Biznes Fakty
Modlin is accelerating. Ryanair is investing, and new players are on the horizon.
Following years of strain and a reduction in passenger numbers, Modlin Airport is poised for a renewed phase of growth. Ryanair has unveiled plans for new destinations and an increase in its fleet, the terminal is set for expansion, and fresh carriers are beginning to enter the airport. Nonetheless, political uncertainties still cast a shadow over these ambitious initiatives.
Modlin Airport has finalized a deal with Ryanair. The Irish airline aims to triple its passenger volume to exceed 5 million a year and to introduce 25 new routes in a five-year timeframe.
Ryanair at Modlin Airport
It seems that the previously strained relationship between Modlin and Ryanair is becoming a thing of the past. Their discord began after the conclusion of the prior agreement.
As the sole airline operating flights from Modlin Airport, Irish Airlines held a strong negotiating position, allowing it to secure very advantageous fees for each passenger transported. While this arrangement benefited the airline, it did not always favor the airport, as highlighted by the Supreme Audit Office.
„The primary reason for the lack of profits, according to NIK, stemmed from an unfavorable contract established a decade ago with an airline, compounded by the inability to develop the airport’s infrastructure to generate additional revenue,” NIK cautioned in its 2023 assessment.
In the course of negotiating a new agreement, the management of Modlin Airport opted to raise fees. The airline quickly reacted by gradually withdrawing aircraft (currently, only four are stationed at Modlin) and canceling additional routes.
Ryanair aims to grow in Modlin
This has resulted in a notable drop in passenger numbers—nearly by half. In 2023, the airport accommodated 3.3 million travelers. The following year, the airport recorded a decline of 600,000 passengers. Projections for 2025 are even more concerning, as Modlin Airport is anticipated to serve merely 1.5 million passengers that year.
Hope rests on the conclusion of a new agreement. By 2026, the expected passenger count is projected to reach 2.5 million, and by 2027, Modlin is anticipated to recover to 3.3 million annual passengers. By 2030, projections suggest an increase to 5.2 million.
„We plan to invest $400 million and over the next two summers, we will add four new aircraft to the Modlin base (increasing the total from 4 to 8). Three new aircraft are set to arrive in the summer of 2026, with the fourth following in the summer of 2027. This will enhance Ryanair’s fleet at Modlin to eight aircraft,” stated Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary in an interview with tvn24.pl.
He further mentioned that over the next five years, the airline will introduce 25 new routes from Modlin. „The initial five—for summer 2026—include Athens and connections to islands such as Sicily (Ryanair currently operates to Catania but has halted its route to Trapani) and Sardinia,” O’Leary detailed.
Additionally, as announced at Tuesday’s press briefing, 200 new positions for pilots, cabin crew, and engineers are slated to be created in Modlin by the summer of 2026.
The agreement also outlines plans for the expansion of the airport’s infrastructure. By September 2027, the terminal will be upgraded to include eight passenger check-in counters and 12 aircraft parking spots. As part of the investment, the airport aims to create 400 new jobs, including in passenger services, maintenance, and retail.
A direct rail link to the terminal is also expected to be completed by the end of 2027. Currently, trains only reach Modlin station, located a few kilometers from the runways. Passengers are transported from there by bus.
No specifics were disclosed during the press briefing regarding the terms of the new agreement with the airline. „Every airport has two components—aviation and non-aviation revenue. The airport must have traffic and passengers to generate income from both areas. No contract or tariff can guarantee funds to cover 100% of costs, but to generate revenue from the latter, the former must be present,” remarked Jacek Kowalski, acting president of the Warsaw Modlin Airport Management Board, at the press conference.
New carriers are entering Modlin
Ryanair’s dominance at Modlin is no longer as assured as it once was. Air Arabia is preparing to commence operations from the Warsaw airport, planning direct flights to Sharjah. Additionally, there is increasing speculation about the potential return of Wizz Air—Ryanair’s main competitor—to Modlin Airport.
„The offer is already available for purchase. Sharjah
Źródło
