Lufthansa to Expand Munich Airport, Prioritizing Bavarian Hub
Munich – Lufthansa plans a major investment at Munich Airport, aiming to significantly expand Terminal 2 to accommodate up to ten million additional passengers annually. The expansion plans, initially conceived in the past decade, were delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic but are now moving forward.
Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr is scheduled to reveal details of the future plans at a celebration marking the airline’s 100th anniversary on Monday, as reported by the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung and Focus.
Spohr Announces Decision
Munich serves as Lufthansa’s second major hub for international flights, alongside Frankfurt. A key difference is that Lufthansa co-operates Terminal 2 in Munich, allowing the company greater control over planning and operations. Lufthansa’s subsidiaries and partner airlines also utilize the terminal.
Both Airports are Expanding
Both Frankfurt and Munich airports are undergoing expansion projects. In Frankfurt, the third terminal is set to open in April, with a capacity of up to 19 million passengers per year. Prior to that, an extension to Terminal 1 in Munich will open, accommodating up to six million passengers annually. However, Lufthansa does not operate out of Terminal 1 in Munich.
According to Lufthansa, Carsten Spohr stated that the company will focus its growth on one location – “for almost decades” – requiring significant infrastructure expansion.
The expansion of Terminal 2 in Munich will involve adding a novel pier, dubbed the “T-Stiel,” which is expected to increase capacity by up to ten million passengers per year. The project is slated for completion in 2035, as reported by Süddeutsche Zeitung.
The joint venture between Lufthansa and Munich Airport has been extended to 2056 to facilitate the expansion, according to Aerotelegraph.