Kraków Airport to Expand with New T6 Passenger Terminal
In the presence of representatives of national and local government authorities, members of parliament, representatives of services and institutions cooperating with Kraków Airport, as well as airport employees and friends of the airport, a ceremonial cornerstone was laid for the construction of the new T6 passenger terminal.
A commemorative capsule was embedded alongside the foundation deed, containing a letter signed by airport employees, a copy of today's newspaper edition, a complete set of coins issued this year, and the first Polish collector’s banknote, “John Paul II.”
“Over nearly three decades, Kraków Airport has undergone a remarkable transformation. From a small regional airport serving 200,000 passengers annually, it has become the largest regional airport in Poland and one of the most important aviation hubs in Central Europe. This success is the result not only of successive investments, new routes and growing passenger numbers, but above all of the people behind it: airport employees, airlines, partners, local governments and everyone who contributes to its development every day. I would like to thank the employees who have gathered here today in such large numbers at the construction site of the new terminal extension,” said Łukasz Strutyński, President of the Management Board of Kraków Airport.
The newly designed T6 terminal, covering nearly 45,000 square metres, will feature 11 gates and three towers. It will serve as a natural extension of the existing terminal building, creating a cohesive architectural complex. The design continues characteristic elements of the current facility, including the southern “prism” façade and the triangular graphic motif, which will be reflected in ceiling divisions and roof skylight forms.
On the apron side, three new towers with staircases and access points to passenger boarding bridges will be constructed. The new facility will include 54 passport control booths for arrivals and departures, as well as 20 automated border control (ABC) gates for self-service passport checks.
The expanded infrastructure will also feature a significantly enlarged commercial area on the first floor. This space will become the terminal’s central service hub in the form of an attractive retail and dining promenade through which passengers travelling to both Schengen and non-Schengen destinations will pass.
The project will incorporate modern and innovative technological solutions designed to provide passengers with higher levels of comfort, safety and operational efficiency throughout their journey, including improved accessibility for passengers with disabilities.
The new terminal extension is scheduled to open in mid-2029. By 2032, all stages of the terminal expansion programme will be completed, including the western extension (T6), the eastern expansion on the site of the supporting terminal opened in April, and the modernization of the currently operating terminal facilities. Once all works are completed, the airport will be capable of handling up to 4,400 passengers per hour, equivalent to 20 million passengers annually, for both arrivals and departures, while maintaining the IATA “Optimum” level of service standard.