Centralny Port Komunikacyjny (CPK) has launched a competitive dialogue procedure to select the general contractor for the passenger terminal of the new CPK Airport. With an estimated value exceeding the PLN 5 billion mark, this is the company’s largest tender this year. The contract is expected to be signed in 2026, and construction completed by the end of 2031. This phase of the project represents a major opportunity for Polish construction firms and a stimulus for the national economy.
The tender for the general contractor of the CPK passenger terminal is one of the airport’s key construction contracts. Bids can be submitted until 29 August this year. The first stage involves submitting requests to participate, after which CPK plans to invite up to five bidders to the competitive dialogue phase.
The contract is expected to be signed in 2026, with terminal construction scheduled for completion by the end of 2031.
On 27 May, Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced the launch of the procedure. That same day, the tender notice was submitted for publication in the EU Official Journal and posted on CPK’s SmartPZP procurement platform.
The investment programme is progressing. The project follows a government strategy to support the Polish economy, with mechanisms in place to favour contractors experienced in infrastructure projects in Poland and employing local workers. This approach is expected to maximise the benefits for the domestic economy.
The terminal is the heart of an airport. At CPK Airport, its planned floor area is approximately 450,000 square metres. For comparison, the terminal at Chopin Airport covers 165,000 square metres. The main terminal building will be connected to passenger piers, allowing travellers to reach their aircraft directly. On opening day, the terminal will feature nearly 140 check-in desks, with space reserved for an additional island to increase the number of desks to 170.
The terminal, railway station, and interchange were designed by the Foster + Partners and Buro Happold consortium, selected through a tender, in cooperation with over 30 other firms, including NACO, Kuryłowicz & Associates, and Cundall. The final design includes over 6,200 drawings and 50 technical reports.
“The requirements set out in this procedure aim to engage entities capable of delivering the contract at a high standard, as well as navigating not only international construction standards but also Polish legal requirements related to the construction process,” says Dr. Filip Czernicki, CEO of CPK.
“This approach to procurement can offer Polish companies an opportunity to replicate a scenario similar to that seen in Spain, which, thanks to significant infrastructure investments partly funded by the EU, has built a strong construction sector,” he emphasises.
The requirements imposed on contractors include, among others:
Achieving an annual revenue of PLN 4 billion in each of the last four financial years;
Completion, within the last 10 years, of the construction and obtaining occupancy permits for at least two facilities in the aviation sector or non-residential cubature buildings, each worth at least PLN 300 million;
Experienced personnel: the contract director, construction manager, and BIM coordinator must have proficiency in Polish at a level that enables the execution of the contract.
According to the selection criteria, contractors applying for the terminal construction contract will receive 2 points (up to a maximum of 10 points) for each construction project completed within the last 15 years, worth at least PLN 300 million net, involving the construction or reconstruction and obtaining occupancy permits of aviation sector facilities or non-residential cubature buildings located within the territory of EU member states or EFTA member states.
An additional 2 points will be awarded during the bid evaluation for each construction project completed within the last 15 years, worth at least PLN 50 million net, involving the construction, reconstruction, or expansion, along with obtaining occupancy permits, of a passenger airport terminal located within Poland. Contractors can earn up to a maximum of 6 points for proven experience in this category.
A further 2 points may be awarded for each construction project completed within the last 15 years, worth at least PLN 1 billion net, involving the construction or reconstruction, along with obtaining occupancy permits of a passenger airport terminal.
The terminal will initially serve 34 million passengers annually, with the potential to expand to 44 million. The tender allows for future scope expansion without disrupting operations.
This approach to major construction contracts under the CPK Programme will boost the Polish economy by keeping public investment funds local, increasing tax revenues, and creating jobs in the construction sector.
“The tender allows for scope expansion to meet growing demand, ensuring flexibility for changing market needs. We are planning an airport to open in seven years, so must consider future changes now,” says Dariusz Kuś, CPK Board Member for Airport Investments.
Construction starts with foundations in 2026. The tunnel and underground rail station are due by 2029, with the airport opening by the end of 2032 alongside the first section of the Warsaw–Łódź High-Speed Rail line.
