Frankfurt Airport’s New Terminal 3 Set for April 22, 2026 Inauguration
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The new Terminal 3 at Frankfurt Airport (FRA) has an official inauguration date: April 22, 2026. The airport operator, Fraport AG, confirmed the date after reaching a major project milestone: the successful conclusion of inspections by authorities, including crucial fire protection certifications.
With this step, the 176,000 square meter facility is no longer officially a construction site and enters the final preparation phase for its launch. The project, with an estimated development cost of €4 billion, will increase the airport's capacity by 19 million passengers annually in its initial configuration.
"Today we are standing in one of Europe’s most advanced airport facilities with our sights set firmly on its inauguration on April 22," stated Dr. Stefan Schulte, CEO of Fraport AG. In his announcement, he thanked everyone involved, including the authorities, who contributed to the success of the construction project, for which the foundation stone was laid in October 2015.
Now, with regulatory approval secured, teams are focused on the final installations. This includes setting up the 21 security check lanes equipped with modern CT scanners, completing the retail and dining areas, and conducting ongoing tests of the baggage handling system.
Final preparations and testing phase
In parallel with the installation work, Fraport is preparing for a large-scale operational testing phase. Between January 27 and April 16, 2026, approximately 8,000 volunteer passengers will participate in 21 trial days to ensure all processes work seamlessly and cohesively before the opening.
The operational transition will be gradual. According to Fraport, a total of 57 airlines currently operating from Terminal 2 will move to Terminal 3 in four phases, starting in mid-April and concluding in early June 2026. The new infrastructure will handle both Schengen and non-Schengen flights.
A decade-long project
The terminal's construction spanned a decade marked by complex challenges. Harald Rohr, technical director of Fraport Ausbau Süd GmbH, the subsidiary in charge of the work, noted that "the successful conclusion of this huge project under very challenging conditions sends the strong message that, despite the pandemic, the war in Ukraine and massive disruptions of global supply chains, we’ve succeeded in implementing the new terminal on schedule and on budget."
The new facility will not only expand the capacity of Frankfurt Airport, one of Europe's most important hubs, but will also introduce state-of-the-art technologies to enhance efficiency and the passenger experience. The new terminal will be connected to Terminals 1 and 2 via an extension of the SkyLine automated people mover system.
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