CPK enters next phase as passenger terminal design officially handed over and approved
Centralny Port Komunikacyjny (CPK) has officially accepted the construction design for its new passenger terminal and integrated railway station from the master architect. The company is currently preparing documentation to submit to the Mazovian Voivode for building permit applications. The first stage of the CPK Airport is planned to open before the end of 2032.
The design handover followed positive assessments from the Regional Headquarters of the State Fire Service. The approved construction documentation and building permit application relate to the passenger terminal and railway station. The documentation for the bus terminal was accepted earlier, in June this year.
The project was prepared by the master architect team – a consortium selected via tender, comprising British firms Foster + Partners and Buro Happold, supported by over 30 subcontractors from various industries, including NACO, Kuryłowicz & Associates, and Cundall. In total, over 400 designers contributed to the development of the design documentation.
Large-Scale terminal design for future expansion
The designed area of the CPK passenger terminal in the first stage is approximately 450,000 square metres. By comparison, the terminal at Warsaw Chopin Airport covers 165,000 square metres.
Passenger operations at the CPK terminal will be carried out across three levels:
- Level +2: Ticket and baggage check-in, security control, arrivals and departures for the Schengen zone, and some arrivals from the Non-Schengen zone
- Level +1: Arrivals and departures for the Non-Schengen zone, transfer centres, and passport control
- Level 0: Coach gates for both Schengen and Non-Schengen zones, baggage reclaim, and arrivals hall
The main building will be connected to piers through which passengers will access aircraft directly. In its first stage, CPK Airport is expected to handle up to 11,000 passengers per hour. On opening day, the terminal will feature around 140 ticket and baggage check-in desks, with space reserved for an additional island, allowing the number of check-in desks to increase to 170.
The terminal design provides for two phases of development: to handle 34 million and then 44 million passengers per year. The target share of transfer passengers – those changing planes at CPK – is expected to be 35–40%.
The main terminal hall will be built from the outset with a larger volume to accommodate the first planned expansion. Interior fit-out and equipment will be implemented in phases. Terminal capacity can be flexibly increased by adding ticket and baggage check-in desks, security lanes, passport control booths, and baggage reclaim belts. Some of the equipment may be transferred from the modernised Chopin Airport, reducing procurement costs.
