Low-cost congestion at Warsaw-Modlin Airport is finally being tackled after the state-regional owner consortium approved a PLN 5.4 million (≈ €1.2 m) fast-track extension of the passenger terminal announced on 26 Feb 2026. According to CEO Jacek Kowalski, the steel-frame annex will double departure gates from four to eight and raise security-screening lanes to six, enabling the airport to process nine simultaneous morning departures—critical as Wizz Air, Ryanair and newcomer Air Arabia ramp up schedules. Modlin handled 218,000 passengers in January, a 96 % year-on-year jump and the fastest growth among Polish airports. The surge follows the return of Wizz Air after a 13-year absence and Ryanair’s restoration of trimmed frequencies. With summer season around the corner and limited room at Warsaw Chopin, multinational employers increasingly use Modlin for cost-efficient commuter flights to Western Europe. The temporary structure is intended to be ready by July; a larger PLN 280 m permanent expansion remains mired in shareholder disputes. Until then, travellers can expect construction-related way-finding changes and longer walks to buses. Companies operating posted-worker rotations should warn staff about reduced landside parking and encourage online check-in to minimise dwell time. From a mobility-tax perspective, the upgrade may help Modlin lobby for inclusion in the EU’s upcoming Schengen Entry/Exit System (EES) pre-deployment list, ensuring biometric gates are in place before the April 2027 go-live. Forward-thinking HR teams should already plan for possible EES enrolment queues at Poland’s regional airports. The Modlin project also exemplifies Poland’s push to decentralise air traffic: Katowice, Wrocław and Rzeszów each have smaller terminal add-ons under construction, targeting a combined 7 million additional seats by 2028. Source: Money.pl, 26 Feb 2026
Source: Money.pl
