Open date set for new Frankfurt Airport terminal

Fraport has announced the opening date for a new, third terminal at Frankfurt Airport. The terminal will serve flights from both Schengen and non-Schengen countries.

Frankfurt Airport Terminal 3 to open on April 22, 2026

Frankfurt Airport will open a new, third terminal on April 22, 2026, according to an announcement from Fraport, the international company responsible for operations at the airport in Hesse.

The new terminal has been under construction since October 2015, and will have 21 security lanes with updated CT scanners and more food and retail areas. Once the terminal has opened in April, passengers will be transitioned in four phases from using Terminal Two to Terminal Three.

Fraport expects to complete the transition process by June 2026 and estimates that the new terminal will eventually serve up to 19 million passengers annually. Passengers travelling to and from both Schengen and non-Schengen countries will use the terminal.

Environmentalists have condemned the opening of the new terminal since it was announced. Local residents have also continuously protested against the increasing noise pollution created by the world’s 11th-largest airport.

Fraport looking for passengers to test new terminal

Transport boffins or simply anyone who is curious has the chance to test the new terminal before it opens to the public. Fraport is looking for 8.000 volunteer “passengers” to test the terminal’s new services and see if everything is up to scratch before opening day.

Tests will be carried out on Tuesdays and Thursdays between January 27 and April 16, 2026, and test passengers will be expected to spend between five and six hours at the terminal.

Registration has opened and demand for spots has been much higher than expected, so head to the website now if you want to sign up!