After more than a decade of construction, Frankfurt Airport opened its new Terminal 3 on 23 April 2026. With capacity for around 19 million passengers a year, it changes the routine for millions of travellers. Here is everything you need to know.
The biggest change at FRA in 30 years: every airline that used Terminal 2 now flies from the south.
Which Airlines Use Terminal 3?
Every airline that previously used Terminal 2 — 57 in all — has moved to Terminal 3, in four waves between 23 April and 9 June 2026. That includes Emirates, Qatar Airways, Etihad, Korean Air, Cathay Pacific, Delta, American Airlines, British Airways, Air France, KLM, Iberia, easyJet and TUI fly. Lufthansa and most Star Alliance partners remain in Terminal 1, as do Turkish Airlines, Eurowings and Condor — Condor plans to move to Terminal 3 in summer 2027.
Layout: Piers G, H, and J
Terminal 3 has three piers: G for Schengen traffic, plus H (400 metres long) and J (600 metres long) for international flights. Pier J has its own dedicated arrivals level for non-Schengen flights. Walking distances are kept short, and signage is fully bilingual.
The New Security Screening
The highlight for frequent flyers: 21 latest-generation security lanes with CT scanners. Liquids up to 2 litres and electronics stay in your hand luggage. Screening is noticeably faster than the older lanes in Terminal 1.
Getting There and Getting Picked Up
Terminal 3 sits in the southern part of the airport with its own access from the A5 motorway. There is a drop-off zone directly at the entrance, a taxi rank, a bus station on the arrivals level with local routes to Frankfurt, Darmstadt, Walldorf and Groß-Gerau, and a parking garage with around 8,500 spaces (drive-up entrance P11). Important: if you arrive by car or transfer, set "Terminal 3" explicitly as your destination — not the old terminal area in the north.
The free SkyLine people mover connects Terminal 3 with Terminal 1 and both railway stations in about 10–15 minutes, departing every two to three minutes from 4am to 11pm. Outside those hours a shuttle bus runs instead — worth knowing for very early or late flights.
Arriving at Terminal 3
The new baggage hall has up to 15 carousels, with average delivery in 20–30 minutes. After customs you walk straight into the public arrivals hall, where your FrankfurtRide driver waits with a name board — pickup at T3 works exactly as smoothly as at T1, at no extra cost. Fixed-price onward transfers run from T3 across the region — into central Frankfurt or direct to Heidelberg.
Restaurants, Shops, and Lounges
Terminal 3 has 64 shops and restaurants plus modern relaxation zones, and four lounges in Area J: the SkyTeam Lounge, the Emirates Lounge, the Priority Lounge (Priority Pass accepted, walk-in entry sold) and, in the Schengen area, the Air France Lounge — see our lounge guide. Self check-in kiosks and Fast Bag Drop cut departure queues considerably.
Our Tip
Allow a little orientation time for your first departure from Terminal 3, and double-check your booking confirmation — plenty of regulars still drive to the old terminal area out of habit. With a booked transfer, your driver takes you to the correct drop-off automatically. For the airport-wide picture, read the full Frankfurt Airport guide or book your Terminal 3 pickup below.
