On Tuesday, Polish officials announced their choice of a consortium formed by Vinci Airports and the IFM Global Infrastructure Fund to secure PLN 8 billion (EUR 1.8 billion) in financing for the
construction of the country's upcoming mega airport near Warsaw. Marcin Horała, the government's commissioner for the Solidarity Transport Hub (CPK) project, disclosed this significant development.
The Vinci Airports and IFM Global Infrastructure Fund consortium, selected as the investor, will contribute substantial funding in exchange for a minority stake in the airport's operating company. Vinci Airports, a subsidiary of the Vinci Group and a prominent global operator of civil airports, is primarily owned by U.S. institutional investors. The company manages an extensive network of over 70 airports across 13 countries and boasts a workforce of approximately 270,000 employees.
Complementing Vinci Airports, the IFM Global Infrastructure Fund, headquartered in Australia, manages an impressive portfolio of assets worth around USD 143 billion, including USD 64 billion in infrastructure assets. Among its investments are shares in 17 airports worldwide, as highlighted by the Polish government.
By involving a minority investor in the project, the Polish government aims to acquire capital while retaining ownership and control over the CPK initiative. The new mega airport, strategically situated between Warsaw and the central city of Łódź, is envisioned to serve as a comprehensive transportation hub, seamlessly integrating air, rail, and road travel.
The airport's inauguration is scheduled for 2028, with an initial capacity to handle 40 million passengers annually, according to government estimates. Subsequent expansion plans, endorsed by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), project the airport's ability to accommodate up to 65 million passengers by 2060. This ambitious project is set to enhance Poland's transportation infrastructure and support the country's economic growth. Photo by Emptywords, Wikimedia commons.