The Regional Directorate for Environmental Protection has issued a key environmental decision for the construction of a new runway at Kraków Airport in Balice near Kraków. This is a strategic step for Poland's largest regional airport, which has struggled with infrastructure limitations for years. Simultaneously, a political dispute is intensifying in Kraków over the metro construction project and the announced referendum on recalling Mayor Aleksander Miszalski.

Decision for Kraków Airport

The Regional Directorate for Environmental Protection has approved the new runway, moving away from the vision of closing the airport during the old runway's renovation.

Controversy Over the Metro

The government denies the declarations of Kraków's Mayor about being granted PLN 10 billion for metro construction.

MPK Fleet Modernization

Wrocław and Częstochowa are introducing dozens of new buses onto the streets, including electric vehicles.

The Regional Directorate for Environmental Protection in Kielce has officially issued an environmental decision concerning the construction of a new runway at Kraków Airport. This is strategically significant news, as the current runway requires a major overhaul, which without an alternative runway would necessitate a temporary closure of the airport. The new infrastructure is to be built at an angle of nearly 5 degrees relative to the current runway, which has sparked numerous protests from local residents due to the projected noise. Simultaneously, Kraków has become the arena of a heated dispute over rail transport. Although there have been reports of an environmental decision being issued for the so-called pre-metro, city authorities suggest changing the concept in favor of a full metro. Mayor Aleksander Miszalski announced that the city could receive up to PLN 10 billion in government support for this investment. However, representatives from the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Infrastructure distanced themselves from this information, stating that no binding financial commitments have been made. The situation is complicated by the approaching referendum on the recall of Mayor Miszalski, who is publicly supported by Prime Minister Donald Tusk. At the same time, other Polish cities are intensively modernizing their public transport fleets. Wrocław presented nearly 60 new Mercedes Conecto buses, which are part of a broad fleet replacement for MPK. Meanwhile, Częstochowa has put into operation ten modern electric vehicles from Solaris. In the background of local events, the banking sector is reporting new withdrawal limits at ATMs, prompting operators to promote alternative methods of obtaining cash, such as withdrawals in retail networks using the BLIK system.Balice Airport, opened for civil aviation in 1964, is the most important regional airport in southern Poland and a key hub for tourist and business traffic in the Lesser Poland region.„To wielki dzień dla krakowskiego lotniska. Po latach oczekiwań mamy zielone światło dla inwestycji, która zabezpieczy przyszłość transportową regionu.” (This is a great day for Kraków Airport. After years of waiting, we have the green light for an investment that will secure the region's transport future.) — Aleksander Miszalski

Mentioned People

  • Aleksander Miszalski — Mayor of Kraków facing a recall referendum and a dispute over the metro.
  • Donald Tusk — Prime Minister of Poland, who expressed support for the Mayor of Kraków.
  • Jacek Majchrowski — Former Mayor of Kraków, who has spoken critically about the metro project.