Poland’s Chopin Airport handled 18.3 million passengers by September 2025, marking the strongest summer and the highest September since 2024.
Record September and Strong Summer
In September, Chopin Airport processed 2,349,367 passengers, a 12.3% increase from September 2024, while the June‑September summer quarter attracted 9.57 million travelers, confirming exceptional holiday traffic.
Passenger Totals Through September
From January to the end of September 2025, 18,318,932 passengers passed through the airport. About 12 million were Schengen passengers and 6.3 million were non‑Schengen. In terms of carrier type, 59% of traffic was by legacy airlines, 26% by low‑cost carriers and 15% by charter operators.
Growth Trend After 2024
After a historic 21.3 million passengers in 2024, 2025 maintained double‑digit growth. In the first eight months, traffic rose roughly 13% year‑on‑year, driven by an expanding route network, including new long‑haul flights, and increasing activity from airlines based in Warsaw.
Capacity Constraints and Expansion Plans
Airport authorities and the infrastructure manager report operations running close to capacity limits, covering slots, terminal areas and the manoeuvring area. Limited new slot availability was communicated to carriers during peak periods. Parallel to these constraints, the government and PPL have announced plans to raise the airport’s annual handling capacity to roughly 28–30 million by 2030, through staged terminal and parking‑area upgrades, while preparations for the Central Communication Port remain underway.
Implications of the Numbers
The data demonstrate Warsaw’s growing role as a regional hub, with a high share of Schengen traffic, a stable non‑Schengen segment and a significant proportion of transfer passengers for late summer. The lack of free slots during peak times underlines the need for expanded throughput before the new infrastructure becomes operational.
