Situated 30 kilometres to the north of Katowice within the district of Pyrzowice, Katowice International Airport serves the southern regions of Poland with flights across Europe. It is a hub for Lufthansa, Wizz Air, Ryanair and the national carrier, LOT Polish Airlines, and is the fourth largest airport in Poland in terms of passenger traffic.
The Katowice International Airport is divided into three passenger terminals, with non-Schengen flight departures from Terminal A and Schengen flight departures from Terminal B while arriving passengers come in at the newly-built Terminal C. There is also a separate cargo terminal, with all aircraft operating from a single 3,200-metre long runway which was redesigned in 2015. Many of the flights operated from Katowice International Airport are seasonal, serving popular holiday destinations such as Egypt’s Red Sea resorts, as well as both the Greek and Spanish islands. Terminal B is home to an observation deck where visitors can watch all the comings and goings on the tarmac, and it is the longest of its kind in Poland. There are news agencies, currency exchange counters and duty-free shops scattered throughout both departure terminals, as well as cafes, restaurants and a business lounge in each. For those travelling with children, there is a kid’s play area, while the airport’s Sky Gallery showcases Silesian artists and designers in revolving exhibitions.
The airport is served by an hourly bus from Katowice’s main train station, together with local bus services from the surrounding cities. There are also taxis available outside the Terminal C arrivals hall.
An airbase was first established at Katowice by the German Luftwaffe to handle military aircraft before Soviet soldiers were stationed here from 1945 to 1951. The first commercial passenger flight from Warsaw landed at what was then referred to as the Pyrzowice Airbase in 1966, with a small passenger terminal eventually built in 1969.