The construction of a new mega-airport in Poland is taking shape and promises to profoundly change the map of air transport in Europe, with clear ambitions to establish itself as one of the largest hubs on the continent. The project, designed to respond to the growth in air traffic and the need for faster connections, appears as a strategic investment for the country for the coming decades.
The future Port Polska should be located between Warsaw and Łódź and aims to receive around 40 million passengers per year. The planned size puts it at the same level as large European infrastructures such as London Heathrow and Istanbul Airport.
The initiative was originally approved in 2017, but faced several delays due to a corruption scandal associated with the previous government. The project was then marked by controversy and doubts regarding its execution, according to the portal specialized in economics and business Executive Digest.
After the political change in 2023, the current Prime Minister, Donald Tusk, guaranteed a “new clean start” for the airport, stating that this infrastructure will profoundly transform travel within the country and international connections.
Investment of 30 billion euros
The Polish authorities approved an investment of around 131 billion zlotys, equivalent to approximately 30 billion euros. Work is scheduled to begin next year, with the inauguration scheduled for 2032.
The complex will occupy an area of 2,585 hectares and will include not only runways and a passenger terminal, but also a large railway station and strategic road links, creating a true multimodal hub.
Tracks, trains and quick access
In the initial phase, the airport will have two parallel runways, each around 4,000 meters long. The possibility of building a third and even a fourth runway at a later stage is already planned.
Around 40% of passengers are expected to arrive at the airport by train, mainly from Warsaw, with an estimated travel time of around 20 minutes. The railway component will be complemented by a road network designed to guarantee efficient connections throughout Polish territory, according to the same source.
Architecture designed to integrate transport
Port Polska was designed by British studio Foster + Partners. The project includes a large central square, naturally lit and surrounded by green areas, designed to integrate plane, train and car into a single functional space. This area will function as a meeting and distribution point for passengers, facilitating circulation and making transitions between modes of transport faster and more intuitive.
A new name to leave the past behind
Initially known as Centralny Port Komunikacyjny (CPK), the project became associated with allegations of corruption, including the controversial sale of strategic land to a private company. The name change to Port Polska appears as a clear attempt to move the airport away from past controversies and reinforce the idea of transparency and national priority.
European connections and high-speed rail
In addition to international flights, the new hub should function as the central axis of a high-speed rail network. Fast connections are planned to cities such as Kraków, Gdańsk and Wrocław, offering travel alternatives without using a plane.
According to the Polish Prime Minister, the mega-airport, which will be one of the largest in Europe, should operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, positioning itself as the largest transport hub in the region and one of the most advanced in Europe, according to .
Scheduled to open in 2032, Port Polska is presented as a structuring project for Poland’s future, combining capacity, transport integration and growth potential, with the aim of reinforcing the country’s role as a strategic gateway to Europe.
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