Memmingen Airport Invests in a Fitness Program

With a multi-million-euro fitness program, Memmingen Airport is gearing up for further growth and ensuring greater comfort for its passengers. In total, over ten million euros are currently being invested, primarily in the terminal and on the apron.

While vacation travel is in full swing at Southern Germany’s leading low-cost airport, work is proceeding at a brisk pace in many areas. “Our expansion program is in full swing,” reports Airport Managing Director Ralf Schmid during a press tour. Expansions on the upper level of the terminal are intended to provide additional gates. “These will particularly benefit our guests from outside the Schengen Area, who make up a significant portion of our passengers,” explains Dominik Stroick, Head of Infrastructure at Flughafen Memmingen GmbH. More space in the terminal means shorter wait times during peak periods. While work on the west side has already been completed, it is in full swing in the eastern section.

Work on the new exit passage in the arrivals area has already been completed. Shorter and clearer routes provide greater comfort and easier navigation here. A new pedestrian crossing has also been created on the terminal forecourt.

The modernization of the terminal’s balcony is intended to enhance comfort before the flight. The east and west sections have already been renovated, and work is currently underway on the central section. A new canopy provides protection from wind and weather, while a new air conditioning system—powered by the terminal’s own photovoltaic system—improves the indoor climate. “On top of that,” says Schmid, “we can optimize the boarding process here.”

Behind the scenes—in areas that aren’t immediately visible to passengers—there’s also a lot going on. For example, the expansion of the apron is set to be completed soon. “This is an important first step toward modernizing the historic infrastructure in this area,” explains Dominik Stroick. Two new aircraft parking bays are being built, accessible to passengers on foot, where aircraft will also be supplied with ground power from the airport’s own solar installations. This not only increases the airport’s capacity but also ensures more efficient operations and is a prerequisite for further growth. “For our passengers,” says Ralf Schmid, “this means more exciting flight destinations in the future.” The bidding process is still underway for another project set to begin this fall: a new “turnpad”—a type of turning area on the east side of the runway that allows jets to make a 180-degree turn—is intended to make aircraft movements on the ground even more efficient.

Another project, scheduled to begin in 2029, is still some way off: the construction of a parking garage that will offer approximately 1,800 parking spaces. As part of this construction project, which is expected to cost around 23 million euros, the access road to the Kiss & Fly area will be renovated, along with bus stops, taxi stands, short-term parking zones, and passenger waiting areas. Additional dining options and an expansion of the beer garden are planned in front of the parking garage.

“All of these measures,” emphasizes Managing Director Ralf Schmid, “are intended to support our ongoing expansion and make the airport ready for the future.” In total, the company is investing over ten million euros this year. Following a period of rapid growth, the airport expects to handle 3.8 million passengers this year (3.7 million last year). Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Schmid notes, the airport has grown by around 240 percent and has permanently established itself in the top tier of German commercial airports, ranking 10th. It has just taken first place in terms of on-time performance. An analysis by the TravelTech company AirHelp ranked Memmingen at the top of German airports in this category.