The £7billion mega airport coming to Europe – with flights expected from 2028
PLANS have been revealed for a new mega airport in Europe – with flights set to launch by 2028.
Construction work should begin on Warsaw Solidarity Airport, also known as Central Communication Port, by the end of the year.
Poland‘s new mega airport is expected to rival the likes of Heathrow and Dubai thanks to its proposed long-haul flights.
The new airport aims to enable passengers from Central and Eastern European countries to fly almost anywhere in the world – without having to travel to hubs in Western Europe first.
Plans are well underway to build Warsaw Solidarity Airport because Warsaw Chopin Airport (the city’s main airport) is nearing capacity.
While Poland plans to build on its overall passenger growth, the new airport will also help the country’s flag carrier (LOT Polish Airlines) to increase its passenger numbers too.
According to Simple Flying, LOT Polish Airlines CEO told Bloomberg: “Central Europe needs a proper aviation hub. We are going to be part of planning it and building it.”
Earlier this year, plans for the airport were unveiled by Foster + Partners and Buro Happold.
The CGI images depicted the airport’s passenger terminal, main rail station, and transfer hub.
Grant Brooker, head of studio at Foster + Partners told Notes from Poland: “Our design focuses on passengers. Our ambition is to create an accessible building that will improve the travel experience…[through] clear visual connections.
“We believe the CPK [the airport] will completely change the way people travel around Poland, and will also become a new gateway to Europe and the rest of the world.”
Developers expect the construction of the airport to cost in the region of $9 billion (£7.2 billion), but this figure could increase to as much as $30 billion (£24.2 billion) once wider costs are included.
Not only will the airport terminal and its runways need to be built, but improvements to the country’s rail infrastructure are also required.
The airport, which will be situated 40km away from Warsaw, is expected to have its own train station that will connect to the country’s pre-existing railway network.
By 2035, Warsaw Solidarity Airport will be able to hold 40 million passengers.
A third runway, and other terminal extensions, will see passenger numbers increase to 65 million by 2060.
Construction work is slated to begin at the end of this year, with flights set to depart from the airport in 2028.
It is not yet known which airlines will operate from the Polish airport.
Warsaw Solidarity Airport is also expected to generate around 150,000 jobs in the area.
The new plans have been met with fierce backlash from local residents and travel experts alike.
In 2022, Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary told Rzeczpospolita: “This airport is unnecessary. It was planned in the wrong place and at the wrong time.
“Only very stupid politicians could decide to do something like that. Warsaw already has two airports. It would be enough to use them well.”
Several airports in the UK are looking to relaunch passengers, including Manston Airport, in Kent.
Doncaster Sheffield Airport, which closed in November 2022, could reopen thanks to a new multi-million-pound plan.
And Plymouth Airport hopes to reopen after being closed for more than a decade.