Terminal 1 is the older, larger of Frankfurt Airport's active terminals and the home of Lufthansa and its Star Alliance partners. It is also where both railway stations sit, making it the hub of the whole airport. Here is how it works in 2026.
Airlines and Concourses
Terminal 1 is split into concourses A, B, C and Z. Lufthansa and Star Alliance carriers dominate, but Terminal 1 also serves airlines such as Condor, Eurowings, SunExpress and EL AL (Condor plans to move to Terminal 3 in summer 2027). Concourse A handles Schengen flights, and Concourse Z sits directly above it, sharing the same jet bridges, for non-Schengen departures. Always check your gate on arrival, as Terminal 1 is large and gates can be a long walk.
The Two Train Stations
Terminal 1 hosts both of FRA's stations: the regional station (S-Bahn S8/S9 to Frankfurt city in about 15 minutes) and the long-distance station (Fernbahnhof) for ICE trains across Germany. They are clearly signed but are different stations — make sure you head to the right one.
Lounges and Facilities
Terminal 1 has the widest lounge selection at FRA, including Lufthansa's First Class Terminal and Senator and Business lounges for premium and Star Alliance passengers, plus extensive shops and dining. Our lounge guide covers access.
Security: most Terminal 1 checkpoints now use CT scanners, so liquids up to 2 litres and laptops can stay in your bag, but the 100 ml rule still applies at the checkpoints for gates C1, C2, C4 and C6 and at the transfer checkpoints. In areas A and B you can book a free FRA SmartWay security time slot up to 72 hours before departure.
Getting to Terminal 3
If you land at Terminal 1 but fly onward from Terminal 3, plan for the journey across the airport — it is not a quick hop.
Terminal 3 is at the opposite end of the airfield. Take the free SkyLine train, which runs every 2–3 minutes from 4am to 11pm (allow about 10–15 minutes from Terminal 1's stations); outside those hours a shuttle bus runs instead. Allow 20–30 minutes door to door for a terminal change with hand luggage.
Arriving and Onward Travel
Arrivals, the taxi rank and pick-up areas are well signed. For a smooth onward trip, a pre-booked transfer meets you in the Terminal 1 arrivals hall with a name board and takes you door-to-door — see our first-time arrivals guide and routes.
Arriving at T1? A fixed-price transfer into Frankfurt picks you up at the hall exit — and our meet & greet finds you at the gate if you'd rather not navigate at all.
