Infrastructure: expansion for increasing mobility needs

The positive trend at Munich Airport continues: in 2025, 43.4 million passengers used the airport, 1.8 million more than in the previous year. With the continued increase in local and global mobility de­mand, air traffic is also growing. Munich Airport is providing the necessary capacity and strengthening the prospects for the location and the region through targeted expansion and modernization projects.

New Terminal 1 Pier in operation Summary

In April 2026, a key milestone was reached in the further develop­ment of terminal infrastructure at Munich Airport. Seven years after the commencement of construction, we commissioned the new pier at Terminal 1. The new building serves as the central entry and exit point for all non-Schengen traffic in Terminal 1. Both the planned opening date in the first half of 2026 and the approved investment budget were met, taking into account the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021. With this new building, implemented under our own responsibility, we have sustainably strengthened the infrastructure performance of Terminal 1 and specifically aligned it with future traffic and quality requirements. The new pier makes a significant contribution to securing the long-term competitiveness of the location and supports the positioning of Munich as one of the leading major airports in Europe.

In parallel with the infrastructure expansion, the retail and dining offering was significantly expanded. The newly created «market­place» includes, among other things, a LEGO store and an FC Bayern Munich fan shop. The «walk-through duty-free» area after security screening is consistently aligned with the needs of passengers and offers well-known brands for an international audience. The concept is complemented by numerous digital advertising spaces that can be flexibly used and also establish the pier as a high-quality commu­nication space for partner companies. The lounge operated by FMG extends over 1,100 sqm across two levels and offers maximum comfort and a unique panorama. In addition to five large dining units that present Bavarian lifestyle, quality, and hospitality to their guests, the facilities include a gallery level with bar, separate work and relaxation zones, and a dedicated area for families with children. In addition, Emirates operates its own lounge for its passengers on an area of around 900 sqm. To further improve service quality, additional offerings for different user groups have been integrated. These include a spacious children’s play area, a quiet recreation area, multi-faith prayer rooms, and separate nursing and changing rooms. In addition, two specially designated zones are available for travelers with pets or assistance dogs. A new, centrally located cafeteria flooded with daylight is aimed at employees. It enables short distances and serves as a shared service and meeting space for employees from terminal operations as well as those working on the apron. The new building is equipped with modern, energy-efficient technology. Through significantly increased operational efficiency and intelligent energy management, the new pier makes a substantial contribution to achieving the Group-wide CO₂ reduction targets.

Terminal 1 and central building: comprehensive modernization begins Summary

Terminal 1 and the central building were designed and constructed based on the state of the art of the 1980s and have been in con­tinuous operation since the opening of Munich Airport in 1992.

As a result, the entire infrastructure can no longer adequately meet current energy requirements and future capacity and quality require­ments. The buildings concerned must be modernized and further developed so that the air traffic forecast through 2050 can be handled there. All structural, technical, flight operations, and commercial framework conditions were taken into account in the planning process. The main objective is to create a terminal that can achieve a higher quality standard in terms of energy, technology, and operations. For reasons of sustainability in particular, the existing load-bearing structure and building volume will be retained, while the building envelope and technical systems will be fundamentally renewed. In addition, space utilization will be optimized to create a modern process and overall visitor experience. Derived from this overall concept, Module A is to undergo complete refurbishment in the coming years in order, in combination with the Terminal 1 pier, to create an independent, self-contained terminal area with all necessary facilities for non-Schengen traffic. During the complete refurbishment, Module A is expected to be taken out of operation from the end of 2029. During the refurbishment period, flights will be handled in other areas of Terminal 1.

LabCampus: innovation hub at the airport Summary

In the west of the airport premises, LabCampus is being developed as a forward-looking innovation center that enables cross-industry and cross-company collaboration. LabCampus offers an attractive environment for research and development, scale-ups, established medium-sized companies, and internationally active companies. A key success factor is the close integration of science and business: in 2026, Technical University of Munich (TUM) will open pop-up laboratories there focusing on current issues at the interface of technology and society. In total, TUM will then have space covering more than 20,000 sqm in the LAB 48 and LAB 52 buildings. The new «Convergence Center» is intended to create a unique environment in which students, scientific talent, start-up teams, and business partners can work together on pioneering projects in an integrated and innovative way – facilities such as the «Robotics Institute Ger­many,» the «TUM Institute for LifeLong Learning,» the Chair of Ergonomics, and student initiatives are, for example, moving onto the campus.

Renowned companies and institutions are already located in the LAB 48 and LAB 52 buildings In December 2025, the bistro «forty8» and the café bar «nosh» opened as two culinary community meeting points in LAB 48, open to guests and employees. The subsidiary Allresto, together with its service providers, ensures culinary diver­sity and quality in the two new dining units.

The further development of the «Pioneer Quarters,» the first of a total of four planned quarters of LabCampus, is currently being advanced. The site offers potential for six additional buildings, which will be developed in line with demand in the coming years and will establish LabCampus as an international innovation hotspot in the Munich metropolitan region.

P8 nearing commissioning

The new parking garage P8 is being built at the same location as its predecessor. It has around 3,650 parking spaces on eight levels, 20 percent of which are reserved for electric vehicles.

P8 offers direct pedestrian access to Terminal 1 (areas D and E) and to Terminal 2. Completion of the new parking garage is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2026. Particular attention is being paid to the sustainability aspects of the new building. The demolition material from the old building was recycled and used for the road sub­structure. State-of-the-art photovoltaic technology is being deployed to generate sustainable energy, while high-efficiency LED lighting reduces energy consumption.

ibis Styles: new hotel at the airport

The ibis Styles brand, known for its distinctive and individual designs at currently more than 560 locations worldwide, is expanding at Munich Airport. In addition, the new building aligns with the airport’s sustainability strategy: the use of stone wool instead of rigid foam in the thermal insulation composite system, a green roof, geothermal energy for cooling, and connection to district heating based on renewable energy sources contribute significantly to reducing the building’s CO₂ footprint. As a result, the hotel will receive Gold certi­fication from the German Sustainable Building Council. The center­piece of the 350-room hotel will be its open lobby, which includes a restaurant, a bar, and a separate breakfast area, along with co-working spaces. A children’s area and a self-service food market are also planned. Inspired by the Isar River, guests at the new ibis Styles Munich Airport will find an exceptional and modern design that repeatedly reflects the surrounding nature. The hotel commenced operations in April 2026, with the official opening taking place in June.

Rail access: further improvement needed

The improvement of rail connections is of high strategic relevance for Munich Airport. As an initial success, we were able to record the inclusion of the airport’s connection to long-distance passenger rail services in the «Potential Demand» category of the requirements plan under the Federal Railway Infrastructure Expansion Act. The objective is classification in the «Priority Demand» category as a prerequisite for the start of concrete planning. At the same time, a phased concept for a long-distance rail station is being developed in order to bring long-distance trains directly to the airport in the medium term.

Since the end of 2024, the interregional Airport Express (ÜFEX) has connected the airport with Nuremberg via Regensburg. In 2025, around 800,000 passengers used this direct connection. The modern trains offer up to 528 seats at two-hour intervals, Wi-Fi, improved mobile reception, and ample luggage space. In addition, the Bavarian State Government has secured financing for the Airport Munich West Overpass, which is intended to improve the operational quality and capacity of the airport rail station.

Strategic construction projects