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Warsaw Modlin Airport is finally moving


JonnyM  11 | 2607  
1 Feb 2012 /  #1
It looks like things are finally moving...

Central and Eastern European low-cost carrier Wizz Air has confirmed plans to open a base at the new Warsaw Modlin Airport, which is due to open to commercial air traffic in third quarter of this year. The budget airline is currently bases three aircraft at Chopin Airport, the main gateway into the Polish capital, and will introduce a fourth from April 2012. However, it is to move its entire operation to the new facility, when it opens in July 2012, as part of this new arrangement, launching flights from there on July 18, 2012.

routesonline.com/news/29/breaking-news/140110/wizz-air-to-establish-base-at-warsaw-modlin-airport/
Sidliste_Chodov  1 | 438  
1 Feb 2012 /  #2
Hehe, no i dobrze, that will mean fewer chavs/Poland B cluttering up Okęcie, excellent :)
Harry  
1 Feb 2012 /  #3
It looks like things are finally moving...

Which is more than can be said for the issue of actually getting to Modlin airport by means other than car or getting there in under an hour and a half during rush hour.
antheads  13 | 340  
2 Feb 2012 /  #4
ryanair wants to open up a massive base at modlin, but they seem to have a dodgy non compete agreement with wizz air (same investors) so i guess wizz air will be the main player here. Harry, there will be a bus to the railway station a few km down the road.
Harry  
2 Feb 2012 /  #5
As far as I can see, both airlines are currently trying to stop the other from operating from Modlin while committing very little themselves. My guess is that Wizz will actually end up operating from there and that Ryanair won't.

there will be a bus to the railway station a few km down the road.

a) Getting from Modlin to central Warsaw by train takes about an hour and a half.
b) There is a grand total of one direct train per day to Warszawa Centralna.
OP JonnyM  11 | 2607  
2 Feb 2012 /  #6
a) Getting from Modlin to central Warsaw by train takes about an hour and a half.
b) There is a grand total of one direct train per day to Warszawa Centralna.

It's dreadful really. If they had any sense they'd run a shuttle to Nowy Dwor, though the train to there goes at walking pace.

It could be a good chance for Lodz airport to pick up some business - it's easy and comfortable to get to from Warsaw and a lot more affordable than a taxi between Nowy Dwor and Modlin.
db1874  7 | 227  
2 Feb 2012 /  #7
outside rush hour it's about 40 mins to get there by car from central Warsaw, I'm driving the road often to get to the golf course up there. There's also a flyover being built in Lomianki at one particularly bad set of traffic lights, that should help the flow of traffic a little back into Warsaw.
OP JonnyM  11 | 2607  
2 Feb 2012 /  #8
I'm driving the road often

Remember that most people going to the airport won't be driving.
Harry  
2 Feb 2012 /  #9
outside rush hour it's about 40 mins to get there by car from central Warsaw, I'm driving the road often to get to the golf course up there.

I used to teach in Palmiry and needed to allow 40 minutes to get there (at 10 in the morning) from central Warsaw. Modlin has to be a least a quarter of an hour from there.

in Lomianki at one particularly bad set of traffic lights

Are any of them not bad?

Remember that most people going to the airport won't be driving.

Especially not the people going to that one!
antheads  13 | 340  
2 Feb 2012 /  #10
Thats right the airport bus will go to Novy Dwor with new services from central.
A train station at modlin airport with skm trains running from central is planned within a year of the airport opening. There is already an rail siding to the airport so it just needs to be electrified and cleaned up. The problem that Modlin is facing is that it will be already overcrowded when it opens, it was built too small and will remind people of the dreadfull etudia terminal at okencie years ago.

This is a good article that shows how ryanair and wizzair do not really compete as they are both funded by indigo partners. Since then they have a few routes that they share but never to the same airport.
Wedle  15 | 490  
2 Feb 2012 /  #11
Thats right the airport bus will go to Novy Dwor with new services from central.

The original idea was to run a line into Warsaw on the left bank of the Wisla through kielpin and Lomianki, the nature lovers put the kibosh on that idea, from what I have been informed there will be two routes out to Modlin from Warszawa, one going through central to Praga and on to Modlin and another going through Dworzec Gdański and on to Modlin.

Are any of them not bad?

If you have a problem with the Wisla strada go through Młociny and round the back of the cemetery and drop into Kielpin/Lomianki that way, cutting out most of the road congestion.
OP JonnyM  11 | 2607  
2 Feb 2012 /  #12
, the nature lovers put the kibosh on that idea

Quite sensible - the left bank is something of a beauty spot and it makes more sense to upgrade the existing line through Legionowo.

one going through central to Praga and on to Modlin and another going through Dworzec Gdański and on to Modlin.

