Aid to Poland’s Lodz Airport on the Way

The European Commission has decided not to raise any objections to the public financing of infrastructure developments at the regional airport of Lodz. The measure is aimed at improving the airport infrastructure and therefore at enhancing the development of the entire region.

The project provides for new investments that aim, on the one hand, to construct a new airport infrastructure and to extend the existing one, and on the other hand, to improve security measures at the airport. The overall costs of the project are €8,905,126 with a maximum State contribution of 71.85 percent.

The Commission found that the proposed measures are in line with the Community rules as the financing is set to achieve a clear objective of general interest without leading to undue distortion of the market. Concerning the financing of security measures (such as the operation of a fire brigade at the airport), this funding does not involve any economic activity and hence any State aid to the airport.

The airport in Lodz is a mainly state-owned small regional airport (with 35,460 passengers in 2005). In 2006, the number of passengers has considerably increased (to 216,861 passengers).