Polish aviation sees record growth in 2024 with dynamic investments and future development plans

Credit: Polish Airports (PPL)

In 2024, global and European air traffic experienced a breakthrough, with nearly 10 billion passengers worldwide. By 2042, this number is expected to double, and by 2052, could grow by 2.5 times. Europe marked a historic moment when passenger traffic surpassed pre-pandemic levels, reaching over 2.5 billion travellers, a 7.4% increase from 2023 and 1.8% higher than in 2019.

Poland saw significant growth, with 59.5 million passengers, a 15.6% increase from 2023 and a 22% rise over 2019. Warsaw Chopin Airport set a record, handling over 21.3 million passengers, 15.1% more than in the previous year, and now accounts for 36% of Poland’s air traffic. Combined with regional airports, which saw 38 million travellers, Poland’s aviation sector is booming. Regional airports now handle 64% of the country’s air traffic, reflecting a 26.2% rise compared to 2019.

Marcin Danił, Member of PPL’s Management Board, highlighted the historic level of investments in Polish aviation, stating, “Investments in Polish aviation and regional airports are today, just like the results of Polish airports, at historic levels.” Notably, 5 billion PLN is being invested in three regional airports, including Kraków, Katowice, and Modlin. This is in addition to modernization efforts at Warsaw Chopin Airport and the Central Communication Hub (CPK) project.

Dr. Anna Midera, President of Łódź Airport and the Association of Regional Airports, remarked, “Today, Polish regional airports are stronger than before the pandemic, having handled over 26% more passengers than in 2019.”

A debate titled “The Future of Polish Aviation Infrastructure – Challenges, Cooperation, Development” brought together industry experts to discuss Poland’s aviation future. Key topics included the need for new investments, the expansion of route networks, and collaboration between regional airports and the planned New Chopin Airport. Dr. Maciej Lasek from the Ministry of Infrastructure stressed the importance of strategic investment planning, noting that the government had secured funding for the CPK project until 2032.

Dr. Filip Czernicki, President of CPK, added, “The cooperation between CPK and PPL is the foundation for the success of this project.”

Poland’s aviation sector contributes around €14 billion annually to the economy and supports nearly 500,000 jobs. Experts predict that the sector will continue to grow, but face challenges related to infrastructure development, environmental sustainability, and technological advancements.

Globally, Europe’s aviation market is growing at different rates. Poland has outperformed many other countries, with passenger numbers 22% higher than before the pandemic. However, some European airports have yet to recover to pre-crisis levels. The industry is also grappling with the need for environmental transformation, with a focus on sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), hybrid propulsion, and air traffic management as part of the “Destination 2050” report.

Adam Sanocki of PPL concluded, “The greatest potential lies in alternative fuels (SAF), which could account for 56% of emissions reduction.”

Poland’s aviation infrastructure development, combined with dynamic investments, is positioning the country as a key player in European air travel while embracing future environmental and technological challenges.