POLAND. Warsaw Modlin Airport has revealed plans to expand its existing commercial zone by about +50%, as it modernises the terminal under a PLN30 million (€7.1 million) investment. The upgraded terminal is to be unveiled in late 2018 or early 2019.
The airport’s commercial area, which includes duty free stores and dining outlets, covers 1,000sq m. Within this, retail stores and services comprise 340sq m, food outlets a further 560sq m and 25sq m is allocated to vending machines, ATMs and related devices. Following the forthcoming expansion, commercial will be expanded by about 500sq m, according to airport spokesperson Magdalena Bojarska.
“It has not been decided yet who will operate in the commercial zone of the expanded part of the terminal,” Bojarska told The Moodie Report. “Relevant tenders will be launched.”
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Warsaw Modlin plans a big expansion of retail space; Inflight Service-managed Euro Shop is one of the key concession partners |
The airport handled around 2.5 million passengers in 2015, a figure that should rise to around three million in 2016. The existing terminal has a capacity of about 3.5 million passengers, and with the planned investment, this should increase to five million passengers per year.
Since 2012, when it was opened, the airport has considerably expanded its activities. Designed to complement Warsaw Chopin Airport as a hub for low-cost airlines, such as Wizz Air and Ryanair, the airport had an initial passenger volume of only about 100,000 passengers per year, but this has sharply increased since then. Since April 2015, Warsaw-Modlin has been used by over 227,000 passengers per month, making it the country’s fifth largest airport.
Inflight Service Europe currently operates five retail outlets at the airport under its Euroshop brand. The outlets are operated by the company’s Polish subsidiary Inflight Services Poland sp. z o.o. which was established in 2003. However, it is expected that these contracts are likely to be divested under Inflight Service’s owner gategroup, which has said the airport business is non-core.
In related news, a new 5,600sq m hotel is to open within 200m of the terminal. A tender to award the contract to build and operate the facility is underway, according to the airport company.
The airport that, with the forthcoming investment, it aims to significantly bolster its revenues and grow profits.
“What is most important for us is the fact that the airport is starting to bring profits. Our EBITDA [for 2015] will be close to PLN14 million (€3.3 million). In 2017, we will generate a net profit,” said Warsaw Modlin Deputy Chief Executive Marcin Danił.
Warsaw Modlin is located about 36 km north-west of the centre of the Polish capital.
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The airport expansion will boost capacity and allow for an enhanced commercial offer |
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