Shopping and dining in Terminal 1 Pier

Where 'Fernweh' meets Bavaria

It is quiet this February morning in the new Terminal 1 Pier. For now. Soft light falls through the tall glass façades, reflecting on bright stone, on wood, on natural materials. Outside, aircraft taxi across the apron of Munich Airport; inside, space opens up – to arrive, to stay, to move on. For many people in the region, Munich Airport is more than just a place of departure. It represents the moment when Fernweh begins – and the moment when, upon landing, you return home and feel Bavarian ground beneath your feet. With the new Terminal 1 Pier, opening in April 2026, this emotion is getting a new stage. Covering around 95,000 square meters, a modern terminal area for up to six million passengers per year is taking shape – along with a shopping and culinary world that creates atmosphere, enjoyment, and encounters, and that connects home with the world. Elke Haeffner, Head of Leasing and Marketing in the Commercial Activities division at the airport, shares in this interview which concepts and brands travelers can look forward to.

Ms. Haeffner, how does the shopping and dining experience in the Terminal 1 Pier differ from what travelers previously knew in Terminal 1?

Elke Haeffner: "Travelers should immediately feel where they are. Our aim was to make the Bavarian soul, the Bavarian attitude to life, the quality, hospitality, and openness tangible in the design of shops and restaurants – both in the aesthetics and in the tenants' conceptual offerings. In the design, Munich's urban identity meets the diversity of the Bavarian landscape. Traditional and natural colors, materials, and shapes are interpreted in a modern way to create a high-quality, authentic, and recognizable atmosphere. The shops and restaurants tell stories and offer passengers comfort, orientation, and a unique regional experience."

When plans slowly become reality: Elke Haeffner checks on the construction progress of the new duty-free store in Terminal 1 Pier. She looks forward with anticipation to the shopping and dining experience that will open in April.

How extensive will the offering be, and what's new?

"A total of 18 retail and service spaces as well as five major dining units are being created. It was important to us to intentionally create spaces that offer quality of stay and memorable experiences – with a marketplace as the heart of it all. A place to pause, sit, observe, enjoy. A special highlight is Munich Airport's first‑ever walkthrough duty-free: it marks the beginning, the intro into the shopping world right after security. On their way through, passengers can explore the full range of well‑known brands in beauty, spirits, and accessories."

The future is growing between construction foil and daylight: Elke Haeffner takes a look at the designs for one of the five large dining areas in the T1 pier with Markus Ganslmaier, Head of Product Management Retail & Service at the airport. It's a special moment when ideas become spaces and you suddenly find yourself sitting right in the middle of them.

Which brands and concepts can passengers look forward to?

"On the one hand, we have placed a premium segment brand mix, tailored to the passengers whose airlines operate from the T1 Pier, with internationally renowned brands such as Boss, Ralph Lauren, Armani, TUMI. At the same time, regional brands with global appeal will also be present – such as an FC Bayern fan shop. In dining, we're presenting well‑known concepts like Käfer, while also including proprietary restaurants with references to Munich, the region, and the Alps. For example, 'Münchner Leibspeis' as a modern multi‑brand food concept with individually experienced stations, or authentic everyday Italian cuisine at Cucina Popolare."

How have travelers' expectations at airports evolved compared to the past?

"Shopping and culinary experiences today are an essential part of the airport stay – far beyond pure consumption and not just an add‑on to travel. Time is perceived differently now. People don't just want to be supplied; they want quality, atmosphere, calm. A central marketplace flooded with natural light brings together retail and dining, complemented by a spacious seating area. You see travelers with laptops, families with children, people simply watching the hustle."

For which passengers was the concept primarily developed?

"For everyone. Very intentionally so – the offering is contemporary and diverse. In particular, we took into account the needs of international passengers from the Arab, American, or Asian regions, especially with regard to the airlines operating in Terminal 1."

How does it feel to walk through the Terminal 1 Pier these days?

"Very exciting. During the construction phase, it has been and continues to be special to see how individual shops and restaurants fit into the bigger picture, how plans suddenly become reality and everything becomes tangible. That stays with you – it's moving and emotional. I'm delighted that we've ideally leased all spaces and created a balanced mix of retail, dining, and state‑of‑the‑art digital advertising and promotional areas."

Sounds like a promising upgrade in terms of shopping and dining for Terminal 1 …

"Absolutely. After many years, we can now offer our passengers and airlines in Terminal 1 a contemporary, high‑quality product. The Pier is both a stage for brands and a place where people connect. A place that sparks the desire to travel – and at the same time gives the feeling of having arrived. In Bavaria. In Munich. At home."