That's part of the upgrade to Warszawa Torunska and Warszawa Praga Station. Between there and Modlin they follow the same route. The line splits after W-wa Praga - some trains go via Zoo and Gdanski Stations and end up at Kolo and Wola Stations (the back bit of W-wa Zachodnia), the others go (via a quite interesting route) past Elsnerów and Szmulki and go via W-wa Wschodnia and Powisle to Centralny.

They can't afford to run the Metro to Brodno or Tarchomin in the forseeable, so they hope more people will use the tarted up PKP stations at Torunska, Płudy and Praga. It's just a coincidence that this will benefit passengers to Modlin Airport.
Wedle  15 | 490  
2 Feb 2012 /  #13
They can't afford to run the Metro to Brodno or Tarchomin in the forseeable, so they hope more people will use the tarted up PKP stations at Torunska, Płudy and Praga. It's just a coincidence that this will benefit passengers to Modlin Airport.

At least the extra trains will help the crowd who moved out to 'Dzielnicy Białołęka' avail of better transport options.
Harry  
2 Feb 2012 /  #14
If you have a problem with the Wisla strada go through Młociny and round the back of the cemetery and drop into Kielpin/Lomianki that way, cutting out most of the road congestion.

I find it much easier to simply not bother going that way at times when the traffic is likely to be bad. Warsaw traffic has now got to the point where it simply isn't worth trying to go anywhere at certain times of the day. I live a mile from Arkadia but on Friday afternoon at 5pm, it takes half as much time to walk there as to drive. Two months ago I drove to Lublin: it took me longer to get to the junction of highways 2 and 17 in Wesola than it took to get from there to Lublin.

Without a proper rail link, the airport in Modlin is going to be of very little use for several hours per day.
Wedle  15 | 490  
2 Feb 2012 /  #15
Without a proper rail link, the airport in Modlin is going to be of very little use for several hours per day.

Progress Harry, Warsaw getting its second ' real ' airport is a leg up. Look at Aeroport de Paris Beauvais and Airport Reus- Barcelona, if they can survive so can Modlin. Don't know about the air traffic pollution for the local residents though.
Harry  
2 Feb 2012 /  #16
Warsaw getting its second ' real ' airport is a leg up.

a) Does Warsaw even need a second airport?
b) In what way is it a leg up?
c) Real second airports are places such as Gatwick.
antheads  13 | 340  
2 Feb 2012 /  #17
a) Does Warsaw even need a second airport?
b) In what way is it a leg up?

Yes it does because the charges at okencie are to high for low cost airlines. It is a proven model in many cities to have a 'main' airport for traditional carriers and a 2nd 'basic' and further out airport for low cost airlines.

There will be more lcc flights to warsaw which in turn will stimulate demand.
Also 2 airports will lead to more competiton. The fact that wizz is moving to modlin means there is a chance easyjet will be lured back to okencie
Wedle  15 | 490  
2 Feb 2012 /  #18
a) Does Warsaw even need a second airport?

Modlin will be dedicated to low cost airlines, as a frequent flyer when spending my own money I select on price, so in my opinion competition is good for the consumer.

b) In what way is it a leg up?

Modlin should assist in bringing down prices for travelers, provide more low cost routes, as well as taking some traffic away from Okęcie.

t

c) Real second airports are places such as Gatwick.

I could not even begin to compare Warsaw to London.
Maybe Manchester or Birmingham in size of population.
OP JonnyM  11 | 2607  
2 Feb 2012 /  #19
I could not even begin to compare Warsaw to London.
Maybe Manchester or Birmingham in size of population.

Manchester's second airport is in some ways Liverpool. Like most smaller British ones built in the last few years it is almost identical to others - virtually a prefab. This would be a good idea for Modlin. What surprises me is that it's been planned so long, but the rail link won't be in place from day one.
Wedle  15 | 490  
2 Feb 2012 /  #20
. What surprises me is that it's been planned so long, but the rail link won't be in place from day one.

The only thing that surprises me is that after being in Poland for so many years, you are still surprised. Par for the course JonnyM, why be efficient when you can get more more for being inefficient, the clothes may change, the car gets more expensive, but when you scrape the veneer of respectability, its still the same sh1t underneath.
londontowarsaw  5 | 8  
5 Feb 2012 /  #21
This spells disaster, I'm afraid. I would even say that Wizzair has possibly underestimated the awful transport facilities from the centre of Warsaw to Modlin and moving is too soon.

