The consolidation of oversight for transport companies, including all those in aviation, the adoption of the Multiannual Programme for the Central Communication Port (CPK), the decision to expand Chopin Airport, the development of LOT Polish Airlines’ fleet, and the increase in passenger numbers for the carrier, along with PANSA’s return to investment and the renegotiation of bilateral aviation agreements by Polish authorities – these are, we remind you, some of the most important events in 2024 for Polish air transport.o

The aviation industry has emerged from the shadow of the pandemic, demonstrating solid recovery and resilience despite new economic challenges. Remarkably, 2024 was a year in which most industry players, including those in Poland, matched or even surpassed the record results of the previous year.

The Ministry of Infrastructure Completed the Consolidation of Aviation Sector Oversight

Although aviation has played a prominent role in the political debate in recent years, the industry has existed in an uncertain reality. This all changed with the appointment of Dariusz Klimczak to lead the Ministry of Infrastructure, and the Prime Minister’s agreement to transfer oversight of all state-owned transport bodies.

Regarding aviation, the Ministry of State Assets has stepped back from overseeing our Group to better coordinate air transport policy and enhance the execution of the Central Communication Port (CPK) project. The Government Plenipotentiary for CPK has now returned to the Ministry of Infrastructure, which is expected to improve collaboration between rail and aviation.

Central Communication Port – Adoption of the Multi-Year Programme

To sum up 2024, the Central Transport Port company, in relation to the Central Communication Port company, initiated around 60 tender proceedings valued at over PLN 8.3 billion. Dozens of important contracts were signed, and the year concluded with the government’s approval of the CPK Multi-Year Programme for 2024 – 2032, which is backed by over PLN 131 billion in funding.

The updated plan allocates PLN 76.8 billion for railway investments, PLN 42.7 billion for airport projects, and PLN 2.5 billion for road infrastructure. Additionally, the government has decided to increase the share capital of the CPK company by PLN 3.5 billion to ensure that the ongoing design work on the terminal, railway station, and interchange remains uninterrupted.

Presentation of the Modernisation Concept for Chopin Airport

The expansion of Chopin Airport is set to begin in spring 2026. As the hub for LOT Polish Airlines, the airport is facing capacity challenges. This expansion is essential for Warsaw to stay competitive in the market for transfer passengers and to allow the national carrier to expand its network ahead of the opening of CPK.

The expansion of the ‘Okęcie’ Warsaw Airport will increase its actual capacity to 30 million passengers per year. Chopin Airport will be able to accommodate up to 83 narrow-body and 24 wide-body aircraft simultaneously. The total terminal area will increase to 189,115 m². The estimated investment cost is PLN 1 billion (PLN 1.6 billion with a reserve), which is lower than the initial projections.

LOTAMS – the launch of operations at a new in Rzeszów

At the end of October 2024, LOT Aircraft Maintenance Services (LOTAMS) launched operations at its new base at Rzeszów-Jasionka Airport, with infrastructure capable of servicing heavy aircraft, including the B737 and B787, as well as performing D‑checks. At the same time, construction of a new base worth over 200 million PLN is underway, which, upon completion, will significantly expand the range of services offered. The main LOTAMS base remains in Warsaw, where the company holds 10 service slots.

The launch of operations at Jasionka Airport marks a pivotal moment for LOTAMS, unlocking new development opportunities for our company. This is the largest undertaking in LOTAMS’ history, and we are especially proud to have already successfully completed five base maintenance services at this location. The rented hangar enables a significant increase in the volume of work we can perform. We are confident that this investment will not only strengthen LOTAMS’ position as a leader in the maintenance industry and expand our range of services but will also drive the optimisation of production processes. Additionally, the opening of the new base will bring tangible benefits to the local community, fostering economic growth and creating new jobs.

Filip Reszke
Executive Director, LOTAMS

LOT Polish Airlines will make use of every available capacity at Chopin Airport, even if the only available airport slots are outside our traditional arrival and departure waves. While developing a hub carrier model remains our priority, we are also preparing growth scenarios that consider different operating hours and airports beyond Chopin. The recently announced connection from Krakow to Paris-Orly highlights that LOT can explore opportunities at regional airports, not just through charter connections. We believe that LOT’s increased presence at regional airports with direct connections can complement our connecting services through Warsaw.

Robert Ludera,
Director of the Network Department
LOT Polish Airlines

LOT Polish Airlines continues to grow

LOT Polish Airlines continues to grow in line with its 2024 – 2028 strategy, announced at the end of 2023. The plan aims to carry around 16.9 million passengers and expand the fleet to 110 aircraft by 2028. By then, LOT also plans to launch more than 30 new routes.

