According to the news magazine ”Focus”, Lufthansa is planning a large-scale investment at Munich Airport that would increase its annual passenger capacity by ten million. The project involves extending Terminal 2 with a new “T‑extension” (T‑Stiel). A memorandum of understanding for the construction was signed in 2019 but was put on hold during the COVID‑19 pandemic. The plans are now set to move forward, again in a joint venture between the two partners as it was for the original Terminal 2 build. The Flughafen München GmbH holds 60 % of the shares, while Lufthansa owns the remaining 40 %.
On Monday the airline will celebrate its centenary at Munich Airport with a ceremony attended by Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU). Lufthansa chief executive Carsten Spohr has already announced a message for the occasion.
The decision to invest in Munich is a setback for Frankfurt, where a similar expansion is also under negotiation. With the award to Munich, Frankfurt’s plans appear to be put on hold, a point that Spohr had previously made clear by stating there is “no need for both”. According to the company, in the coming years Lufthansa intends to grow only at one of its two German hubs-either Frankfurt or Munich-so that a major infrastructure expansion is justified.
To cope with the increased flight traffic at Munich, Spohr considers the construction of a third runway essential. He stated recently at a reception hosted by Bavarian Finance Minister Albert Füracker (CSU) in the Munich Residence that “we owe it to the next generation to keep that option open”.
Spohr also stresses the need for an ICE (high‑speed train) connection to improve access to the airport. This project has been discussed for years without progress, and the new terminal expansion further raises pressure on Deutsche Bahn to deliver the link.