Terminal 3

08. October 2025

Frankfurt Airport’s New Terminal 3 to Be Inaugurated on April 22

Inspections by the authorities successfully concluded – Remaining work now being done – Preparations underway for trial operation with volunteers

Fraport AG will officially inaugurate the new Terminal 3 at Frankfurt Airport on April 22, 2026. The airport operator has just reached one of the expansion project’s key milestones by passing the official inspections, which include fire protection. As a result, the new terminal is now officially no longer a construction site – and Fraport can focus on getting it ready to start operations.

“This is a very special moment for Fraport and also for me personally,” said Dr. Stefan Schulte, Fraport AG’s CEO. “We held the groundbreaking ceremony for Terminal 3 ten years ago, and today we’re standing in one of Europe’s most advanced airport facilities with our sights set firmly on its inauguration on April 22. My thanks and respect go to everyone who has been involved in the project and also to the responsible authorities, all of which have contributed to the success of this mammoth construction project. I’m already looking forward to welcoming the first guests at Terminal 3.”

Final installations and test runs

Now that the authorities have given the green light, Fraport is entering the final stage of the work. Among other things, it includes installing the security check lanes (there will be a total of 21) with state-of-the-art CT scanners, completing the food and shopping areas, and ongoing testing of the baggage handling system. At the same time, Fraport is making preparations for comprehensive test operation of the new infrastructure. On 21 days between January 27 and April 16, 2026, around 8,000 test passengers are putting the terminal through its paces to make sure that all of its processes mesh seamlessly.

Successful construction despite huge challenges

Frankfurt Airport’s new terminal has taken shape during the decade since the groundbreaking ceremony in October 2015. In its initial configuration with Piers G, H and J it will have capacity for up to 19 million passengers a year. Fraport Ausbau Süd GmbH (FAS), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Fraport AG, has been in charge of the construction work. Harald Rohr, the technical director of FAS, explained: “The successful conclusion of this huge project under very challenging conditions sends the strong message that, despite the pandemic, the war in Ukraine and massive disruptions of global supply chains, we’ve succeeded in implementing the new terminal on schedule and on budget.”

“Credit for this success goes to the strong team spirit and commitment of everyone involved. I’m proud of the performance of every single one of them,” adds Stephanie Pudwitz, the commercial director of FAS.

After the new terminal opens in the south of Frankfurt Airport in April, airlines will begin using it to operate flights to and from Schengen and non-Schengen destinations. A total of 57 airlines currently based in Terminal 2 will move to Terminal 3 in four phases between mid-April and early June.

  

Facts on Terminal 3
  • The groundbreaking ceremony for Terminal 3 took place on October 5, 2015.
  • The new passenger terminal has a footprint of 176,000 square meters.
  • In the initial phase, Terminal 3 will operate with three piers:
    • G (Schengen and non-Schengen)
    • H (Schengen)
    • J (non-Schengen)
  • With all three, the terminal has capacity for up to 19 million passengers a year.
  • If required, Fraport has the option of implementing a fourth pier, designated by the letter K, at any time. This would increase the terminal’s capacity to 25 million passengers annually.
  • The new Sky Line people mover line connects Terminal 3 to the existing infrastructure in the north of the airport. It takes eight minutes to carry travelers, guests and employees between Terminals 1 and 3.
  • The new parking structure at Terminal 3 has 8,500 parking spaces.
  • The investment in Terminal 3 amounts to about four billion euros.
  • When Terminal 3 starts operating, all 57 airlines now based at Terminal 2 will move there on a long-term basis.
  • Prior to the start of operations, the terminal is being thoroughly tested by around 8,000 volunteers.  
Highlights T3

 

"This is a very special moment for Fraport and also for me personally. We held the groundbreaking ceremony for Terminal 3 ten years ago, and today we’re standing in one of Europe’s most advanced airport facilities with our sights set firmly on its inauguration on April 22. My thanks and respect go to everyone who has been involved in the project and also to the responsible authorities, all of which have contributed to the success of this mammoth construction project. I’m already looking forward to welcoming the first guests at Terminal 3."

Dr. Stefan Schulte, Fraport AG’s CEO

"The successful conclusion of this huge project under very challenging conditions sends the strong message that, despite the pandemic, the war in Ukraine and massive disruptions of global supply chains, we’ve succeeded in implementing the new terminal on schedule and on budget.”  

Harald Rohr, the technical director of Fraport Ausbau Süd GmbH

"Credit for this success goes to the strong team spirit and commitment of everyone involved. I’m proud of the performance of every single one of them."

Stephanie Pudwitz, the commercial director of Fraport Ausbau Süd GmbH

Andreas Mehring

Communications Manager – Terminal 3 and Digitalization

+49 69 690 70553 a.mehring@fraport.de
Fraport AG press office

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