Built and immediately mothballed. Exactly this fate is flourishing at Terminal 3 at Frankfurt am Main Airport. This was urgently needed before the corona crisis and now it is not due to go into operation before 2025 or 2026.

It seems absurd that a new terminal is being built for a double-digit million amount that will go into “hibernation” immediately after completion and that for several years to come. As recently as 2019, it was assumed in Frankfurt am Main that the number of passengers would rise so rapidly that it would no longer be possible to grow without an additional runway and a third terminal.

Corona messed up the plans because usage fell sharply. Nevertheless, Fraport AG is sticking to the construction of Terminal 3. CEO Stefan Schulte assumes that the new building will not go into operation until 2025 or 2026. Pier G could possibly go into operation as early as next year.

The background to this is that some low-cost airlines are putting pressure on them. A final decision has not yet been made. Fraport AG wants to make this dependent on the further development of demand. Actually, "G" should be online next year. But it probably won't come to that.