Lufthansa and Fraport have opened a redesigned “Gate of the Future” at Gate A16 in Terminal 1 at Frankfurt Airport. The pilot replaces the conventional gate layout with lounge-style seating, flexible work areas, large-format flight-information screens and 360-degree displays. Boarding staff will move through the gate with tablets to assist passengers directly, while the counter has been reduced to a single workstation.
The mobile staff can handle rebookings, seat reservations, upgrades and other passenger queries through access to boarding systems. QR codes provide direct links to digital self-services, including the Lufthansa app, while the displays show boarding status, baggage guidance and live gate-change information.
Lufthansa and Fraport presented the concept as a test environment for future gate operations. Francesco Sciortino, Lufthansa Airlines’ executive board member and Frankfurt hub manager, and Dietmar Focke, Fraport’s chief operating officer, formally opened the facility.
The companies will assess which services and design features are effective before considering wider deployment at Frankfurt. The pilot has no stated end date, investment value or timetable for expansion. Terminal 1 is scheduled to become Lufthansa and Star Alliance’s principal Frankfurt terminal area in 2027, while Condor is scheduled to move to Terminal 3 in April 2027.