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Euro 2012 is a natural step for Polish aviation
The level of Poland's readiness to host Euro 2012 football championship
was the focus of a UEFA meeting in late September. The press extensively
reports that both Poland and Ukraine face major infrastructure problems
which include the lack of properly-sized sports stadiums, while road and
railway construction is lagging behind. But there seems to be a brighter
spot in this fairly gloomy picture: experts say Polish aviation is ready
to meet the deadline, as Sandra Jacobson reports.
'It is still before the qualifying draw, so we don't know who will play
in Poland and we don't know from which directions people will fly in'
Tadeusz Jarmuziewicz, Secretary of State in the Ministry of Infrastructure,
says 'So how to determine whether we are ready? UEFA bases its expectations
on stadium capacity. They assume 50% of the spectators will travel by
air. Another assumption is that most of them will do so within 10 hours
before and after the game. This would mean that we should account for
20,000 people. Coincidentally, that is almost the capacity of Warsaw airport
today'. Even though this may sound optimistic, there is no guarantee that
Polish planes, airports and carriers will be fully ready in 2012 as the
aviation industry is facing a crisis caused by the fuel prices.
Okecie airport in Warsaw is the largest in Poland. It has a 40% share
in the aviation market. Its optimum capacity is 36 landings and takeoffs
and 5,000 passengers per hour. 'July was a record month for Warsaw airport.
We checked in 50,000 passengers in 24 hours. According to the estimations
for Euro 2012, Warsaw airport will be required to check in 24,000 passengers
within 10 hours. It may be tight but it is definitely doable' says Michal
Marzec, president of the 'Polish Airports' State Enterprise and president
of the Warsaw Frederic Chopin Airport.
Polish aviation industry representatives seem to agree that the organization
of Euro 2012 poses a certain challenge for the branch but it is a welcome
challenge, one which will positively stimulate the industry and boost
its development rather than create excessive pressure. 'The Polish Air
Navigation Services Agency and Warsaw Airport have prepared a report determining
the challenges ahead of us. In my opinion Euro 2012 will be a catalyst
for the processes that are happening anyway, because aviation is developing
and investments are made on regular basis. Euro 2012 will be a milestone
on a path we have been on for years' says Krzysztof Banaszek of PANSA.
Polishmarket.com.pl,
2008-09-29
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