Kraków Airport secures environmental approval for new runway expansion

Kraków Airport, Poland's second-largest aviation hub, has secured a critical environmental decision to proceed with the construction of a new runway, averting a potential three-month total closure. The airport, which is projected to handle 15 million passengers this year despite being designed for 8 million, faced a crisis where it would have been forced to undergo major runway repairs without a secondary landing strip, necessitating a complete shutdown.

The Regional Directorate for Environmental Protection (RDOŚ) in Kraków issued a positive environmental decision for the new runway, which will eventually reach a length of 2,800 meters. The first phase, measuring 1,800 meters, is planned for 2029. This expansion aims to increase capacity and implement a Category 3 ILS system to mitigate landing difficulties caused by heavy fog.

Currently, the airport struggles with visibility issues due to its geographic location, temperature inversions, and proximity to the Vistula River. These conditions frequently cause delays or flight diversions to Katowice-Pyrzowice, particularly during autumn and winter. While a new radio-navigation system (ILS/DME) is set to begin functioning on October 1 to support Category I approaches, the long-term solution remains the completion of the new runway and advanced landing systems.