In 2024, the company launched services to Tashkent, Athens, Oradea, Riyadh, Lyon, Larnaca, Tenerife and Innsbruck. Routes to Malta, Iceland, Lisboa, Thessaloniki and Paris-Orly from Krakow have already been announced for this year.

The introduction of new routes, as well as the increased frequency of flights on existing ones, has been made possible by acquiring new aircraft, both brand new and from the secondary market. Currently, LOT Polish Airlines’ fleet consists of 86 aircraft, including 15 wide-body jets (eight B787-8s and seven B787-9s). The narrow-body fleet is made up of Boeings and Embraers: six B737-800s, eighteen B737 MAX 8s, five E170s, fifteen E175s (including those leased to the Polish government), eight E190s, sixteen E195s, and three E195-E2s.

Investments Begin at PANSA

2024 proved to be a successful year for the Polish Air Navigation Services Agency (PANSA), with significant investments made, including the modernisation of the air traffic control system. Between 2025 and 2029, the Agency plans to invest PLN 1.4 billion. The most crucial project will be creating an integrated operational system for all air traffic control towers across Poland.

The Agency also plans to modernise the flight control tower at Chopin Airport, build a remote tower for Modlin Airport, and equip Krakow-Balice Airport with a CAT III ILS system. A new, larger operational air traffic control centre is also planned to replace the current, undersized facility.

Activities of the Civil Aviation Authority (ULC) and New Air Communication Agreements Between Poland and Other Countries

Poland’s accession to the European Union involved the adoption of EU law, which included a series of open skies agreements. These agreements have been established with countries such as the United States, Ukraine, Morocco, Jordan, Israel, Georgia, Armenia, and the United Arab Emirates, with Tunisia and Egypt next in line. Open skies agreements provide airlines with the freedom to operate any routes they choose. In the absence of such agreements, countries enter into bilateral agreements to facilitate air transport.

Poland is currently bound by 44 bilateral agreements, but there is a strong likelihood that this number will soon grow. The President of the Civil Aviation Authority is in negotiations for new agreements with 14 countries: Argentina, the Bahamas, Bahrain, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Kenya, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mauritius, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Tanzania, and Cape Verde. Additionally, the provisions of bilateral agreements with China and India are being renegotiated. In November, Poland signed an air service agreement with the Republic of Rwanda, allowing direct flights between Warsaw and Kigali.

Growing Staffing Needs in the Aviation Industry

Civil aviation in Poland continues to grow rapidly, as reflected in the passenger and operational performance at Chopin Airport and other regional airports, particularly in Katowice, Krakow, Gdańsk, and Wrocław. However, for this development to continue, the right conditions must be in place.

However, staff availability remains a key issue. The COVID-19 pandemic nearly brought the sector to a standstill for two years and led to the departure of many employees. These mass departures have made it challenging for some airlines to stick to their planned flight schedules, but the impact has been most keenly felt at certain European airports, which have struggled to keep up with the rapid recovery in traffic over the past two years.

It is encouraging that aviation remains an attractive sector for employees in Poland, but it is increasingly facing competition from other industries, making recruitment more challenging given the ongoing low unemployment rate. A potential solution to these challenges may lie in closer cooperation between companies in the sector, including those within our group, and secondary technical schools and polytechnics offering relevant specialisations. It is estimated that the aviation industry could require up to 300,000 new employees in the coming decades.

Appropriate cooperation with schools and universities plays a key role in the process of training and attracting new professionals to the aviation industry. We engage with schools from the very start of students’ education, ensuring that young people become aware of the specifics of careers such as mechanics or aviation avionics. Together with the schools, we promote the aviation specialisations of the future. We participate in open days, conferences, and discussion panels, as well as organise tours of our facilities. It is also essential to align curricula with the current needs of the labour market. This will ensure that school and university graduates possess the skills and knowledge required to meet the latest aviation standards.

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Anna Brodziak
Aircraft Mechanic LOTAMS

“Przegląd Lotniczy” is a joint project of the corporate communication teams from the companies belonging to the PGL Group.

Editorial Team:

Aleksandra Mościbrodzka
Eliza Mosionek
Anastazja Woitiul
Aneta Przybylska
Anna Szczygieł

Publisher:

Polska Grupa Lotnicza S.A.
ul. Komitetu Obrony Robotników 45A
02 – 146 Warszawa

All rights reserved. Further distribution of the newsletter’s content without the publisher’s con-sent is prohibited.

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