Repairs to Warsaw Chopin’s main runway were completed in August, ahead of schedule. The scope of works included replacing the concrete pavement of runway thresholds with asphalt concrete, which is easier to maintain. A new wearing course has been applied on all repaired sections of the runway and taxiways.
Warsaw Chopin Airport is now focusing on completing the refurbishment of the old Terminal A, and integrating it into the neighbouring new terminal, a project that is due for completion by the end of 2014. Reconstruction of the old part of the terminal began in September 2012; construction work is complete and the internal fit-out is now taking place. And all this is taking place against a backdrop of passenger growth, thanks primarily to the problems faced last winter at the new Warsaw Modlin Airport, which resulted in Ryanair and Wizz Air relocating their Modlin operations to Chopin from 22 December. In the case of Wizz Air this meant returning to the airport it had served until last July, but for Ryanair this was a new experience.
Runway works completed ahead of schedule
The old part of the airport’s Terminal A is being refurbished. The renovated part will boast more check-in desks, security checkpoints and additional baggage sorting equipment.
Repairs to Chopin’s main runway, RWY 3 (15/33), started in April, and were completed in August, ahead of schedule, despite heavy rains at the end of May and beginning of June. The scope of works included replacing the concrete pavement of runway thresholds with asphalt concrete, which, among other things, is easier to maintain. A new wearing course has been applied on all repaired sections of the runway and taxiways, while water drainage has also been improved.
The work on the runway will result in a number of important changes, the most important being that the landing threshold has moved 600m towards direction 33, which will shorten the length available for landing from 3,700m to a little over 3,000m. In addition, a new rapid exit road, Sierra 2, will be built, enabling landing planes to taxi to the intersection with taxiway A (Alfa), straight into taxiway Z (Zulu). This project will be finished before the end of the year. “Thanks to these two modifications, the capacity of the runway will be significantly increased, allowing us to handle more aircraft movements,” said Andrzej Ilków, Director of Chopin Airport’s Operations Safety Bureau.
It has been nearly 30 years since the last major work on the longer runway took place, and it has only remained operational this long thanks to regular, partial resurfacing works, carried out each September. The new runway surface will require no serious maintenance for the next 10 years.
Terminal A rebuild underway; completion by end of 2014
By the end of 2014 the old part of Terminal A will be completely transformed and integrated with the new part of the terminal.
Having sorted out the major issues with the main runway, attention has turned to the old part of Terminal A at Chopin Airport, which was closed to passengers in March. By the end of 2014 the building will be completely transformed and integrated with the new part of the terminal. “We want to provide Chopin Airport passengers with the highest quality of services. After the refurbishment the terminal will be more spacious and comfortable,” explained Przemys?aw Przybylski, the airport’s spokesman.
As a result of the refurbishment, the old terminal will be completely integrated with the new one, both architecturally and functionally. The renovated part will boast more check-in desks, security checkpoints and additional baggage sorting equipment. Also, a new underground passage linking the arrivals hall with the new airport railway station will be constructed. “I am convinced that the end result will more than make up for the temporary inconvenience related to the closure and refurbishment of the old part,” said Przybylski.
Due to construction work, as of 1 August all check-in desks, airline, tour operator and car rental offices, as well as the Lost Luggage facility, and the post office, were moved from the old to the new part of the terminal (CDE zone).
Although the infrastructure problems at Warsaw Modlin Airport have now been sorted, Wizz Air recently announced that, having consulted its passengers, it was now planning on staying at Chopin Airport permanently. An indication of the impact that the two carriers have had at Chopin, is that according to the airport’s traffic statistics for July, Ryanair and Wizz Air accounted for just over 20% of the airport’s total passenger traffic. Ryanair moved back to Warsaw Modlin Airport permanently on 1 October.
LOT still accounts for nearly 50% of traffic
According to traffic statistics for 2012, LOT Polish Airlines accounted for almost 50% of the airport’s record 9.3 million passengers, up +2.7% on 2011. “This was definitely the best year in the history of Chopin Airport. Never before, even in 2008, had we had more passengers. And all this despite the opening of a new airport in Modlin in mid-July, which took over about 10% of Warsaw’s traffic, along with one of the biggest airlines,” said Micha? Marzec, Director of Chopin Airport. While Wizz Air and Lufthansa (the airport’s second and third biggest carriers last year) both saw their passenger volumes fall, LOT actually increased its passenger throughput at the airport by almost +10%.
This year has been difficult for the flag-carrier, as its financial problems once again made headline news, and its efficient new Boeing 787 Dreamliners were grounded almost immediately after starting operations. However, by early August, all of LOT’s long-haul routes (to Beijing, Chicago, New York and Toronto) were finally being operated only by the airline’s five 787s. Since the widebody aircraft were ordered some years ago, the long-haul landscape at Chopin Airport has changed with the arrival of Qatar Airways flights to Doha (from December 2012), and Emirates flights to Dubai (in February 2013), giving local passengers new opportunities for long distance flights.
Chopin Airport City plans moving ahead
Chopin Airport City is being created on a 22.5-hectare site located close to the passenger terminal. On 23 July a contract was signed between ‘Polish Airports’, and consultant Arup, to start work on a detailed land development plan for the investment.
Another major development being planned is the creation of Chopin Airport City on a 22.5-hectare site located close to the passenger terminal. The airport city concept involves building a complex of 17 office buildings surrounded by greenery with water features and walking alleys. On 23 July a contract was signed between ‘Polish Airports’, and consultant Arup, to start work on a detailed land development plan for the investment.
“The task of the consultant is not only to develop a land development plan, but also to help us obtain a final environmental decision and a planning permission, which, in turn, will allow us to work on the local land management plan,” said Aleksandra Matuszewska, the head of the Chopin Airport City project. “Once the entire process is completed, we will be able to start preparing the area for the erection of the first office buildings. We expect construction works to start in 2015.”
