Hundreds of passengers checking in at the same time, suitcases moving through kilometers of conveyor belts and security lanes under pressure — and all of this without a single plane taking off.
At Frankfurt International Airport, Germany's busiest hub, large‑scale trial operations are underway at its new Terminal 3. Ahead of its planned opening at the end of April, thousands of test passengers are simulating everyday airport routines, everything from checking in to finding the right gates.
Designed for up to 19 million travelers a year, the €4‑billion ($4.7 billion) expansion is set to boost Frankfurt's capacity by around 50%. While most systems are running smoothly, the tests are also exposing technical glitches and some communication issues.
After 10 years of construction marked by the pandemic, supply chain disruptions and contractor failures, Terminal 3 is now entering its final and most critical phase.
This video summary was created by AI from the original DW script. It was edited by a journalist before publication.