At Terminal 3 at Frankfurt Airport, architecture, art, retail, and dining come together to create an impressive overall experience that goes far beyond the traditional function of an airport terminal. The goal of the operating company, Fraport, is to make the time spent at the airport a valuable part of the journey. The results of a recent passenger survey¹show that this approach resonates with travelers.

About 87 percent of respondents rate Terminal 3 positively and feel that their expectations for a modern and attractive airport terminal have been met. The building’s design, the quality of the experience, and the atmosphere are particularly frequently cited as successful elements. When evaluating shops and dining options, design and ambiance play an important role for respondents.

A video talk shows how this immersive experience came to be and what concept lies behind it: Internationally renowned artist Tobias Rehberger, Dr. Babett Stapel, Senior Executive Vice President of Retail & Real Estate at Fraport AG, and Alexander Laukenmann, Senior Executive Vice President of Aviation at Fraport AG, take a joint tour of the new terminal.

Art Transforms Transit Spaces into Places of Experience
The tour focuses on the works by Tobias Rehberger, which define key areas of Terminal 3. They are not intended as decorative additions, but as an integral part of the passenger journey. “Airports are places of transition. I was interested in the question of how such transit spaces can be transformed into places that people consciously perceive and with which they identify”, says Tobias Rehberger.

The tour leads through the LONG GONE tunnel, to the ENDLESS TRUTH lounge, past the NO WHERE stele, and on to the TURN LEFT desk in the central marketplace. There, art, dining, retail, and leisure converge in an exemplary way. In an interview, Stapel explains how art, lounge areas, dining, wayfinding, and shopping offerings are designed as a cohesive overall experience. Alexander Laukenmann adds the perspective of flight operations.

Surprisingly FRA
According to the survey, the lounge furniture outside the gate areas, the striking drop ceiling in the central marketplace, and the color scheme are among the most surprising features of the new terminal. In the retail and dining sectors as well, positive feedback focuses primarily on atmosphere, layout, and design. This underscores Terminal 3’s approach of not viewing shopping and dining in isolation, but rather presenting them as part of a high-quality travel experience that is intended to extend throughout the entire airport in the future.

The video talk shows how a terminal can become more than just a place of arrival and departure: a space where architecture, art, the passenger experience, and retail all contribute to making travel time part of the journey itself.

The video is available on Frankfurt Airport’s YouTube channel.

The Art of Retail in the Heart of Europe
As an international air traffic hub, Frankfurt Airport is a key marketplace for retail, dining, and services, offering an outstanding setting for brands and retail concepts. In the two terminals, passengers, guests, and employees will find approximately 230 retail outlets: 170 shops and service facilities, as well as 60 restaurants, bars, and cafés. In total, Frankfurt Airport offers approximately 35,000 square meters of shopping and dining space. With the vision “The Art of Retail in the Heart of Europe,” the retail management team at airport operator Fraport—led by Executive Board Member Julia Kranenberg—combines the concept of providing essential services with inspiration, creativity, and an exceptional visitor experience at one of Europe’s most important hubs . For brands, this means access to an international audience, high visibility throughout the entire customer journey, and the opportunity to reach people precisely when they are open to inspiration, discovery, and purchasing decisions.


¹A total of 608 passengers were surveyed between May and June 2026.