Frankfurt Airport. Photo: Shutterstock Frankfurt Airport, one of Europe's main airport hubs, is preparing for an unusual wave of passengers in the coming days and issuing a clear warning: Congestion is expected to be heavy, and border control wait times may be longer.
According to Fraport, the company that operates the airport, about 3.5 million passengers are expected to pass through Frankfurt between October 2 and 18. During this weekend alone, the airport estimated 650,000 passengers would pass through the airport, a figure that illustrates the intensity of demand and the expected pressure on the terminals.
Fraport notes that congestion is expected to be particularly noticeable during peak hours, both in the check-in and inspection areas and at border controls.
The main warning is for non-EU passengers. According to the airport operator, passengers may face longer wait times at passport control, partly due to additional requirements for information collection and entry and exit checks.
The meaning for passengers is clear: anyone taking off from Frankfurt, landing there, or transiting there as part of a connecting flight should allow extra time and avoid arriving at the last minute.
Fraport recommends that passengers check their flight status in advance, check in online whenever possible, arrive early, and use automated kiosks and digital services when available.
Passengers with short connections may also be affected by congestion. Frankfurt has many passengers transferring between flights within Europe and on intercontinental routes every day, so delays at border control or while moving between terminals may affect connection times to the next flight.
The current congestion comes as the airport continues to reach exceptionally high traffic levels, in the context of the ongoing recovery in European aviation and continued high demand for international travel.