Frankfurt is Lufthansa's home base and continental Europe's busiest cargo hub, with strong business-class competition.
Frankfurt (FRA) is Lufthansa's primary global hub and the third-busiest airport in Europe by passenger numbers. Terminal 1 handles Star Alliance traffic almost entirely, while Terminal 2 serves most other carriers. The SkyLine people mover connects both terminals in about 5 minutes. Most intercontinental flights depart from the A and B gates in Terminal 1 — long walks are common, so leave buffer time.
Business travel demand dominates the Frankfurt schedule on weekdays, which actually helps leisure travelers who are flexible. Weekend departures consistently price 15-25% below Monday and Thursday equivalents on transatlantic routes. April through June delivers the best leisure value before summer holiday surcharges hit. Winter pricing drops hard on intra-European routes but stays firm on long-haul because of holiday expatriate traffic.
Ground access to FRA is excellent by European standards. Two railway stations sit directly underneath the terminals — Fernbahnhof for ICE long-distance trains and Regionalbahnhof for S-Bahn and regional services. You can reach Frankfurt City in 15 minutes via S-Bahn for about EUR 5. The ICE network also connects the airport directly to Cologne (one hour), Stuttgart, and Munich without entering the city first.
Terminal 1 is large — A and B gates can require 15-20 minutes of walking. The SkyLine train connects Terminal 1 and 2 in about 5 minutes. For connections within Star Alliance, most stays within Terminal 1 and the process is efficient.
April through June is the value window before summer surcharges kick in. Weekend departures undercut weekday pricing by 15-25% on transatlantic routes. Intra-European fares are cheapest in January and February.
Yes — the airport has two train stations beneath the terminals. ICE high-speed trains reach Cologne in one hour, and the S-Bahn gets you to central Frankfurt in 15 minutes for about EUR 5.
