In its latest forecast, IATA predicts that in 2024 the air traffic in Poland will go back to pre-pandemic levels. In Poland, it means around 50 million passengers at all airports. In 2040, this is expected to be around 100 million and over 140 million passengers in 2060 (according to baseline scenario).
The construction of the Solidarity Transport Hub slated for 2027 is a profitable and perspective investment for Poland and the region says IATA in the latest forecasts.
“The completion of the STH for the second part of this decade represents a critical long-term sustainable investment for Poland,” explains Rafael Schvartzman, IATA Vice-President for Europe.
– The forecast is clear – what lies ahead is not only a return to pre-pandemic performance, but also further dynamic market growth after 2024 – says Marcin Horała, Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and the Government Plenipotentiary for the STH.
According to IATA forecast, Solidarity Airport should be constructed for 40 million PAX. In 2044 it should achieve 50 million PAX level. In 2060, at the end of the forecast, the airport will handle up to 72 million passengers in the most optimistic scenario. The baseline forecast is 65 million PAX.
– With the construction of Solidarity Airport, we will attract around 850 million passengers in total by 2060. There could hardly be a more irrefutable argument for the construction of STH – underlines Horała.
Forecasts also contain information about air cargo. IATA predicts that the Solidarity Airport could gain up to 20% air cargo market share in Central and Eastern Europe in the short term. Without STH, Poland would have missed out on 35 million tons of cargo by 2060. In a baseline scenario STH will handle 0.5 million tons in 2030, one million tons in 2035, and up to 1.76 million in 2060. As a result, the Solidarity Airport can become one of the largest cargo hubs in Europe – such as Frankfurt Airport, Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris and London Heathrow.
