.  
• The new Sky Line also links the regional and long-distance train stations at Frankfurt Airport to Terminal 3.  
• The route has a total length of 5.6 kilometers.  
• A new dedicated building for system maintenance and control has been built. It also includes a facility for washing the vehicles.  
• Besides the vehicles that carry passengers, there is a special-purpose vehicle for performing maintenance tasks.
• The first vehicle for the new Sky Line people mover was delivered in October 2022. A heavy-duty truck carried it from the Werner von Siemens factory to Frankfurt Airport.
• The new system comprises 12 two-car vehicles. Each of them is divided into separate parts for Schengen and non-Schengen passengers.  

• 74 supports and frames were installed for the northern line alone. Its components – bored piles, frame transoms and hammerhead pillars – were made on site, in part employing special support structures.  
• Two cranes were needed to accurately lift most of the supports, each weighing up to 187 tonnes, into place. Some of the concrete running surfaces were prefabricated while others were poured on site. They were followed by additional installations such as railings and guide and power rails.  

• A total of 112 check-in counters and drop-off points will be available in the main terminal building. In addition, Pier G will have 22 hybrid check-in counters.

• The main security checkpoint is equipped with 19 CT scanners.

• 64 food and retail concessions are taking shape on space of around 12,000 m².

• When Terminal 3 begins operating, it will have more than five lounges with floorspace of between 400 and 1500 m². 

• There will be 24 adjacent aircraft docking positions (ten at Pier H and 14 at Pier J) plus 14 bus gates at Pier G

• Station at Terminal 1:  This station connects the regional and long-distance train stations and the bus terminal at Terminal 1 with Terminal 3. The structure is elevated on pillars above the Terminal 1 arrivals curbside, with access to the Airport City Mall and the regional train station below.
• Station at Terminal 2:  The existing Sky Line station has been enlarged and connected. Here passengers can change between the existing system and the new one. The number of tracks has been doubled from two to four, and there is a total of five platforms.  
• Station at Terminal 3:  A newly built station as the main connection point for travelers using Terminal 3. Both non-Schengen and Schengen travelers as well as visitors can use the 150meter-long, 30-meter-wide station.  

• Each people mover consists of two cars and is 22.4 meters long, 2.8 meters wide and 3.75 meters tall.  
• It weighs about 30 tonnes when not carrying passengers or luggage. A fully loaded people mover weighs about 60 tonnes.
• The vehicles of the new Sky Line people mover can travel at speeds up to 80 km/h.
• It is a driverless system that is designed to ensure safe, highly stable transportation.  
• The vehicles are equipped with an innovative energy-efficient power storage and recovery system.
• Each people mover’s spacious interior has ten folding seats plus standing room for another 113 passengers, so there is always enough room for travelers with luggage. Specially designed grab bars ensure greater freedom of movement.  
• The vehicles have rubber wheels and travel on concrete tracks.
• When a vehicle reaches the end of its useful life, 95% of its materials can be reused.