Polskie Porty Lotnicze (PPL) has announced a 20% reduction in staff at Warsaw-Radom Airport. This decision stems from a reassessment of the airport’s organizational framework and may also impact additional employees within the company as part of a planned restructuring of responsibilities.
According to Piotr Rudzki from PPL, the previous staffing structure at Radom Airport was based on flawed assumptions. The management concluded that the airport was operating as a closed unit, failing to leverage the benefits of being part of the PPL Group. It was noted that several positions and functions were redundant, prompting necessary adjustments to align staffing with actual operational needs.
Workforce Cut Without Mass Layoffs
The company is reducing staff without implementing mass layoffs, utilizing natural attrition and reallocating personnel to different roles within the organization. PPL had indicated such measures as early as March when they unveiled their airport development strategy. At that time, it was announced that certain gates and security checkpoints would be closed, and some staff would be redirected to work at the main airport in Warsaw.
Passenger Traffic on the Rise
This optimization of employment occurs despite a continuous increase in passenger traffic, as the company is adjusting its workforce to meet actual operational demands rather than the volume of travelers. In July, the airport served 25,931 passengers, marking a 43% year-on-year increase. From January to July, the airport reported a total of 56,500 passengers.
PPL cautiously estimates that the airport could surpass 100,000 travelers by September. In the presentation of their March strategy, Marcin Danił, a financial and commercial board member, indicated that they aim for 150,000 passengers annually in the charter segment. For low-cost airlines, the target starts at 50,000 passengers per year, with hopes to reach 150,000 in the next four to five years.
Growing Role in General Aviation and Cargo
Radom Airport is also gaining importance in the General Aviation sector, which includes private, business, and training flights, excluding scheduled and military operations. PPL’s spokesperson noted that operators are increasingly choosing Radom Airport due to a lack of available slots at Chopin Airport, which has resulted in a drop of over 50% in General Aviation traffic at the Warsaw facility.
However, expanding cargo and MRO (Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul) services remains a significant challenge. Rudzki acknowledged that planners did not allocate sufficient space for such infrastructure, including hangars. The company is currently seeking locations for these investments and is engaged in advanced discussions regarding the development of these services and the launch of new regular connections.
Airport Strategy Through 2030
Warsaw-Radom Airport began operations after its expansion in April 2023. In March, PPL introduced a strategy that extends to 2030, based on a hybrid model that combines charters, low-cost airlines, cargo, MRO, and General Aviation. This strategy aims to diversify revenue sources and improve the company’s financial performance, which recorded a loss of over 40 million PLN in 2024.
Current flight offerings from Radom Airport include destinations such as Larnaca, Antalya, Hurghada, Rome, and Preveza. The summer schedule has also added new routes served by Wizz Air, including flights to Tirana, the capital of Albania, and Burgas in Bulgaria.
