Poland is in the midst of developing CPK — a vast, integrated transport hub about 40 km southwest of Warsaw near Baranów — that combines a cutting‑edge international airport with high‑speed rails, highways, and logistics infrastructure (airport-world.com).
1. Airport Hub
- The centerpiece is projected to become the largest airport in Central and Eastern Europe, designed to serve over 40 million passengers annually at opening.
- Features include two 3.8–4 km runways, expandable to four, bound to include an integrated rail and bus terminal beneath the structure (travelandtourworld.com).
- A massive terminal footprint (~450,000 m²) will initially cater to 34 million passengers per year, with flexibility to adjust to 38–44 million by 2032 — scalable later (polskieradio.pl).
2. Rail & Road Network
- A high-speed “Y‑line” will connect Warsaw with Łódź, Poznań, and Wrocław, targeting speeds up to 320–350 km/h, reducing travel times drastically (e.g., to 40 minutes between Warsaw and Łódź).
- Overall plan includes nearly 2,000 km of new high-speed rail, alongside expressways, featuring deep rail integration directly beneath the airport terminal (travelandtourworld.com).
3. Strategic Site & Sustainability
- Built across 2,600–3,000 hectares, the site outscales Heathrow and JFK, offering room for expansion and 24/7 operations without night‑flight curfews
- Design aims for net-zero carbon footprint, with passenger-focused spaces like a central atrium linking rail and bus access (poland.uli.org).
4. Timeline & Financing
- Construction is scheduled to begin in 2026, with the airport opening around 2032, concurrent with the first high-speed rail segment to Łódź (newcivilengineer.com).
- The combined infrastructure cost is estimated at approximately 131 billion PLN (~€30 billion), funded via public money, bonds, and private investment. Terminal works alone account for ~5 billion PLN; total 2025 tenders may reach ~30 billion PLN.
5. Economic & Strategic Rationale
- CPK is framed as a transformative asset for Poland and Central/Eastern Europe, boosting logistics, defense resilience, and global connectivity for ~180 million people (airport-world.com).
- The project is expected to generate up to 150,000 jobs, stimulate Airport/ Cargo City development, and make Poland a major hub in Europe.
Summary of Key Points:
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | ~40 km SW of Warsaw (Baranów) |
| Passenger capacity | 34 m → 40–44 m initially; up to 100 m |
| Runways | 2 built, upgradable to 4; ~3.8–4 km long |
| Site size | 2,600–3,000 ha (twice Heathrow’s size) |
| Rail network | “Y‑line” to major cities; ~2,000 km HS rail |
| Timeline | Construction begins 2026; opens 2032 |
| Budget | ~131 billion PLN (public + private) |
| Jobs & economic impact | ~150,000 jobs; major economic hub |
