New Frankfurt Airport Terminal to host 64 retail outlets: Boss, Montblanc, and Gatezero among them.
Frankfurt Airport's Terminal 3: Retail Heaven for Global Travellers
Prepare for a shopping extravaganza at Frankfurt Airport's Terminal 3, opening in April 2026! Covering an impressive 129,000 square feet of retail space, this state-of-the-art terminal is nearly complete, and the anticipation is palpable.
In the early months of this year, Fraport, the airport operator, announced the winners of its food and beverage tenders and the concessionaires for the 64 retail and service units in T3. Anke Giesen, responsible for retail and real estate at Fraport, elaborated: "Our primary focus in developing the shopping offer is airport employees and passengers alike. We're teaming up with our concessionaires to create sensational concepts, making this our retail vision coming to life in a stunning architectural setting within Terminal 3."
T3's design departs from the existing terminals with a sleek, low-lying exterior profile. However, inside, it's a whole different ball game! A spacious-looking marketplace lies at the heart of the terminal, a welcome change from the cramped spaces of the older terminals. Surrounding the marketplace are 15 retail outlets, a bar, and two food courts: capable of seating almost 1,000 people under a futuristic drop ceiling designed by architect Christoph Mäckler. This zone aims to be a serene relaxation area, inducing a sense of calm and potentially encouraging a bit of retail therapy.
The T3 project is particularly significant for Frankfurt Airport Retail (FAR), a joint venture between Fraport and global travel retailer Gebr. Heinemann. FAR currently operates four large duty-free department store-style stores at the airport. With the opening of T3, they will increase to 23 and cover more than 32,000 square feet, catering primarily to the large share of international transit passengers at the terminal.
The main duty-free shop in T3 will span an impressive 18,600 square feet, with the aim to offer an unparalleled shopping experience, from design to product assortment and staff interaction. The shop will feature key categories like beauty, spirits/wine, confectionery, tobacco, toys, and sunglasses, together with exclusive activations like a dedicated area for luxury niche fragrances and a Habanos specialist humidor for fine cigars.
Exclusive New Brands
FAR will also manage the Boss and Montblanc stores in the new terminal, as well as bringing Gatezero, a cutting-edge airport retail format, to Frankfurt. Gatezero originally made its debut at Switzerland's Zurich Airport in 2021 and expanded to Copenhagen Airport in 2022. This concept caters to younger travelers, offering the latest trends in luxury and street culture, ranging from fashion and accessories to tech gadgets.
Familiar Faces in T3
Giesen expressed her gratitude towards the long-standing partnerships with retailers and their continued commitment to the location. Among the loyal brands renewing their presence in T3 are Capi Electronics, Christ, Falke, Sunglass Hut, Tumi, and Longchamp.
Notably, Victoria's Secret will return, with a store operated by a German business of Turkish travel retailer Setur. This store will offer an exclusive selection of lingerie, fragrances, body care, and accessories. Other favorites like Germany On My Mind and Germany's Selection, part of the Wöllhaf Group, will provide passengers with German souvenirs, including wall clocks and beer tankards.
Frankfurt Airport serves as the gateway to Europe, located in the heart of Hesse, Germany. However, the pandemic has put a damper on its previous glory. According to the global airport association, ACI, Frankfurt has retained its eighth-place ranking among the world's busiest international airports between 2019 and 2024. Despite a 11% decline in passenger traffic last year compared to 2019, reaching 56.2 million, T3 is eagerly awaited to breathe new life into this European travel hub.
- Frankfurt Airport's Terminal 3, opening in April 2026, will house a new Boss and Montblanc store, as part of a joint venture between Fraport and Gebr. Heinemann.
- In addition to familiar brands like Capi Electronics, Christ, and Sunglass Hut, passengers can look forward to a Gatezero store, a cutting-edge retail format showcasing luxury and street culture, in Terminal 3.
- Terminal 3's main duty-free shop will offer an unforgettable shopping experience, featuring exclusive activations such as a dedicated area for luxury niche fragrances and a Habanos specialist humidor for fine cigars.
- Frankfurt Airport, situated in the heart of Germany, aims to regain its prominence in the travel industry, with the opening of Terminal 3 and its extensive retail offerings, attracting millions of global passengers every year.
