Fraport elevates passenger experience with inauguration of new Terminal 3 at Frankfurt Airport

The following article was published by Future Travel Experience

Fraport has officially opened Terminal 3 at Frankfurt Airport, delivering major capacity growth alongside advanced automation, enhanced CX and a future-ready platform for operational efficiency and innovation.

Fraport has officially opened Terminal 3 at Frankfurt Airport, delivering major capacity growth alongside advanced automation, enhanced passenger experience and a future-ready platform for operational efficiency and innovation. Photo: Fraport AG

Summary:

Fraport AG opens Terminal 3 at Frankfurt Airport, adding up to 19 million annual passenger capacity with future expansion to 25 million.
New terminal showcases automated check-in, CT security screening, and passenger-centric design to enhance efficiency and experience.
€4bn privately funded project delivered on time, supporting long-term growth, airline relocation, and operational optimisation.

Fraport – a Corporate Partner of the FTE Digital, Innovation & Startup Hub – officially opened the new state-of-the-art Terminal 3 at Frankfurt Airport on 22 April 2026, with a ceremony attended by more than 400 invited guests from government, business, and the aviation industry.

“Today is a special day – for Fraport, for Frankfurt, for Hesse, and far beyond,” said Dr Stefan Schulte, Chief Executive Officer, 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.”

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 programme concluded with the announcement: “Terminal 3 is ready for check-in!”
Terminal 3 begins operations on 23 April 2026. 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 9 June 2026. 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.

The groundbreaking ceremony for Europe’s largest privately funded infrastructure project took place on 15 October 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, utilising 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 Schulte. “It takes credit for completing Terminal 3 on time without exceeding the budget.”

Hear more from Fraport at the co-located APEX FTE EMEA and APEX FTE Ancillary & Retailing events, taking place in Dublin on 9-11 June 2026. Marina Lützenberger, Program Director, Corporate Strategy & Digitalization, Fraport, is participating in a session focused on ‘AI, Innovation and Digital Transformation Excellence’ with a presentation titled ‘How Fraport has successfully scaled 80+ digitalisation projects in five years – from AI and robotics to workflow optimisation’.

Register for the co-located APEX FTE EMEA and APEX FTE Ancillary & Retailing events – free for airlines, low-cost for airports >>