Airport News

Approval has been granted for a planning application submitted by Fraport AG to build a state-of-the-art Terminal 3 on the southern area of Frankfurt Airport – Germany's busiest gateway.

The development will see construction of a modular design building at Europe’s third busiest gateway, with the first phase construction of a central terminal building with two gates and a terminal with a capacity of 14mppa.

Fraport AG says it expects the first phase of Terminal 3 to be completed by at the latest 2021, and the project is crucial as part of the airport’s long-term future.

Dr Stefan Schulte, CEO of Fraport AG, explains: “We welcome the now granted planning permission for the first phase of Terminal 3.

“My special thanks go to the team of the Fraport planning expert for the good work as well as the building authority of the city of Frankfurt, which once again their competence and professionalism in the company of well has made complex building construction projects demonstrate.”

The operator adds all current forecasts are for sustainable growth in Frankfurt, and the long-term traffic forecast by the Federal Ministry of Transport and digital infrastructure (BMVI) until 2030 is for air transport growth of about 2.5% per year, and air transport will be the fastest growing mode of transport in Germany.

Fraport AG says growth at Frankfurt Airport was in the past years due to its strong international position with an average of 3% and the current trend indicates that by the end of 2014 passenger growth will be 2-3%.

Based on these developments, the future traffic capacity in Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 are expected to be exhausted in 2020 at the latest.

Dr Schulte continues: “We are these assessments now also check again by making informed forecasts and substantiate on this basis, the needs analysis for future terminal capacity.

"It is crucial that we our passengers continue the necessary capacity and can offer the variety of flight connections with the best possible services and processes.

“German companies are very successful presence on the global markets. This secures and creates wealth and jobs in Germany. This requires direct, fast and predictable flight connections in the world.

“This is the function of the Frankfurt airport for Hessen and Germany. Therefore, the demand further expansion of capacities – analogous to the zoning approval – required.”

The first phase will see two gates constructed with 24 docking positions for aircraft, while the terminal building design will focus on a high-energy efficiency standard.

The technical system concept will be designed, so it can supply external heat energy, and the cooling energy required, will be generated mainly through renewable energy.

As part of the development, Terminal 3 will be linked to Terminals 1 and 2, and the baggage handling system will be expanded along with the Sky Line passenger transfer system, while the new terminal will have an additional freeway access built and a private parking area.

Frankfurt Airport handled 27.8 million passengers in the first six months of 2014 a rise of 2.4% year-on-year.