Airport

The Coordination Committee of the Connecting Europe Facility for Transport (CEF-T) has just approved the European Commission's recommendation to grant funding for selected projects related to military mobility and alternative fuel infrastructure.

Among the five Polish projects selected for funding from the Connecting Europe Facility, twenty two have been prepared by the airport in Jasionka near Rzeszów. Both have been recognised under the thematic area “Adaptation of the TEN-T network for dual civil-military use within the framework of military mobility” What kind of projects are these?

1. Stage 2 of the parallel taxiway and Stage 1 of reconstruction of the runway on a section of 700 meters, including technical infrastructure.
2. Stage 2 of reconstruction of the runway on a section of 1800 meters, including technical infrastructure.

Both projects have received high ratings, each 19 points out of 25, and are recommended for funding. For both investments, estimated at a total of more than EUR 33 million, the airport near Rzeszów may receive up to 50% of subsidy from the European Commission.

- The pandemic period hit both airports and airlines very hard. It was a particularly difficult time for regional airports such as ours in Jasionka, hence my special position at the Committee of the Regions on this issue - says Marshal Władysław Ortyl.

This is what the eastern part of the airport will ultimately look like after the first of the investments is completed. The added and renovated part is marked red.

- The recommendation for funding for two investments is a great distinction for our airport and an opportunity. In fact, the pandemic is not over yet, and the airport is facing another great challenge of handling hundreds of aircraft from all over the world. It is coping with this task very well, but this process shows where we still need to invest in our airport infrastructure. This will be an important step in Jasionka's development. I would also like to thank the Ministry of Funds and Regional Policy and the European Commission for their help in applying for funding - adds Władysław Ortyl. Let us recall that the Subcarpathian Voivodeship is the majority shareholder in the airport near Rzeszów.

The other is the Polish Airports State Enterprise (PPL). - The Rzeszów-Jasionka airport is an important point on the map of Polish transport infrastructure. “As a cargo port, serving, for instance, the national “Aviation Valley”, it will supplement and support the functioning of the Central Communication Port - emphasises Stanisław Wojtera, CEO of PPL.

- The development of the airport near Rzeszów is also an investment in Poland's security. I’m glad that the actions taken by the manager of the airport, of which PPL is a shareholder, have been appreciated and that the projects have been given such high ratings - adds Stanisław Wojtera.

The CEO of the airport in Jasionka began by thanking the European Commission and the Ministry of Funds and Regional Policy for their assistance in applying for funding.

- These investment tasks are part of a long-term strategy for the development of our airport - assures Adam Hamryszczak. - This is obviously a huge challenge, but if we want to think about the further development of the airport, we must set ourselves ambitious goals and look for available sources of financing.

The reconstruction of the runway on a section of 700 metres from the eastern threshold (marked 27) will significantly improve its load-bearing capacity and increase its durability by using a cement concrete surface. The same surface is already in place for the part of the runway on the west side (09), which was renovated in 2013.

The second planned investment is the renovation of the central part of the runway over a length of 1,800 metres. It is marked red.

The central part of the runway over a length of 1,800 m will also receive a new heavy-duty structure designed for asphalt concrete pavement. This solution in the central part of the runway will allow it to operate in an optimal way.

In addition, the first project is planned to involve the construction of an approx. 1,240-metre-long parallel taxiway, which will further improve the airport's operational capacity in the threshold area on the eastern side, as well as increasing the capacity of the existing runway.

- This, in turn, will make it possible to increase the frequency and also the safety of flight operations - concludes Adam Hamryszczak.

List of projects recommended by the European Commission for funding HERE.