Expansion of Warsaw Modlin Airport was blocked by PPL, Owners of Warsaw Chopin Airport today as the issues between Ryanair and PPL once again come to a head in a battle that has been going on the best part of a decade on and off.
Last week Ryanair reported PPL to the European Commision over unfair treatment at Chopin Airport as they experienced heavy delays in transporting passengers by bus and were being handed parking spots that were furthest away from terminal. Ryanair moved some flights to Chopin and was preparing to move more because of the lack of space at Modlin which PPL was dragging it's heels on expanding.
PPL made a statement last week saying that they didn't want Ryanair flying at Chopin Airport and PPL have been reported to the EU on a number of occasions in relation to what Ryanair deemed as unfair treatment and favourtism to LOT.
The Two local authorities and the Millitary Property agency, the other shareholders in Modlin have approved the plan but PPL rejected it and therefore since the rules of the airport require all 4 shareholders to agree, expansion won't be happening.
PPL have however said that they will be willing to finance in full and approve the expansion if the other shareholders sell out to them and that they operate Modlin Airport as a duel airport strategy with Chopin Airport, large price rises to fees, remove incentives for Ryanair to grow traffic and reduce Ryanair traffic at the airport and there is speculation that they will reconfigure the airport to one that is not designed as a low cost airport.
It is really a shame that PPL are involved in Modlin Airport, they continually frustrate development of the airport and are more interested in protecting Chopin Airport and the carriers there than having an airports set-up that meets the needs of all of the citizens of Warsaw and the wider country. If they had their way, I doubt the airport would have been built at all but when the local authorities got EU funding they couldn't avoid it.