Frankfurt Airport on Thursday opened its new €4 billion Terminal 3 on Thursday (23 April), with a total of 12 flight arrivals and departures scheduled for its first day of operation. Flight CZ8021 from Shenyang, operated by China Southern Airlines, was the first flight to arrive at the terminal at 5:25am this morning.
Frankfurt Airport’s operator Fraport said that 57 airlines currently using Terminal 2 will move to the new terminal in four phases up to 9 June. Germany’s second largest airline, Condor, is scheduled to move its operations to Terminal 3 in summer 2027.
The new terminal will have capacity for up to 19 million passengers per year and, in a future second phase, could be extended to cater for up to 25 million passengers annually.
Fraport added that the new terminal, which has been under construction for 10 years and features three main piers, will offer “a high-quality passenger experience and rapid processes”, including “fully automated” luggage check-in and security checks with CT scanners, along with 64 retail outlets and restaurants
“With the inauguration of our Terminal 3, one of Europe’s most advanced terminals, we are positioning ourselves for long-term success,” said Fraport CEO Stefan Schulte. “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.”
SkyTeam opens new lounge at T3
Source: SkyTeam
Airline alliance SkyTeam also opened its newest branded lounge at Frankfurt’s Terminal 3 this week.
Located on the fourth-floor mezzanine in Terminal 3's non-Schengen international zone, the new 550-sqm lounge can seat 126 guests and features showers facilities, free high-speed wifi, a soundproof phone booth, a live cooking station, work stations as well as a ‘relaxation area’ with chaise lounges and an ‘exclusive’ VIP space.
The lounge, which is set to become SkyTeam’s European flagship, is open to travellers in first and business class, as well as SkyTeam Elite Plus customers. Operated in partnership with Global Lounge Network, the lounge opens three hours before the first SkyTeam departure and will remain open until the final SkyTeam departure of the day.
SkyTeam alliance members operating at Frankfurt’s Terminal 3 include China Airlines, China Eastern, Delta Air Lines, Korean Air, Middle East Airlines, Saudia and Vietnam Airlines.