Munich airport's 'Project Future' is becoming a reality. The great expansion project is in its final countdown. Terminal 2 - a joint venture of Munich Airport and Deutsche Lufthansa AG - will open its doors on June 29.
Terminal 2 is jointly planned, built and operated by the German carrier Lufthansa and Munich Airport. The total costs of 1.5 billion Euro will be shared by Munich Airport (60 per cent) and Lufthansa (40 per cent). Europe's most modern and effective transfer terminal, Terminal 2, will be exclusively used by Lufthansa, Star Alliance members, and their code share partners. It is designed and developed to meet all the special needs of transfer hub traffic. The new 260,000 sq m terminal accommodates up to 25 million passengers per year allowing Munich Airport to double its capacity to a total of 50 million passengers. One hundred and twenty-four check-in counters, staffed as well as fully automatic counters and unique kerbside counters, 40 transfer desks, 114 gates with 28 boarding bridges, 75 aircraft stands, 7 baggage claim carousels with a total length of 520 meters, 26 security check-points, 54 passport control desks and 6,400 parking lots are some of the building's key features. A 30 meter-high, light-filled hall is where the passenger handling will take place - with lounges, 20 restaurants, 90 shops and numerous other service providers. In Terminal 2 the minimum connecting time will drop to 30 minutes. To make transfers easier for all incoming passengers, 40 transfer desks will assist the traveller with a fast connection to the departure areas. Interior work and test operations are in full swing. With 23.2 million passengers in 2002, Munich airport ranks number nine in Europe. Munich even set a new record with the number of take-offs and landings recorded in 2002. The 331,000 commercial aircraft movements represented a three per cent increase compared to the previous year. With this result Munich airport reached the strongest growth rate among Europe's 10 leading airports. Looking at the current year - Munich Airport registered 5,482,800 passengers in the first quarter of 2003, which is an increase of 11 per cent. And the number of flights planned ex-Munich in summer 2003 increased by 9.2 per cent. Ninety-five airlines are serving 208 destinations in 63 countries during summer schedule 2003. Emirates doubled its frequency and now offers two daily flights from Dubai to Munich. Qatar Airways operates three weekly flights between Doha and Munich and offers convenient connections via Munich to several European destinations such as Milan, Rome, Barcelona, Madrid, Vienna, Geneva, Zurich, Prague and Budapest. The total volume from the Gulf region alone to Munich Airport increased by 47 per cent to 27,400 arrivals in 2002. This development is evidence for a growing demand for Munich and Bavaria in the Arabian outgoing market. The nearby Alps and historical sites as well as renown shopping, spa and medical facilities make Munich and the State of Bavaria an ideal destination for shopping, wellness, and culture.