Originally Posted by
eu01
FR has in fact been interested in flying to Warsaw, but until recently it seemed to consider not Okecie but an old military base Modlin as its destination. However, the brief appearance of Warsaw on its map today suggests something different. Without any doubts Modlin will not be ready to accept FR planes in a few months, nor will be any other former military airport that could potentially be reshaped for civilian use (like
Sochaczew to the West). So FR might indeed foresee using any of these intended-to-be lcc airports near Warsaw as its future base, but these not yet disclosed plans to fly to WAW can at present concern Okecie only, the main airport.
There has been lot of rumours, that FR recalculated loss of WAW on their map. In fact, LCC terminal is almost full, but there, again, are rumours about terminal extension. What makes it more real is the map issue. And of course the fact, that FR is missing a big market opportunity at WAW - DY, EI, LO in DUB route are still not enough, even though existing DUB routes from the other cities.
Another thing is new base announcement, which is expected to be established in the eastern EU shortly. There have been voices in favour of WRO or KRK, but KRK is already reaching its capacity, while WRO has no maintenance for 737. WAW might be perfect (lot of discounts when establishing new routes), market capacity, 737 maintenance by two co's (LH and LO), and a good position to expand FR, according to latest statements, into Ukraine and Russia, as well as possibility to expand operations into baltic statas or czech rep/hungary.