A HUGE airport that is costing £25billion to build and which is set to welcome 34million passengers has confirmed its new location.
The airport, which is expected to become the “most modern” in Europe, will be built in central Poland.
5
5
5
With billions of pounds earmarked for its construction, Poland’s government has announced it’s now ready to build.
The CPK airport will be located in the Mazovian Voivodeship in the country’s capital, Warsaw.
In a statement, Polish Infrastructure Minister Dariusz Klimczak said: “We have a location decision for the construction of the most modern airport in Europe, which will be built in central Poland.”
“Coming to a decision on a location is a key element of the CPK project. We are ready for real construction activities,” he added.
The new mega airport in Europe is set to take on London Heathrow and Dubai.
Passengers travelling from countries in Central and Eastern Europe will be able to fly almost anywhere in the world.
Last year, Foster + Partners and Buro Happold, the architect firms behind the ambitious build, unveiled detailed plans of what the future travel hub could look like when it opens.
A series of CGI images depicted the airport’s passenger terminal, main rail station and transfer hub.
According to the New Civil Engineer, the proposed plans have been finalised, with construction work set to begin in 2026 – two decades after the project was first announced in 2005.
Since last year, design changes were made to the roof, walkways, waiting areas and the bus station, in a bid to improve passenger comfort.
Further designs for the airport’s runways, taxiways, underground railway tunnel and air traffic control tower are still being finalised.
Grant Brooker, head of studio at Foster + Partners previously 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.”
The new passenger terminal will be able to accommodate 11,000 passengers per hour, with the capability to hold 40 million annual passengers by 2035.
Three other new airports opening in Europe
Luis de Camoes Airport, Portugal
First discussed back in 2008, Lisbon has revealed plans for its new Luis de Camoes Airport. The £7billion airport will replace the current Lisbon Airport. The new travel hub will have two runways and welcome 100million passengers by 20250. Luis de Camoes Airport hopes to open in 2034.
Kastelli International Airport, Greece
Greece has revealed plans for a huge new £422million airport. Kastelli International Airport will become one of the largest in the country when it opens in Crete. The new airport will initially be able to welcome up to 10million passengers, when it opens in 2027.
New Bodø Airport, Norway
Norway is replacing its current Bodø Airport with the new £546million New Bodø Airport. The airport aims to be open by 2029, with the capacity to handle 2.3million passengers per year.
A third runway, and other terminal extensions, will see passenger numbers increase to 65 million by 2060.
In addition to the new airport being built, improvements will also need to be made to the country’s rail infrastructure.
The project includes the construction of almost 2000km of new high-speed railway lines.
It is not yet known when flights will operate from the airport and which airlines will fly from the travel hub.
The huge airport project is expected to generate around 150,000 jobs in the area.
However, the plans for the new travel hub have been met with fierce backlash from local residents and travel experts.
Two years ago, Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary told local newspaper Rzeczpospolita: “This airport is unnecessary. It was planned in the wrong place and at the wrong time.”
5
5
