The Polish Airports (PPL), a state-owned airports authority, announced the plans on Monday during a press conference.

The design phase for the airport modernization is expected to continue until 2026, with construction scheduled between 2026 and 2028. The upgraded infrastructure is expected to open in time for the summer 2029 season, said PPL representatives.

The modernization will expand the passenger terminal by 15% and increase the number of parking stands for narrow-body aircraft, such as Boeing 737s and Airbus A320s, from 62 to 83.

Stands for wide-body aircraft, including Boeing 787 Dreamliners, will rise from 15 to 24, enhancing the airport’s capacity to handle larger aircraft.

The investment will be fully financed through PPL’s profits, with 40% sourced from financial reserves, without requiring state budget support, said PPL President Andrzej Ilków.

Optimized costs

Adam Sanocki, a member of PPL’s management board, highlighted a significant cost reduction from the initial estimate of 2.4 billion złoty.

He said: “We tailored the modernization plan to real needs and successfully optimized the costs to 1.6 billion złoty.”

Warsaw Chopin Airport, the largest airport in Poland, is projected to handle a record 21 million passengers in 2024, up approximately 15% from 2023.

The modernization is aimed at accommodating continued growth in passenger traffic, ensuring the airport remains a critical hub for domestic and international travel.