Airport Guide

History of Warsaw Frederic Chopin Airport

Built on land purchased by Poland's Ministry of Railways back in the 1920s, Warsaw's main airport had a quiet first few years, before it was almost completely destroyed in fighting during the Second World War.

After the end of hostilities, the airport came under the control of national carrier LOT Polish Airlines for around a decade, though it was only when it was nationalised at the end of the 1960s that it really took off, with the construction of a new international terminal in 1969 allowing it to handle more than a million passengers a year.

This level was maintained until the end of the Cold War, at which point Warsaw became a major tourism destination.

As such, another new terminal was opened in 1992 and, just nine years later, the airport was named after Polish pianist and composer Frederic Chopin, by which point it was welcoming almost seven million passengers a year, thanks largely to the emergence of cheap flights across Europe.

Given this ongoing expansion, plans are currently in place to convert a former military airfield just to the north of the city into a second international airport capable of dealing with low-cost flights and freight operations.

Travelling to Warsaw Frederic Chopin Airport

Located in the Okecie district of Warsaw, Frederic Chopin Airport is easily reached by either public or private transport from the city's historic centre.

At present, the best options for arriving passengers heading into Warsaw are the numbers 175 and 188 buses, with most of the main city centre hotels, as well as some of the more popular suburbs, served by these regular services, as well as by the night N32 bus.

Set to be the quickest way of travelling from the terminal to downtown Warsaw, a special rail link is currently being constructed under Terminal 2, though no date has been confirmed for the completion of the work.

Taxis are also available throughout the day and night from both the airport and the city of Warsaw itself, with the cost of the journey arguably worth the lack of hassle it offers.

Airlines flying from Warsaw Frederic Chopin Airport

Though no longer owners of the airport, the country's national carrier LOT Polish Airlines remains the largest presence at Frederic Chopin Airport, offering more than 20 domestic and international routes every day.

From Warsaw, the flag carrier flies to destinations including Amsterdam, Barcelona, Frankfurt, London, New York, Zurich, Tel Aviv and Rome, alongside domestic flights to the likes of Wroclaw, Poznan and Szczecin.

Other national carriers offering flights to and from Warsaw include Austrian Airlines, British Airways, El Al, FinnAir and Lufthansa.

In addition, a number of low-cost operators offer cheap international flights to the city, including easyJet, German Wings and Wizz Air.

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