The renovation of one of the two runways has been finished at Chopin Airport in Warsaw. Completion of this project means completion of expansion and modernization of the Warsaw airport for the Euro 2012. What does preparation of other airports in the Tournament Host Cities look like?

Modernization of the runway with a length of 2800 meters makes it possible to increase the efficiency of air traffic across the airport and improve security of the actions taken. Renovation included the exchange of the surface, together with modernization of technical installations and installation of new lighting of the axis of the runaway and its ends. The works lasted from July 2010 and were completed on August 27, 2011. As a result, the capacity and strength of the runway was increased.

In addition, within preparations for the Euro 2012 the construction of new access roads and construction of new terminal, the so-called southern pier, which was completed on August 8, 2011, was carried out at the Warsaw airport. After completion of the modernization works the Chopin Airport may support 5000 arriving passengers and 3800 departing passengers as well as 42 flight operations per hour. For comparison, in 2009, before modernization, the capacity of the airport was 3750 arriving passengers per hour, 2340 departing passengers and 36 flight operations. In June 2012, during the European Championship, it is expected to be the largest air traffic in the country’s history. On the day of most attractive football matches such as the semi-final match in Warsaw, the number of passengers at the airport may reach up to 30 thousand.

More than half a million foreign fans and tourists visiting Poland during the Euro 2012 will use the air transport – says Rafal Marczewski, National Coordinator for Airports in the PL.2012 Company. Modernisation of airports in all 4 Tournament Host Cities – Warsaw, Gdansk, Poznan and Wroclaw – will improve the quality of their services, as their capacity, which, in effect, will strengthen the market position of the airports in Central Europe and their business development.

On June 27 at the airport in Gdansk there was a ceremony of handing traditional perch on the occasion of completion of the construction of a new passenger terminal. The facility will be given to use in April 2012. At the Gdansk Airport a new taxiway whose new segments which were given into use on August 25 is being constructed. The entire project will be completed in November 2011. Expansion and modernization of the airport includes construction of an apron (open on 15 July this year) and a place for aircraft de-icing. Upon completion of all works the estimated increase in the number of passengers and operations per hour will be as follows: arrivals 760 -> 2240, departures 760 -> 2240, airport operations 12 -> 30

At the airport in Poznan, as in other airports in the Host Cities, hard works are being done in order to modernize and expand both the airport and passenger part of the airport. On March 1, 2011 an environmental decision was made, which made it possible to start major modernization efforts. Currently a new passenger terminal is being constructed and it will be opened in April 2012. Moreover, a new apron for aircraft and parallel taxiway are being constructed. This will significantly increase operational capacity of the airport in Poznan. After completion of works the estimated increase in the number of passengers and operations per hour will be as follows: arrivals 900 -> 2500, departures 500 -> 1600, airport operations 14 -> 30

At the airport in Wroclaw modernization of the existing terminal has already been completed. Currently a new terminal with the infrastructure is being constructed and it will be finished in March 2012. In addition, modernization of the airport includes construction of a new apron, exit ways and modernization of taxiways. The estimated increase in the number of passengers and operations per hour after the completion of the project will be as follows: Arrivals 1260 -> 2700, departures 840 -> 1960, airport operations 15 -> 30

Supportive airports will play an important role in providing smoothness and efficiency of air traffic and passenger comfort during the Euro 2012. They will be used primarily as parking spaces for aircraft, both linear and private ones, this is General Aviation – explains Rafal Marczewski, National Coordinator for Airports, PL.2012. – In case of much more increased air traffic supportive airports will also be used for handling passengers. Currently, we already have determined and confirmed all airports of this type. For the airport in Warsaw the supportive airport will be the airport in Lodz. In case of the airport in Gdansk the supportive one will be the airport in Bydgoszcz, in case of the airport in Poznan it will be the airport in Zielona Gora and when it comes to Wrocław it will be the airport in Katowice.

In August 2011 the President of the Civil Aviation Office took a very important decision from the point of view of smoothness and efficiency of air traffic during the Euro 2012. This decision was to introduce coordination of schedules at the airports in Tournament Host Cities. It is a necessary element to deal with the increased air movement during the Euro 2012. Coordination of schedules will make it possible to precisely and efficiently manage the so-called time slots, this is times between landings and takeoffs of aircraft – says Rafal Marczewski, National Coordinator for Airports, PL.2012.

For more than half of the fans and foreign tourists who will come to Poland for the Euro 2012 by air airports will be the first and last points of contact with our country. Therefore they will have a great impact on the image of Poland on the international level after the European Championship. It is very important that tourists and fans receive high quality service and comprehensive information on the most interesting things such as the way to a stadium, rules of using public transport or tourist attractions in the city and region. At all four airports in Warsaw, Poznan, Wroclaw and Gdansk, appropriately trained volunteers will be working. Their main task will be to provide information about, inter alia, the tournament itself, intercity public transport and tourist attractions of the city and region. Host Cities Volunteer Project UEFA EURO 2012 ™ is implemented in the same formula by Host Cities and is coordinated by the PL.2012 company. About 3000 volunteers will be working in the public space of cities, this is outside airports, on train stations and near the stadiums or on the main communication routes.

Read more about: airports, construction, Euro 2012, Gdansk, Infrastructure, National Coordinator for Airports, Poland, Poznan, Rafal Marczewski, warsaw, wroclaw