Poland’s aviation market delivered historic results in 2025 and ranked among the fastest-growing in Europe. According to Polish Airports, the country’s airports handled 66.26 million passengers, while many hubs recorded double-digit growth rates above the European average. Around 63% of total traffic is generated by regional airports, which are also performing strongly this year. Further market growth will depend on infrastructure capacity and the geopolitical situation.
“2025 was probably the best year in the history of Polish aviation. Of course, the reasons include the post-pandemic recovery and the impact of the war in Ukraine, but we are also seeing very strong growth in LOT, in regional airports, at Chopin Airport, and in the number of arrivals and departures handled by PANSA,” Magdalena Jaworska-Maćkowiak, President of the Polish Air Navigation Services Agency, said in an interview with Newseria.
Passenger traffic across Europe’s airport network increased by 4.4% year on year in 2025. According to ACI Europe, airports handled around 100 million more travelers over the course of the year than in the previous year, reaching a record 2.6 billion passengers. The organization points out that growth is now being driven less by the post-COVID rebound and more by current demand and the diverging conditions seen across individual European markets.
Against the broader European backdrop, Poland was among the fastest-growing aviation markets in 2025. Passenger traffic rose by 14.4% year on year, clearly above the European average. Poland is still catching up with more mature aviation markets, which translates into a faster pace of passenger growth.
“The fact that we are growing the fastest is the result of several factors combined. First, we still have significant untapped potential ahead of us, because we have not yet caught up with countries where people fly much more frequently. Second, there is our location, and third, the fact that aviation is truly accessible. Today, you can buy a ticket quickly and fly almost anywhere in a short time, something other countries discovered long ago,” the head of PANSA explained.
This strong momentum is being driven in part by the rapid expansion of route networks, especially at regional airports.
“The strong, sometimes double-digit growth at airports shows that we are expanding, but all the investment projects being undertaken by airports, the fleet expansion by LOT, and our own investments at the Polish Air Navigation Services Agency are a direct response to very high demand. We know that airports, airlines, and we ourselves could grow even faster if the necessary infrastructure had been in place earlier,” Magdalena Jaworska-Maćkowiak said.
Geopolitics continues to have a major impact on the market. The war in Ukraine has reshaped air traffic patterns in this part of Europe, while the closure of parts of the airspace has affected both flight paths and the importance of individual countries within the air traffic management system.
The industry is now also being heavily affected by the conflict in the Middle East and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which is disrupting not only fuel prices but also the stability of supply. Airlines in Europe are warning about dwindling aviation fuel reserves and are urging the European Commission to prepare an emergency plan for such a scenario. According to media reports, such a plan is expected in the coming days. The International Energy Agency and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) have also recently warned of the risk of a crisis. IATA estimates that even before the end of May, flight cancellations caused by shortages of aviation fuel may begin to appear. Such a situation is already taking place in some parts of Asia.
“Aviation and geopolitics have a very strong impact on each other, which is why what we need above all is geopolitical stability,” the expert said.
IATA data from before the US and Israeli attack on Iran pointed to stable growth in global demand for air transport, which was up 6.1% compared with February 2025. The load factor stood at 81.4%, the highest level ever recorded for that month.
According to Warsaw Chopin Airport, in March this year airlines operating to and from the Middle East had to cancel more than 360 rotations, which affected the airport’s performance. Despite these disruptions, the capital’s airport still recorded a 3.4% increase in passenger numbers compared with March 2025. In the first quarter, growth reached 8% year on year. Regional airports in the first quarter of 2026 did not feel the war’s impact as strongly. Wrocław Airport recorded a 21% year-on-year increase in passenger numbers, Kraków rose by 15%, Gdańsk by 7.1%, and Katowice by 3.9%, although Katowice saw a slight decline in March alone.
Short- and long-term forecasts for Polish aviation remain optimistic. According to IATA analyses prepared for Polish Airports, Polish airports are expected to handle 73.3 million passengers in 2026. Over the following decade, traveler numbers are projected to grow rapidly, reaching around 95 million in 2033 and surpassing 100 million annually around 2035.
“All statistics show that not only in Poland, but also in other European countries, regional airports are growing. If people have the opportunity to fly closer to home, naturally they do. At the same time, all the data shows that a great deal still lies ahead of us, because we still fly far less than people in other European countries. The potential is probably twice as high,” Magdalena Jaworska-Maćkowiak estimated.
Poland ended last year with more than 66 million passengers served. The vast majority—63%, or nearly 42 million—used regional airports. An increasingly large share of journeys is taking place without the involvement of the central hub, benefiting airports such as Kraków, Gdańsk, Katowice, Wrocław, and Poznań, which are developing their low-cost, charter, and regular network carrier offerings alike.
The growing traffic across the system shows that, without new infrastructure investment, the scope for further expansion will be limited.
“The growth potential is definitely there, and it would probably be even greater if Port Polska already existed. Development opportunities in Warsaw and Kraków are constrained by airport infrastructure. All signals indicate that if we had delivered that infrastructure earlier, Poland would already have much higher air traffic and passenger volumes today,” the head of PANSA argued.
Market growth also means new responsibilities for air traffic management services.
“Our duty is to be prepared for every increase in traffic at regional airports. Above all, we must be ready for the moment when—hopefully—the war in Ukraine ends quickly and transit traffic returns to Poland, so that we can handle it smoothly and without disruption,” Magdalena Jaworska-Maćkowiak said.
