Polish Government Close To Selecting Strategic Partner To Manage New Warsaw Airport

The Polish government says it is in the “final stage” of selecting a strategic partner and minority owner to manage Centralny Port Komunikacyjny Airport (CPK), the new Warsaw airport under development, with France’s Vinci Group and South Korea’s Incheon International Airport Corp. emerging as contenders.

The Polish government plans to retain a 51% ownership stake in CPK, with the strategic partner holding 49% and taking the lead in airport development and management. While Vinci and Incheon are known players in the process, other entities have not necessarily been ruled out.

CPK says in a statement that “interest expressed by such experienced players [as Incheon and Vinci] proves that the CPK project is business-consistent and that the airport part of the project is viable and guarantees a high rate of return.”

The new airport, to be located 40 km (25 mi.) from central Warsaw, is viewed as a long-term replacement for Warsaw Chopin Airport, though both will likely stay operational when CPK comes online.

The Polish government is targeting a 2028 opening for CPK, which will have two parallel runways and capacity to handle 40 million passengers annually. By 2060, the airport aims to have three parallel runways and capacity to handle 65 million passengers annually. Environmental clearance and approval of the “general plan” for CPK came from the Polish government over the summer.

The airport is being described as a multi-modal air, rail and road transport hub with approximately 1,240 mi. of new railway lines to be constructed.

CPK says 1,000 hectares of land have been purchased for the airport under a voluntary acquisition program and the selection of the 49%-financial partner has “entered a decisive phase.”