'First of its kind' £24billion airport in Europe to rival Heathrow and Dubai

A swanky new airport could be landing in Europe, set to give London's Heathrow and even the esteemed Dubai International a run for their money as it aims to connect the entire continent in ways never seen before.

The Centralny Port Komunikacyjny, a proposed $32.5 billion project, is a fresh aviation gateway in Warsaw that carries the weight of Poland's ambitious mega airport dreams. However, the idea is rapidly advancing, with the official approval and handover of the passenger terminal design marking a significant step forward.

This indicates the massive airport is officially moving into its next phase of development. The question remains, will this new progression challenge the dominance of the Middle East, home to both the world's largest airport, King Fahd International Airport in Saudi Arabia, and the busiest, Dubai International Airport?

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While it still trails behind the world's largest airport, CPK's predicted passenger capacity makes it a strong contender as the new hub for Europe. In contrast, Dubai is on track to handle 100 million passengers by the end of next year, thanks to its strategic geographical position with other continents, while the Polish project will eventually accommodate up to 44 million.

Even the busiest airports in Europe can't compete with Dubai, which saw its top airport process a staggering 40 million people in the first half of 2025. Despite significant growth, mega hubs like Milan Malpensa and Athens still can't match the sheer volume of passengers that Dubai is handling, reports the Express.

Construction of CPK is due to kick off in 2026, with an ambitious plan to integrate both air and high-speed rail travel. The design aims to revolutionise connectivity across the continent, covering a whopping 450,000 square metres.

The major plans include around 140 check-in desks with the capacity to expand to up to 170, as passenger demand increases, according to Gulf News.

As for the aircraft, the terminal will feature over 20 dedicated contact stands for both narrow-body and wide-body planes, with plans for a phased expansion.

These ground-breaking plans, designed by Foster + Partners and Buro Happold, are three times the size of Warsaw Chopin Airport's current terminal. But the impressive figures don't stop there.

Their mega airport will initially be designed to handle up to 34 million passengers annually, with plans to increase to 44 million.

This ambitious multi-billion-pound project is set to include an underground railway station as part of the Warsawod High-Speed Rail Line. The rail system is slated for completion by 2029, while the airport is not anticipated to be fully operational until 2032.

Gulf News has reported that the initial estimates for the CPK project were a staggering $32.5 billion up to 2032; however, recent figures suggest this could soar to an eye-watering $34 billion in total. The mammoth airport is aiming to snatch a 'meaningful share of Europe's air traffic' and transform into a multi-modal hub, but will it be worth its sky-high cost?