European airport with direct UK flights reveals huge four-year renovation including massive new terminal
AN airport in Europe that has flights from the UK has revealed plans for a huge new four-year renovation.
Both Ryanair and Wizz Air operate direct flights from London to Katowice Airport, in Poland, for as little as £16.
And the Polish airport recently confirmed it recorded a record number of passengers last year, hitting 5.61 million in 2023.
The airport has since announced it's massive four-year improvement project, starting this year.
It's main upgrade will be a new central passenger terminal, with the 527,000sqft building having new jet bridges and new tunnel connecting the airport to the train station.
The two-storey terminal, costing around PLN950million (£186million). will have a new check in and arrivals hall, as well as security area, passport control and departures zone.
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A second cargo terminal will also be built, along with a fourth aircraft maintenance hangar.
New roads will be constructed at the front of the new central terminal, allowing drop offs, with a new multi-storey car park.
Other services and facilities will be improved across the airport too.
The entire project is expected to cost PLN1.5billion, working out to around £294million.
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When completed in 2028, it will allow the airport to welcome up to eight million passengers a year.
Further improvements could also be permitted by 2032, allowing up to 10million annual passengers.
Artur Tomasik, President of the Board of the Upper Silesian Aviation Group (GTL SA), the company managing Katowice Airport, said: "Our goal is to strengthen the airport in all areas of activities, i.e. passenger traffic, aircraft maintenance and air cargo.
"Katowice Airport is one of the most precious assets of the Silesian Voivodeship.
"Therefore, we want its role on the map of European airports to be bigger, with benefit for the economy of the voivodeship and its inhabitants. "
Ireneusz Kołodziej from Arup, who are behind the development of the airport, added: "Katowice Airport has long since reached the critical mass of a medium-sized regional port and further expansion through ‘budding’ ceases to make sense."
Poland is also set to open a huge new "mega" airport by 2028 as well.
The £7billion Warsaw Solidarity Airport, also known as Central Communication Port, hopes to rival Heathrow and Dubai airports by offering long-haul flights.
The construction of the new airport is due to the current Warsaw Chopin Airport reaching it's maximum capacity.
With an opening date of 2028, it hopes to welcome 40million passengers by 2025, with a third runway and terminal extension by 20260, increasing passengers to 65million.
It's not the only new airport hoping to open in Europe.
Pontecagnano (Salerno) Airport, near the Amalfi coast, hopes to open to passengers this summer.
And a new airport hopes to open in Lisbon, due the current airport reaching capacity.
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A number of UK airports have announced huge new projects too, including East Midlands Airport's £120million terminal expansion and Gatwick's £250million train station upgrade.