In August 2025, Poland approved the design of the Solidarity Transport Hub Terminal, officially called the Central Port of Communications (CPK), a megaproject to build a new airport and high-speed rail hub 40km from Warsaw in Baranów, Masovia. Aiming to handle 100 million passengers annually, it could become Europe’s largest airport. Construction is set to begin in 2026, with the first phase, which will include a Warsaw-Łódź high-speed rail line, scheduled to open by 2032. The PLN 155 billion (US$43 billion) project is being designed by Foster + Partners and Buro Happold.
Historical context
The idea originated in 1971-1974, when under Edvard Gierek, the de facto leader of the Polish People's Republic from 1970 to 1980, a plan was proposed for the construction of a new Warsaw airport, which envisaged the creation of a modern transport hub with rail connections in the rural area of Masovia.
Economic crises and strikes led by the Solidarity movement in the late 1970s, followed by the imposition of martial law, halted progress.
The concept resurfaced during the government of Leszek Müller in the early 2000s, when Warsaw Chopin Airport was approaching its capacity.
The final CPK concept was approved in 2017, and in May 2018 the Sejm passed a special law to start design work.
Surprisingly, the concept generally echoes the vision of the 1970s (airport + high-speed rail hub) with adjustments taking into account technological developments. The venue was also chosen the same - the municipality of Baranów (approximately 40 kilometers from Warsaw). In August 2018, the government representative of the Central Communication Port Mykola Wield announced that the first aircraft should take off from the CCP in the winter of 2027/2028. However, not everything went as expected. In the summer of 2024, the new Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated that the project needed numerous changes and improvements. The key point that the government insisted on was that the launch of the first phase of the airport and inand the opening of high-speed rail links should be synchronized.
Design and characteristics
CPK combines air, rail and bus transport:
Passenger terminal: 400,000 m², three times larger than Chopin Airport, with a radial layout to minimize walking distances for passengers. Non-Schengen zones on the lower level, Schengen zone on the upper.
Railway station: 65,000 m² with 12 tracks, directly adjacent to the terminal.
Bus station: 15,000 m².
Airport City: Exhibition, conference and office facilities planned.
Runways: Initially two parallel runways, two more planned.
Capacity: 34-40 million passengers per year in the first phase, with the possibility of expanding to 100 million.
High-speed rail: Trains at 350 km/h (100 km/h faster than a decade ago) connect Warsaw with major Polish cities in less than 2.5 hours.
Architects say the terminal will open with 140 check-in desks, expandable to 170, ensuring no queues. The hub will serve as a base for Polish airline LOT.
Timeline and challenges
Construction will begin in 2026 with pile foundation work, after a general contractor is selected by August 29, 2025. The project, originally scheduled for 2027/2028, was delayed after Prime Minister Donald Tusk called for adjustments in his 2024 review, with a focus on synchronised opening of airports and railways by 2032.
Global context
Once completed, CPK aims to surpass London Heathrow (84 million passengers) as Europe’s busiest airport. Globally, it is second only to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (108 million), but will fall far short of the planned Al Maktoum hyper-airport in Dubai (260 million passengers, five runways).