Overview
- Following the high-profile launch of Terminal 3, lawmakers in the Hessian Landtag clashed over airport policy, with democratic parties accusing the AfD of hurting the regional economy.
- AfD speakers urged scrapping the aviation tax and climate rules and claimed credit for a new federal relief step for the air industry, drawing sharp pushback from CDU and SPD leaders.
- SPD’s Marius Weiß hailed the terminal as a new regional landmark and a job creator and said the build shows democracies can still deliver very large projects.
- The Greens called the expansion an improper reserve plan, argued current passenger levels do not require a third terminal, and said the roughly €4 billion would be better spent on alternative fuels.
- Terminal 3 is now operating with an autonomous people mover, and Fraport’s chief Stefan Schulte says it was built for the next generation, while local commentary urges no further expansion and points to court-backed night quiet and past flashpoints like Startbahn West as reasons to keep peace with neighbors.