Frankfurt reopens refreshed Terminal 2 for first time since pandemic

Frankfurt Airport has reopened its Terminal 2 facility this morning for the first time since the pandemic began, as hopes grow for increased demand this summer. Forty-eight airlines were scheduled to operate from the reopened terminal today. Sascha Konig, who heads Fraport’s terminal resource management department, says: “This will put us in an excellent position for handling the predicted increase in passenger volumes during the upcoming summer months.” Fraport says the airport has used the time to carry out extensive upgrades and repairs to Terminal 2, which first opened in 1994. That includes installation of new glass panes in the five skylights of the terminal roof. The terminal has been closed since 30 March 2020 after international air travel was sharply disrupted by the crisis. Frankfurt handled just 18.8 million passengers in 2020, many of whom travelled during the first quarter before the crisis fully took hold. It is forecasting between 20 and 25m passengers at Frankfurt for 2021. ”Last year, Frankfurt airport benefited from its size and high connectivity,” says Fraport CE Stefan Schulte. ”Many airlines have bundled their long-haul flights from Frankfurt. As a result, we even gained market share during the crisis – albeit at a very low level. This is because airlines deploy their planes where they have a good load factor.<br/>