Other cities cope with low cost airports outside the city by having excellent transport infrastructure. Warsaw is still building up its road and transport network and is not quite equipped to offer anything decent to regular business travellers out at Modlin, especially at rush hour, late on a Sunday night or early Monday morning. It can take me 15 minutes or an hour and 15 minutes from the centre of Warsaw to Okecie airport, so Modlin will be completely unattractive to many of us who commute to and from the UK for business. There isn't a high speed rail or road network in Warsaw so how moving right now makes good business sense is a mystery.

It's a big shame as Wizzair at Okecie offers a great service at very good prices, but it looks like many of my colleagues will also switch to national carriers to Heathrow from July - unless Easyjet spots the perfect business opportunity at Okecie.

Farewell Wizzair.
antheads  13 | 340  
5 Feb 2012 /  #22
Yep.. out of the european lcc's easyjet is my favorite, I would think okencie will now get honest and start to lower their charges to attract easyjet. Would be great to fly to charles de gaule airport on easyjet instead of that dreadfull Beauvais.
londontowarsaw  5 | 8  
1 Aug 2012 /  #23
Warning for people thinking of using Modlin. Friends were charged 150zł for the taxi drive and it took an hour and 10 minutes to get there from the centre of Warsaw. Their ticket on Wizzair was £98 return each, plus £42 each for bags to check in, plus £14.50 each for the train from Luton to London. No food and drink is available at Modlin!! Everything considered, it would have worked out better to fly BA or LOT from Chopin to Heathrow, or even KLM via Amsterdam. Awful experience. Does anyone know why there are no food and drink facilities at Modlin? It takes low cost travel to a whole new level.......
jon357  73 | 23073  
1 Aug 2012 /  #24
Friends were charged 150zł for the taxi drive

That's actually about the right amount - most people using the airport get the fast train to Nowy Dwor and the shuttle bus from their to the airport. I agree with you about Wizzair; it isn't that cheap and the hidden extras add up. I'd add that rather than looking on the LOT website, try the BA website - they have the same tickets for usually less money.

I recently travelled from Warsaw to Yorkshire. I checked out Wizzair from Modlin to Doncaster, but given all the extras it actually worked out cheaper flying with BA to Heathrow and travelling by train. First class from Kings Cross to Doncaster even, because I booked in advance from their website.
poland_  
3 Aug 2012 /  #25
Over the last 10 days i have been to/from Modlin Airport 4 times. The price of a taxi is clearly stated as 99 PLN to Warsaw centrum. if someone has been charged 150 PLN it was most likely an unauthorised taxi service. The price for the shuttle bus is 13PLN Modlin - Warsaw, there is also a free shuttle bus to Modlin railway station. The airport is still work in progress so don't expect any flash coffee shops or Cafe's. The only negative I encountered was the lack of road signs to the Airport, for anyone traveling by car to Modlin aiport,-E77 exit route 62 direction Plock/Serock, turn right direction Serock after 500 mtrs you will see a filter to the left - Lotnisko/Airport. From Warsaw Centrum to Modlin aiport it takes me 20 mins by car ( NOT during rush hours). For anyone arriving who wishes to hire a car there only seems to be Hertz available.

Does anyone know why there are no food and drink facilities at Modlin?

There is a portable trailer outside the airport selling Sandwiches and drinks they are doing a roaring trade, there is also vending machines inside the airport for drinks and snacks. The airport is still in its early stages, there are cafe's/coffee shops being fitted out as the boards are up on the units
darthtata85  - | 1  
8 Jan 2013 /  #26
i am travelling to modlin next month and trying to sort transport links before any one advise? are taxis stationed outside?
poland_  
8 Jan 2013 /  #27
are taxis stationed outside?

Yes.
jon357  73 | 23073  
8 Jan 2013 /  #28
Most passengers either get the bus to the nearby station or a coach to Warsaw. Both are frequent though the train services aren't great and the coach can get stuck in traffic jams when it gets nearer Warsaw.. It's possible to pre-book the coach via the Wizz Air website, however on the whole Modlin is not a good airport and its worth checking out BA flights to Warsaw. When you look at Wizz Air's extra charges for baggage etc as well as the hassle of travel from Modlin to Warsaw it's usually a better option.

Flights from Modlin a also economy class only and there is no lounge.
RomanF  
6 Oct 2013 /  #29
You can try transfer by Poland Modlin Transport.
From Modlin Airport to Warsaw city price is about 30 Euro.
Pickup from arrivals by the driver and after 30 minutes at destination address.

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