Kraków-Balice, Poland’s largest regional airport, handled 1,341,037 passengers in May 2026, beating its previous record by 185,000 travelers. The 16 percent year-on-year growth confirms the airport’s trajectory toward an ambitious annual target of 15 million passengers.
The May result is the highest monthly figure in the airport’s history, and it comes even before the peak summer holiday season. In the last week of May alone – from 25 to 31 – 308,951 passengers passed through the terminal, another all-time weekly record.
After five months of 2026, the airport has already served 5.59 million people. Last year’s total was 13.2 million, and management expects to surpass 15 million this year.
Infrastructure upgrades to ease congestion
To improve passenger flow, Kraków Airport started operating a new support terminal for non-Schengen zone travelers in May. The facility has significantly streamlined check-in and border control procedures for flights outside the Schengen area.
The Border Guard also opened two additional inspection positions to handle the growing number of passengers arriving from or departing to non-EU countries. The move addresses complaints from airlines about long document verification times at the previous setup.
Summer schedule and future outlook
In the summer flight schedule, Kraków-Balice offers 176 connections to 124 cities in 38 countries. The airport continues to expand its network, attracting both leisure and business travelers.
With the record May behind it, the airport is bracing for even higher traffic in June, July, and August. The new terminal infrastructure is expected to help maintain smooth operations during the busiest weeks of the year.
Źródło: WNP.PL, Fot. Andreia Veiga / Shutterstock
