Modlin airport to be ready by October 2008

The new airport in Modlin should be open to the public by October 2008, according to a business plan that has been prepared for the airport.

The new airport in Modlin should be open to the public by October 2008, according to a business plan that has been prepared for the airport.

According to the plan, in the first full year of operations, i.e. in 2009, Modlin will handle 1 million passengers, and by 2011 this figure will increase to 2 million passengers a year.
Modlin will function as a regional airport, complementing services provided by Warsaw’s Okecie airport. Budget airlines will be its main passenger traffic clients. The airport will also handle air freight around the clock.

The construction of the airport has been divided into three stages. Tasks to be completed during the first stage (2006-2008), include the construction of a terminal for handling 1.5 million passengers, the modernisation and extension of the runway, taxiing area and apron, renovation work on the hangars, and the renovation and expansion of various airport buildings. The cost of all the work to be completed during this stage has been estimated at PLN 257m (€66.4m).

During the second stage (2009-2017), the terminal will be expanded to handle up to 3 million passengers and a new cargo terminal will also be built. During the third stage, to be completed by 2019, a second passenger terminal will be added, which will also have a capacity of 1.5 million passengers annually.

The company managing the airport also plans to build a number of car parks: nearly 900 parking spaces will be completed during the first stage and this will rise to 1,300 parking spaces in stage two. Additional car parks will be built in the third stage.

The business plan also includes the possibility of a rail link between Modlin and Warsaw – the airport design includes space for a railway station. The construction of an airport hotel is also being considered.