Novelties at the Frankfurt Airport: Terminal 3 and a People Mover

Frankfurt is just the fifth-biggest city in Germany, but it has the country’s busiest airport. And it’s about to get busier. In April, 2026, a brand new Terminal 3 was opened, across the tarmac from the other two. It’s quite a distance, and in order to switch between terminals, a new automated People Mover had to be built. While at the airport, we decided to try it out … even though we had no real need to visit T3. This is just the kind of stuff we do for fun.

We first noticed the new trains (opens in a new tab) last year, while flying back to Valencia from Germany. At that point, they were just doing some test runs, but with the opening of T3, the people mover is fully operational.

Construction on Terminal 3 began way back in 2018, and was originally supposed to be finished 2022, but … something happened, I can’t remember what exactly, like some sort of global pandemic? Anyway, it was pushed back until April, 2026.

Skyline FRA Video

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The grand opening of the new terminal didn’t immediately increase traffic to FRA, because it’s mainly being used by the flights that were previously being run out of T2. That terminal is now getting a much-needed renovation. Once T2 is complete, the same thing will happen again, with T1 being refurbished and its flights relocated to T2. (This process feels very German and efficient.) It won’t be until 2035 that all three terminals are fully operational.

But back to the present day, and our first wild joyride on the new people mover. Called SkyLine, the automatic train covers the 5.6 kilometers between the terminals in under eight minutes, reaching rather impressive speeds of 80 km/h.

We only had time to take a look at the main hall of the terminal, designed by local architect Christoph Mäckler. The large cube-shaped construction reminded us of Mies van der Rohe, and specifically Berlin’s Neue Nationalgalerie. It’s notable for the abundant natural light that pours in through walls made of glass, and landed a spot as the only European airport on the The Prix Versailles’s 2026 World’s Most Beautiful Airports list.

The large cube-shaped construction reminded us of Mies van der Rohe, and specifically Berlin’s Neue Nationalgalerie.

Written by Mike, &Photos by Jürgen

Written in 2026. Things change on the road, so please check the details before you go.

Recommended Airport Architecture Reading

01 Mies van der Rohe (Taschen Basic Art), Claire Zimmerman A compact illustrated introduction to Mies van der Rohe, the "less is more" architect behind many modernist landmarks. View on Amazon → (opens in new tab) 02 Neue Nationalgalerie: Mies van der Rohe's Museum A study of Berlin's Neue Nationalgalerie, Mies van der Rohe's glass-walled museum completed in 1968. View on Amazon → (opens in new tab) 03 Airports: A Century of Architecture, Hugh Pearman A history of airport terminal design, from early airfields to modern glass-and-steel buildings. View on Amazon → (opens in new tab) 04 Airport, Byron Barton A bold, colorful picture book that walks young readers through a trip to the airport, from check-in to takeoff. View on Amazon → (opens in new tab)

Frankfurt Airport FAQs

Here are the answers to some common questions.

When did Terminal 3 open at Frankfurt Airport?

In April, 2026, a brand new Terminal 3 was opened, across the tarmac from the other two.

When did construction of Frankfurt Airport Terminal 3 begin?

Construction on Terminal 3 began way back in 2018.

How long does the SkyLine people mover take between terminals?

The automatic train covers the 5.6 kilometers between the terminals in under eight minutes.

When will all three Frankfurt Airport terminals be fully operational?

It won't be until 2035 that all three terminals are fully operational.

FRA Airport Car Rentals

Further Reading

Frankfurt Frankfurt’s Flemings Hotel with a Paternoster Darmstadt The Darmstadt Dioramas at the Hessisches Landesmuseum Darmstadt The Best Sunset Spots in Darmstadt, Germany

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