Frankfurt Airport has 2 main terminals connected by an automatic train, see below for details and terminal maps.
Opening hours for both terminals are 24/7.
Cheap hotels near Frankfurt Airport
Terminal 1 is much larger, more structured and divided into several sections. The gates in Terminal 1 are marked A, B, C and Z (the latter are typically for flights to the USA). The check-in counters are divided into two closely connected halls A, B and C.
Terminal 2 has a simple layout in a single section with departure gates marked D and E.
Terminals - airline split
The specific terminal will always be indicated on the ticket, but for ease of reference we list the most important airlines and which terminal they fly from in Frankfurt:
- Terminal 1: Lufthansa, Aegean Airlines, Air Canada, Air China, Air India, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Condor, Croatia Airlines, Egyptair, Ethiopian Airlines, Eurowings, LATAM, LOT, SAS, Swiss, Singapore Airlines, TAP, Thai Airways, Turkish Airlines, United
- Terminal 2: Aer Lingus, Air Algérie, Air Astana, Air Baltic, Air Cairo, Air Europa, Air France, Air Premia, Air Serbia, American Airlines, Bamboo Airways, British Airways, Bulgaria Air, Cathay Pacific, China Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Corendon Airlines, Delta, El Al, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Finnair, Freebird Airlines, Gulf Air, Iberia, Icelandair, IranAir, ITA Airways, JAL Japan Airlines, KLM, Korean Air, Kuwait Airways, MEA, MIAT Mongolian, Nouvelair, Oman Air, Pegasus Airlines, Qatar Airways, Royal Air Maroc, Royal Jordanian, Ryanair, SATA Azores, Saudia, Sri Lankan Airlines, SunExpress, TAROM, TUI fly, Tunisair, Turkmenistan Airlines, Uzbekistan Airways, Vietnam Airlines, Vistara
For the current airline breakdown, please visit the airport website.
Transfer between flights
Frankfurt Airport is one of the most frequent transfer points in Europe. Although many travelers rate Frankfurt Airport as chaotic and unpleasant, the reality is not so bad.
However, you have to take into account the large number of people at almost every hour of the day and the long distances involved.
It can take up to 40 minutes to transfer within a terminal and 60 minutes between terminals if your trip is booked in one booking. In that case, the transfer is also guaranteed, so even if you miss it (for example, a long delay on the first flight), the airline is obliged to provide you with the next available connection free of charge.
The transfer between the different parts of Terminal 1 is on foot only, with moving walkways (travelators) available in some of the longer sections.
If you are transferring on your own, it is definitely worth allowing a larger time margin, ideally 3 hours or more.
For official transfer information, visit www.frankfurt-airport.com.
Transfer between terminals
When transferring from Terminal 1 to Terminal 2, watch for signs for the "SkyLine Train", which is an automated train that pendulates between terminals.
It runs from 5:00 - 22:00 at intervals of about 2-5 minutes and the journey time is about 4 minutes. The train operates both in the "landside", i.e. the public part, and in the "airside", i.e. the transit zone.
The terminals are also connected by a pedestrian corridor, but in this case you also have to go through a security check.
There are also free yellow buses running between the terminals every 5-10 minutes through the public outdoor area. They stop directly in front of the terminal buildings.
Security and passport control
Do you have to go through passport control or security when changing planes at Frankfurt Airport? It depends on where you are flying from and to!
- Schengen -> Schengen: no checkpoint
- Schengen -> Non-Schengen: passport control
- Non-Schengen -> Schengen: passport and security check
- Non-Schengen -> Non-Schengen: security check
When moving between terminals, you always go through security control.
Map of Frankfurt Airport
You can see the official terminal map of Frankfurt Airport at frankfurt-airport.com/en/airport-guide. There are also downloadable maps in .pdf format.