Europe’s largest airport is about to be built in Poland

The airport is named Port Polska, located in the area between the cities of Łodz and Warsaw. The project is planned with three runways, with a maximum capacity of about 40 million passengers per year in the first phase.

Port Polska is considered the largest super airport in Europe thanks to the scale of completely new construction on an area of ​​more than 2,500 hectares, instead of just upgrading old infrastructure. With a long-term capacity target of up to 100 million passengers per year, the project is expected to surpass today’s busiest gateways such as London Heathrow (80-84 million passengers) or Istanbul Airport (76-80 million passengers).

Not only stopping at an airport terminal, this is also the first multi-modal transport super complex to synchronously integrate the high-speed rail network right from the planning stage.

With “20-120” connectivity – it only takes 20 minutes to reach the capital Warsaw and 120 minutes to reach all of the country’s largest cities – Port Polska is expected to become a new “transportation heart”, filling the gap of a large international transit center in Central and Eastern Europe.

The project is expected to start in 2026. The first phase will build two parallel runways 3,800 m long, accompanied by a large-scale passenger terminal and integrated train station.

Mr. Anton Radchenko, an expert at aviation consulting firm AirAdvisor, said that thanks to the integrated high-speed train system right under the airport, tourists can easily access heritage cities such as Kraków, Gdańsk or Wrocław in a short time without needing to connect to domestic flights. Prime Minister Donald Tusk affirmed that the project will turn Poland into a connected “supercity”, helping this country’s tourism industry compete directly with large centers such as England, France or Türkiye.

During the survey, archaeologists discovered traces of 7,000 years of continuous human habitation in the area where the airport is expected to be built. Excavation work began in October 2023 and is expected to last until the end of 2026, before leveling the ground for Port Polska airport.

Antiquities from the Neolithic to the Middle Ages are researched and displayed right at the airport, expected to create a cultural space right at the nation’s gateway.

The project design is undertaken by the architectural firm Foster + Partners (UK). The creative director of this unit said the airport design aims to shape the flow of passengers through an interwoven architectural language, while creating a symbol associated with Poland’s cultural heritage and spirit of solidarity. In particular, the transit square is arranged with many trees and natural light, providing open space for users.

Previously, the project was controversial when plans under the previous administration were plagued with allegations of corruption. However, Prime Minister Donald Tusk affirmed that Port Polska will be “the heart of Europe”, connecting Poland to the world and becoming an important trade and tourism center of the country.

This project was once known as Solidarity Transport Hub or Central Transport Hub (CPK). The name change is considered a turning point, helping the project regain momentum and enter a new implementation phase.