Munich Airport inaugurated its new Terminal 1 pier on 13 April 2026, unveiling 95,000 m² of additional space that can handle up to six million extra passengers annually. The 360-metre, six-level building features centralised CT security lanes, 12 narrow-body or six wide-body stands, two premium lounges and Germany’s first walk-through duty-free for non-Schengen departures. Bavarian Minister-President Markus Söder and Federal Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder hailed the €665 million project—self-financed by the airport—as a signal of renewed growth after pandemic lows. Forty international carriers will gradually migrate to the pier, easing gate congestion and allowing Lufthansa’s Terminal 2 hub to focus on long-haul connectivity once the current pilot strike ends. For corporate travel, the pier promises faster processing thanks to CT scanners that let passengers keep electronics and liquids in bags. Additional prayer rooms and quiet zones respond to feedback from multinational employers who route assignees through Munich for visa pick-ups at the city’s US and Chinese consulates.
![Munich Opens €665 Million Terminal 1 Pier, Adding Capacity for Six Million Passengers a Year]()
Whether you’re coordinating these consular visits or planning any other international trip, VisaHQ can simplify the paperwork. Its online platform (https://www.visahq.com/germany/) offers step-by-step visa processing, real-time status updates, and expert support for Germany and hundreds of other destinations—helping travelers reach Munich’s new pier with documents in perfect order.
Retail space emphasises regional brands alongside global names like Boss and Ralph Lauren, reflecting Munich’s bid to capture high-spend transfer traffic. The opening comes amid the EU Entry/Exit System rollout; Munich has installed 80 extra biometric kiosks in the pier to absorb demand. From July, the facility will pilot a single-token biometric journey in partnership with SITA, allowing passengers to clear check-in, security and boarding with one facial scan. Mobility managers should update travel policies to reflect new minimum connection times (MCT) at MUC, reduced from 40 to 35 minutes for Schengen-Schengen transfers and maintained at 60 minutes for Schengen-non-Schengen. With rail links disrupted this week for Deutsche Bahn engineering works, the airport recommends adding 30 minutes to journey times.
Whether you’re coordinating these consular visits or planning any other international trip, VisaHQ can simplify the paperwork. Its online platform (https://www.visahq.com/germany/) offers step-by-step visa processing, real-time status updates, and expert support for Germany and hundreds of other destinations—helping travelers reach Munich’s new pier with documents in perfect order.
Retail space emphasises regional brands alongside global names like Boss and Ralph Lauren, reflecting Munich’s bid to capture high-spend transfer traffic. The opening comes amid the EU Entry/Exit System rollout; Munich has installed 80 extra biometric kiosks in the pier to absorb demand. From July, the facility will pilot a single-token biometric journey in partnership with SITA, allowing passengers to clear check-in, security and boarding with one facial scan. Mobility managers should update travel policies to reflect new minimum connection times (MCT) at MUC, reduced from 40 to 35 minutes for Schengen-Schengen transfers and maintained at 60 minutes for Schengen-non-Schengen. With rail links disrupted this week for Deutsche Bahn engineering works, the airport recommends adding 30 minutes to journey times.
