“German airports” and “positive news” usually don’t belong together. With that in mind, here’s perhaps the most thrilling airport development for Germany since the inauguration of Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER).
Frankfurt Airport Terminal 3 will host the majority of airlines
As it stands, Frankfurt Airport (FRA) consists of two terminals — Terminal 1 accommodates Lufthansa and several Star Alliance partners, while Terminal 2 hosts most airlines outside the Star Alliance, except for Condor. Yes, I understand that some might be surprised to discover that the Lufthansa First Class Terminal isn’t the sole section of the airport’s departure area. 😉
In any case, Terminal 2 in Frankfurt was launched back in 1994, and it doesn’t exude a premium ambiance. Not that Terminal 1 is exceptional either, but Terminal 2 is distinctly lackluster, in my view.
The good news is that for several years, developments have been underway for Terminal 3, which will serve as the airport’s new terminal.
This not only signifies a necessary capacity expansion, but the new terminal is also expected to be significantly more visually appealing than the existing arrangement.
The intention is for all airlines currently in Terminal 2 to relocate to Terminal 3 — after all, the new terminal can accommodate 19 million passengers annually, in comparison to the 15 million capacity of the older terminal.
Following this, Terminal 2 will be redeveloped, and we’ll see what unfolds from there. We know that Lufthansa aims to expand into Terminal 2 as well, but its outcome remains uncertain, as it’s a long-term initiative.
In any case, specific dates for the transition from Terminal 2 to Terminal 3 have now been established. Airlines are anticipated to shift to Terminal 3 over four sets of dates, commencing on April 23 and concluding on June 9, 2026.
Terminal 3 is situated at the completely opposite end of the “field” from Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 (spanning across all the parallel runways), although a SkyLine connection between terminals will still be in operation every two minutes, with a travel time of up to 10 minutes.
What about the lounge situation at Frankfurt Airport Terminal 3?
With Frankfurt Airport Terminal 3 set to open shortly, it’s curious how little information has surfaced regarding lounges in the new terminal. Currently, Terminal 2 boasts the Air France Lounge, Emirates Lounge, Japan Airlines Lounge, Primeclass Lounge, and Priority Lounge.
So far, the only announcement concerning Terminal 3 that I’ve come across is that a SkyTeam Lounge will be established there, covering about 550 square meters (6,920 square feet). However, this will be located in the non-Schengen area, intended for passengers flying with China Airlines, China Eastern, Delta, Korean Air, MEA, Saudia, and Vietnam Airlines.
Perhaps I’m overlooking something, but it seems there should be several more lounge announcements in the near future:
- Will there be an Emirates Lounge in the new Terminal 3, replacing the one found in Terminal 2?
- Will a SkyTeam specific lounge for Schengen flights be established, similar to an Air France Lounge?
- We’ve noticed the oneworld alliance beginning to establish its own branded lounges, and you’d think that Terminal 3 would be a prime site for such a facility, rather than a lounge exclusive to Japan Airlines
- Then there’s the inquiry regarding what Priority Pass or contract lounges might be available — will Primeclass移 over, and will there be a second lounge, possibly with varied branding?
Final thoughts
Frankfurt Airport’s upcoming Terminal 3 is set to open soon, initially replacing operations in Terminal 2. While this doesn’t seem to represent the world’s most thrilling new terminal, it appears to be a significant enhancement over the remainder of the airport. I