Copernicus Airport, Wrocław, Poland

Copernicus Airport in Lower Silesia, southwestern Poland is a small to medium-sized international and commercial airport situated about 10km south-west of the city of Wrocław.

The airport formerly called Starachowice Airport but renamed in December 2005, was first built by the Germans in 1938 and has a single runway, one terminal building handling both international and domestic flights in separate sections and a 3,300m² cargo terminal.

The airport is administered by Port Lotniczy Wrocław SA which was formed in 1992 and took over the assets of the airport from the Polish Airports Authority in 1993. The airport plays host to services to 17 overseas destinations (first international service was established to Frankfurt in 1993) and only two domestic destinations (Warsaw and Gdansk).

There is due to be an expansion of services between 2007 and 2008 with new airlines joining the six already established at the airport but the details are still unclear.

COPERNICUS FACILITIES AND IMPROVEMENT

The airport already has the infrastructure to handle up to 750,000 passengers a year (improved between 1997 and 2001 and including new terminal facilities, cargo terminal, fire station, ATC tower, apron extensions and meteorological system). However it was decided in July 2006 (passenger figures for the year showed over 900,000) that the airport needed to be improved and expanded to a capacity of seven million passengers a year and consequently JSK Architekci sp. Zoo were asked to design a new passenger terminal and advise on a master plan to develop the airport.

Part of the reason could be that Wrocław is due to host an important Euro EXPO in 2012 and the airport would be needed to transport increased numbers of passengers.

The new facilities according to the master plan are to include the new passenger terminal, taxiway and apron improvements, apron expansion to accommodate 17 planes, a runway extension to 3,000m, a new fuel farm, new navigation equipment (landing and navigation lights and electrical and IT systems), a new 1,000-space car park and a new three-star hotel and conference centre.

The first phase (investment 100 to120 million zloty (€25m to €30m) involving a new terminal building (built 1.5km from the old one) will allow two million passengers a year and although not due to start construction until January 2008 should be completed by 2010.

Phase two will see enlargement of the terminal building to accommodate 4.5 million passengers by 2012 and by 2015 phase three expansion will allow seven million passengers a year. Extrapolation of passenger figures show that the airport will host 1.25 million in 2007, and could expect 1.9 million by 2009 and 2.2 million by 2010.

The total investment for the airport when all projects are completed could amount to 600 million zloty (€150m).

CURRENT WORKS

Because of the Schengen arrangements within Europe it has been necessary to instigate an expansion project at the current terminal building to bring into line with current regulations.

The terminal is being enlarged with additional floorspace of 1,900m² and this will allow it to serve a total of 1.2 million passengers a year as a stop gap. Also apron improvements adjacent to the old terminal were completed in May 2007.

ROAD AND RAIL

The airport is also in dire need of an improvement to its rail and road links to the city of Wrocław and the surrounding area. Because of this the Municipal Office of Wrocław will expand Graniczna Street (the road leading to the airport from the city centre).

The road will be expanded to four lanes and will form a link between the Wroclaw bypass and both the old and new airport terminals. This project will be completed by 2010.

A new road to the airport will also be constructed to connect Kosmonautow Street with the airport via Aleja Stabłowicka (this will be completed by 2012). A rail link is also planned between the airport and Wrocław Glowny, the main station in the city.

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