FRA handled more than 5.1m pax (+12.2%) in May. Source: Fraport AG.

Frankfurt Airport (FRA) operator Fraport AG intends to begin commercial tenders for the new Terminal 3 project in the second half of this year, TRBusiness can report.

The new terminal, slated to open in 2026, has been described by Nina Kristin Gür, VP Retail Key Account Management at Fraport AG, as a “quantum leap” for the business, including its retail offer.

“We are busy finalising our commercial concept and preparing the tenders for our upcoming Terminal 3 project – scheduled to be open in 2026,” she commented. “We will start tendering in the second half of this year.”

By the time FRA’s Terminal 3 expansion concludes it will be able to handle up to 25 million passengers per year.

Evolving passenger mix

Nina Kristin Gür, VP Key Account Management, Fraport AG.

The new terminal, which covers an area of 176,000sq m – equal to around 25 football pitches – boasts large pane-glass windows that bathe the environment in natural light, while relying on state-of-the-art technologies and energy-efficient construction measures.

Nestling at the heart is the marketplace, which spans around 6,000sq m and features an array of retail shops, restaurants and cafes.

As detailed in the June/July Top 10 Airports report, Frankfurt Airport ranked sixth among the world’s busiest international hubs with 44.8 million international passengers, according to ACI World data.

Following a strong uplift in travellers from the US and India in 2022, TRBusiness June/July e-zine cover star Gür reports that the operator is “quite satisfied” with developing passenger numbers from markets including Vietnam, South Korea and China.

Retail and real estate revenue totalled €446.4 million, of which retail (shopping, advertising and services) contributed €153.6m – more than double the previous year.

Net retail revenue per passenger totalled €3.33, a fairly flat performance on 2021, but that fell to €3.30 in the first quarter of this year and was markedly less than the €3.52 recorded in Q1 2022 [though the pandemic effect makes comparisons difficult due to the phenomenon of revenge spending – Ed].

Frankfurt Airport Retail, the 50:50 joint venture between Fraport AG and Gebr. Heinemann which operates shops under the Heinemann Duty Free & Travel Value banner in addition to concept stores, recently upgraded its liquor, tobacco and confectionery duty free store in the airport’s B non-Schengen marketplace with the luxury jewellery offer undergoing the same treatment.

According to its latest passenger traffic figures for May, 5.1m travellers used FRA – a +12.2% uplift year-on-year.

This story is an excerpt from an original article by Kevin Rozario. For more analysis on Frankfurt Airport, see the TRBusiness June/July e-zine by clicking here.

Main T3 construction image courtesy of Fraport AG.