It took 11 years for the air terminal to welcome its first passengers and aircraft. A duration which, in fact, corresponded to the planning and which Fraport did not fail to proudly highlight. We are indeed far from the dithering and delays of the airport Berlin Brandenburg International; or the construction of Frankfurt Airport's third runway, which sparked violent clashes with environmentalists in the 1980s. The trauma is real. In his inauguration speech, Boris Rhein, Minister-President of the German state of Hesse – where the airport is located – highlighted Germany's ability to deliver a complex, large-scale project in what represents one of Europe's largest private undertakings.
The new terminal building faces Terminals 1 and 2, on the other side of the runways. Terminal 3 is thus connected to the other two terminals by an automatic shuttle, with a transit time of 8 minutes. Terminal 3, with its three piers, currently has a capacity for 19 million passengers. The addition of a fourth pier will increase its total capacity to 25 million in a few years.
The Terminal will eventually accommodate 57 airlines, progressively transferred from Terminal 2. The move will take place in four phases and will be completed on 9 June. company Condor will also join the terminal in Summer 2027, setting up its hub there.
As for passengers, they can expect the best in terms of comfort and services. Journeys have been simplified, notably with automated baggage check-in and security checks equipped with CT scanners, which reduce waiting times. As for shopping enthusiasts, they will find their haven in Terminal 3's 64 shops and restaurants.
