Modlin Airport
Encyclopedia
Modlin Airport is a disused military airfield, currently being converted into a passenger airport for low-cost carriers serving the Warsaw
, Poland
market. The airport is scheduled to open for passenger service prior to UEFA Euro 2012. On 8 February 2010, the airport was registered officially as civil airport by the Polish Aviation Authority (Urząd Lotnictwa Cywilnego). It is located 35 km north of Warsaw's city centre the district of Modlin
in the town of Nowy Dwór Mazowiecki
.
Originally designed for military use in the Second Polish Republic
in 1937, it was not made operational until 1940 as an airbase for the German Luftwaffe in occupied Poland. Between 1945 and 2000 it was used by Polish and Soviet air forces. In 2000 the Polish Ministry of National Defence declared the airfield closed. Subsequently, much of its original area was made available as capital in a joint management limited liability
company created to run the future airport, Port Lotniczy Mazowsze Warszawa-Modlin Sp. z o.o.
The airport currently features one asphalt
runway in poor condition and lacks navigation lighting and modern radio aids such as ILS
, 2500 m long and 60 m wide at the altitude of 104 m.
The 2012 plans call for the conversion of the airport to civilian use, primarily as a replacement for the now closed Etiuda terminal for low-cost carriers at the Warsaw's main Okęcie airport
, an idea which
emerged in the early 2000s. Numerous projected opening dates have slipped, and business plans with extensive infrastructure improvements, including a new passenger terminal, have been proposed without any actual progress in the construction. An environmental assessment was completed as well. A schedule, announced in February 2008
had the airport opening for business in early 2010.
In September 2009 it was announced that tenders were being accepted and funding had been secured from the EU for an opening in 2011, in time for the Euro 2012 Football Tournament).
Construction works finally began on 8 October 2010 and is currently expected to be completed before Euro 2012.
A new 5km rail spur branching off from the existing Warsaw-Gdynia
line will be built with an underground station at the airport, theoretically providing a 30-minute commute to Warsaw centre.
Ryanair recently announced that it was planning to open a base at the new airport.
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
market. The airport is scheduled to open for passenger service prior to UEFA Euro 2012. On 8 February 2010, the airport was registered officially as civil airport by the Polish Aviation Authority (Urząd Lotnictwa Cywilnego). It is located 35 km north of Warsaw's city centre the district of Modlin
Modlin (village)
Modlin was a village near Warsaw in Poland near the banks of rivers Narew and Vistula. In 1961 it has been incorporated into the town of Nowy Dwór Mazowiecki.-See also:* Modlin Fortress* Battle of Modlin* Modlin Airport...
in the town of Nowy Dwór Mazowiecki
Nowy Dwór Mazowiecki
Nowy Dwór Mazowiecki is a town in central Poland with ca. 42500 inhabitants . It is situated in the Masovian Voivodeship ; previously, it was in Warszawa Voivodeship...
.
Originally designed for military use in the Second Polish Republic
Second Polish Republic
The Second Polish Republic, Second Commonwealth of Poland or interwar Poland refers to Poland between the two world wars; a period in Polish history in which Poland was restored as an independent state. Officially known as the Republic of Poland or the Commonwealth of Poland , the Polish state was...
in 1937, it was not made operational until 1940 as an airbase for the German Luftwaffe in occupied Poland. Between 1945 and 2000 it was used by Polish and Soviet air forces. In 2000 the Polish Ministry of National Defence declared the airfield closed. Subsequently, much of its original area was made available as capital in a joint management limited liability
Limited liability
Limited liability is a concept where by a person's financial liability is limited to a fixed sum, most commonly the value of a person's investment in a company or partnership with limited liability. If a company with limited liability is sued, then the plaintiffs are suing the company, not its...
company created to run the future airport, Port Lotniczy Mazowsze Warszawa-Modlin Sp. z o.o.
The airport currently features one asphalt
Asphalt
Asphalt or , also known as bitumen, is a sticky, black and highly viscous liquid or semi-solid that is present in most crude petroleums and in some natural deposits, it is a substance classed as a pitch...
runway in poor condition and lacks navigation lighting and modern radio aids such as ILS
Instrument Landing System
An instrument landing system is a ground-based instrument approach system that provides precision guidance to an aircraft approaching and landing on a runway, using a combination of radio signals and, in many cases, high-intensity lighting arrays to enable a safe landing during instrument...
, 2500 m long and 60 m wide at the altitude of 104 m.
The 2012 plans call for the conversion of the airport to civilian use, primarily as a replacement for the now closed Etiuda terminal for low-cost carriers at the Warsaw's main Okęcie airport
Warsaw Frederic Chopin Airport
Warsaw Chopin Airport is an international airport located in the Włochy district of Warsaw, Poland. Poland's busiest airport, Warsaw Chopin handles just under 50% of the country's air passenger traffic....
, an idea which
emerged in the early 2000s. Numerous projected opening dates have slipped, and business plans with extensive infrastructure improvements, including a new passenger terminal, have been proposed without any actual progress in the construction. An environmental assessment was completed as well. A schedule, announced in February 2008
had the airport opening for business in early 2010.
In September 2009 it was announced that tenders were being accepted and funding had been secured from the EU for an opening in 2011, in time for the Euro 2012 Football Tournament).
Construction works finally began on 8 October 2010 and is currently expected to be completed before Euro 2012.
A new 5km rail spur branching off from the existing Warsaw-Gdynia
Gdynia
Gdynia is a city in the Pomeranian Voivodeship of Poland and an important seaport of Gdańsk Bay on the south coast of the Baltic Sea.Located in Kashubia in Eastern Pomerania, Gdynia is part of a conurbation with the spa town of Sopot, the city of Gdańsk and suburban communities, which together...
line will be built with an underground station at the airport, theoretically providing a 30-minute commute to Warsaw centre.
Ryanair recently announced that it was planning to open a base at the new airport.