Frankfurt Airport will get a new look next spring: Terminal 3 will be officially opened on 22 April 2026. According to its own statements, the operator Fraport AG has successfully completed the official approvals, including fire safety. This means that the new building, which has been in planning for decades, is officially no longer a construction site.
From construction phase to operation
"This is a very special moment for Fraport, but also for me personally," said CEO Stefan Schulte. Ten years ago, the foundation stone was laid, and now one of Europe's most modern airport terminals is about to go into operation. Schulte expressly thanked those involved in the project and the authorities. In the coming months, the final fittings will be installed, including 21 security check lanes with state-of-the-art scanner technology, the completion of the catering and retail areas, and final tests of the baggage handling systems. From 27 January to 16 April 2026, around 8,000 extras will test all processes over a total of 21 days.
Major project under difficult conditions
Construction of the terminal began in October 2015. After a decade of construction, the first phase of expansion with gates G, H and J offers space for up to 19 million passengers per year. Fraport subsidiary Ausbau Süd GmbH (FAS) was responsible for the project.
Despite the pandemic, the war in Ukraine and disruptions to global supply chains, the project remained within budget and on schedule, emphasised FAS Chief Technical Officer Harald Rohr. Managing Director Stephanie Pudwitz highlighted the commitment of all those involved: "The great team spirit made this success possible."
Gradual relocation of airlines
After the opening, flights to both Schengen and non-Schengen countries will depart from Terminal 3. A total of 57 airlines, currently still based in Terminal 2, will move into the new building in four waves between mid-April and early June. This will mark the first time that the southern terminal at Frankfurt Airport will be in regular operation – the latest major project in a long series of expansion programmes at Germany's largest air traffic hub.
