Frankfurt Airport’s (FRA) new Pier G could welcome space for retail, as the Fraport-operated hub continues to respond to rising demands from low-cost passenger traffic.

The new Pier G was originally set to feature as the second phase in the construction of Frankfurt Airport’s new Terminal 3, but its plans are now being realised ahead of schedule after Fraport submitted a building permit application to the City of Frankfurt last week.

(Ed – Pier G is a separate facility that will eventually link Terminal’s 1, 2 and 3 – see below for further detail).

“We maybe have some space for retail, but there hasn’t been any talks yet with tenants,” said Christian Engel, Spokesperson for Infrastructure and Terminal 3 Project, Fraport.

The recently signed Frankfurt Airport Retail (FAR) joint venture between Heinemann and Fraport (see below) is an obvious contender to feature in any new retail lineup, but discussions regarding retail are not due to take place until the middle of next year, TRBusiness learns.

WORKS COMPLETION: 2020

The decision to press ahead with a new pier, which is designed to relieve capacity constraints at terminal’s one and two, follows a comprehensive examination of various options.

Based on the current plans, the first construction phase of Pier G will be completed in 2020 at a cost of up to €200m ($235m).

This will provide an annual capacity for four to five million passengers, alleviating combined pressures on the 64m capacity-constrained Terminal 1 and Terminal 2.

Until the planned opening of section one of Terminal 3 in 2023, a shuttle bus will transport passengers from Pier G to and from Terminals 1 and 2 on the northern side of the airport.

Pier G will then expand to a total capacity of up to seven million passengers and connect to the first section of Terminal 3 in phase two.

In the third and final phase, Pier G will be extended to include bridges and jetways.

Construction work on the new pier is scheduled to begin in mid-2018.

TERMINAL THREE EXPANSION

As reported, Frankfurt is forging ahead with a major terminal infrastructure extension at Terminal 3, which is expected to include a high-tech retail offering.

“Terminal 3 is the big next step for our company; this is the first major terminal infrastructure extension since the introduction of Pier A Plus,” Fraport’s Head of Retailing Ute Pohl told TRBusiness in a recent interview.

“While we will deliver a state-of-the-art retail experience in the new terminal we will have to further develop the existing infrastructure in Terminal 1 and 2.

“One challenge is to partially adapt our premium multifunctional hub product to the demands of a point-to-point driven LCC.”

The JV will take over the operation of 27 Heinemann Duty Free & Travel Value shops as well as concept stores at Frankfurt Airport.

It is hoped the partnership will help deliver long-term contract flexibilities with regard to investments in innovations and new concepts.

“With FAR we can now also offer an established operator to brands that choose not to operate stores by themselves – although we still generally prefer brands to operate their brand directly if possible,” added Pohl.

“FAR on the contrary will have the flexibility to react quickly to changes in the market and adapt the brand-selection and offer also in specialty stores that are operated in Frankfurt.”

For more on the Fraport-Heinemann JV, see the August print issue of TRBusiness, available now.