Polish Business Awards 2025 Aviation Sector Leader 2025 Poland is investing at an unprecedented scale in its aviation infrastructure—the largest program of modernization and expansion of airport infrastructure in the country's history is currently underway, totaling over €11.9 billion (PLN 50 billion). This includes approximately €10.2 billion (PLN 43 billion) allocated to the Centralny Port Komunikacyjny - CPK (Central Transportation Hub) and an additional €1.7 billion (PLN 7 billion) dedicated to expanding Warsaw Chopin Airport and regional airports. We learn more from Anna Dermont in light of this prestigious award. Leading Europe's Aviation Growth In the first quarter of 2025, Poland emerged as one of Europe's leaders in passenger traffic growth, achieving an impressive +15.4% year-on-year, which is 3.5 times higher than the EU average (+4.3%). While many regional airports across Europe still have not returned to pre-pandemic levels, Poland is actively building, modernizing, and forging ahead. In 2024, Polish airports handled over 59.5 million passengers (+15% year-on-year, +22% vs. 2019), and this dynamic growth is expected to continue throughout this year. Warsaw Chopin Airport: A Gateway to Europe Warsaw Chopin Airport is one of the most iconic and recognizable brands in Poland, well known not only nationwide but throughout Central and Eastern Europe. For over 90 years, it has been a gateway connecting Poland to Europe and the wider world, welcoming hundreds of millions of passengers. As Poland's leading airport, Warsaw Chopin Airport handled more than 21 million passengers last year, and we're poised to achieve even greater numbers this year, growing steadily at around 13% year-onyear. In May, June, and July, we surpassed a remarkable milestone— over 2 million passengers each month, with daily peaks reaching as high as 85,000 travelers. Modernization to Meet Growing Demand These record-breaking figures compel us to continuously modernize and enhance our infrastructure to better serve both passengers and airline partners. Expanding our transfer capacities is essential as we build and prepare passenger volumes for the Central Transport Hub (Centralny Port Komunikacyjny - CPK), which will replace Warsaw Chopin Airport in 2032. Some modernization projects are already well underway. We have initiated the expansion of our aircraft parking spaces, and the new apron will soon be operational. Additionally, we're finalizing a tender to acquire 15 new CT scanners, significantly enhancing passenger experience by speeding up security checks. Currently, our catalogue includes 27 investment projects, designed to remain flexible and responsive, adapting dynamically to passenger growth and evolving infrastructure requirements. Strategic Importance and Economic Impact Every new monthly passenger record underscores Warsaw Chopin Airport’s increasing significance within Europe's aviation landscape. To solidify and expand our prominent regional position, strategic investments are crucial. The modernization of Warsaw Chopin Airport isn't just addressing infrastructure limitations—it’s actively creating opportunities and laying a robust foundation for the swift development of the CPK. Without these investments, Poland risks losing approximately 32 million passengers to neighboring airports such as Prague, Vienna, and Berlin. Opponents of our modernization plans, intentionally or not, ultimately support our competitors, causing irreversible losses. Our modernization strategy ensures that equipment and infrastructure components can later be seamlessly integrated into CPK or other Polish airports, maximizing value and reducing waste. Even in the unlikely scenario that these investments don't pay off directly, their total cost would still be 30 times less than the economic losses incurred by diverting 32 million passengers elsewhere. According to ACI Europe data, this would translate into roughly PLN 30 billion lost to Poland’s economy. Commitment to Sustainability and ESG Goals Warsaw Chopin Airport also plays a vital role within the PPL Capital Group, comprising companies active in aviation trade and services. Sustainability and decarbonization are integral to our operations, aligning with our ambitious ESG strategy. In fact, since July, fuel providers at Chopin Airport have begun offering Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), directly aiding carriers in reducing their carbon footprint. A Leader Today, Shaping the Future As a local trendsetter, Warsaw Chopin Airport naturally assumes leadership in Poland and throughout the Central and Eastern European region. Recognition from the EU Business Awards highlights our growing influence—an influence that will persist even after transitioning air traffic to the CPK. With a rich over 90-year history behind us and a bright future ahead, we extend our deepest gratitude to all our passengers for their enduring trust and continuous support. Contact: Anna Dermont Email: [email protected] Company: Warsaw Chopin Airport Website: https://lotnisko-chopina.pl/ AIS-Jul25184 Warsaw Chopin Airport: Driving Poland’s Aviation Growth and Innovation
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTUyMDQwMA==