The new Warsaw airport has gained clearance from Poland's Regional Directorate for Environmental Protection in Warsaw, another key step in the development of Centralny Port Komunikacyjny Airport (CPK).

The new airport, to be located 40 km (25 mi.) from central Warsaw, is viewed as a long-term replacement for Warsaw Chopin Airport, though both will likely stay operational when CPK comes online.

The Polish government is targeting a 2028 opening for CPK, which will have two parallel runways and capacity to handle 40 million passengers annually. By 2060, the airport aims to have three parallel runways and capacity to handle 65 million passengers annually. 

The environmental clearance comes weeks after the Polish Infrastructure Ministry approved the “general plan” for CPK. 

“The CPK project has moved from the planning phase to the design and construction phase,” CPK says in a statement, adding that a British consortium led by Foster+Partners is serving as master architect and is in the midst of “advanced design” work. “The conceptual design is ready,” CPK notes.

The airport is now seeking a construction permit from Poland’s Civil Aviation Authority, which could come as soon as this month.

“The environmental decision covers the passenger terminal, buildings and facilities supporting the functioning of the airport, air traffic control tower, runways and taxiways, aprons, railway and road junctions, as well as accompanying infrastructure, e.g. hotels, commercial buildings and car parks,” CPK says.

The airport is being described as a multi-modal air/rail/road transport hub. The Polish government, which will own at least 51% of CPK, is in “the process of selecting a strategic partner for the planned CPK airport,” according to the CPK statement. This partner will be a “minority shareholder … responsible for the construction and management of the airport.”

CPK adds: “Currently, there are only three foreign entities on the shortlist of investors, each with extensive experience and a recognized global reputation.”

The total cost of the project has been pegged at €8 billion ($8.8 billion) by the Polish government. The airport is slated to be integrated with a new high-speed rail station.