Frankfurt airport closes Terminal 2 for major upgrade

Air passengers travelling to, from or through Frankfurt airport may notice some changes as Terminal 2 has closed to the public. 

Following the opening of Terminal 3 at the end of April, airport operators Fraport said plans were now underway for a refurbishment of Terminal 2.

"After more than 30 years of intensive use since its inauguration in 1994, Terminal 2 is in need of a thorough makeover," said airport Fraport in a statement. 

"Thanks to the recent inauguration of Terminal 3 and the additional capacities that are now available there, the ideal time has come to thoroughly and efficiently upgrade it."

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How will it impact travellers?

People travelling from Frankfurt could well be departing from Terminal 3 instead of Terminal 2 this summer.

It includes gates G, H, and J – and can accommodate around 19 million passengers annually. 

That means you should check your ticket before flying, and make sure to follow the signs to Terminal 3 when you arrive at the airport. The building is located to the south. 

The reopening of Terminal 2 is planned for the mid-2030s. Passenger operations are then set to resume with capacity for more than 10 million passengers per year.

What do we know about the upgrade?

As part of the modernisation, safety-related systems and technical building services are to be replaced.

Infrastructure – including elevators, escalators, toilets and office areas – will be overhauled.

Fraport also aims to optimise security processes, with plans for centralised security checkpoints, more efficient passenger flow and more flexible use of retail spaces.

Dozens of airlines that were based at Terminal 2 – such as Air France, Delta and KLM – have already moved to the new Terminal 3. That process took place in stages in the last few months. 

Some important infrastructure – including apron positions, the baggage conveyor system, the underground parking garage and the Sky Line people mover – will continue operating. The connections among the terminals will also remain in place.

However, it's worth noting that the new Sky Line train at Terminal 1 (Line 2) is currently out of service due to technical issues. 

Passengers have been using replacement shuttle buses which run between the terminals. 

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Fraport estimates the total cost of renovation at around €1.5 billion.

The main construction work is not scheduled to begin until 2030. Until then, preparations and detailed construction planning will get underway. 

"The terminal’s temporary closure will let us systematically upgrade our airport’s infrastructure while improving its performance and making it more sustainable and comfortable at the same time," said Dr. Pierre Dominique Prümm, Fraport AG’s Chief Technical Officer.

"After Terminal 2 has been modernised, it will be a central component of our future hub system – with state-of-the-art processes, greater flexibility and a significantly improved travel experience for our passengers."