Gdańsk Lech Wałęsa Airport

GDN originated in 1919 as civilian flights operated from an airfield in the Free City of Danzig (now known as the Wrzeszcz district of Gdańsk). Moreover, the airfield was used by the police and for airmail services. In the following years, the airport continued to develop and expand, with regularly scheduled routes to Warsaw, Berlin, Moscow, Königsberg, and more by various international airlines. In September 1922, Aerolloyd (which later evolved into LOT Polish Airlines, Poland’s national carrier) began servicing a daily route between Gdańsk, Warsaw, and Lviv via Junkers F.13 aircraft. By the 1930s, the airport had a concrete runway with light installations (allowing for nighttime operations), a railway connection, and tram tracks. Although the airport served less than two thousand annual passengers, it was an important international hub, connecting four cities. During WWII, the airport became a substantial base for German forces (and before that, was already a training ground for German pilots). As such, the airport was bombed and destroyed. After the culmination of the war, the airport was reconstructed, with regular connections established to Hungary, Germany, Bulgaria, Sweden, and Denmark. As airport facilities had aged by the end of the 1960s, it was determined that a new airport would be necessary, with a site near the village of Rębiechowo chosen. The new site would allow longer runways (with the jet age on the horizon) and larger buildings to accommodate the area's growing population. The old airport officially closed on May 1st, 1974, with a large housing estate built on its grounds. The new airport opened that same year. Airport ownership has been divided since 1993, with the authorities of the Pomeranian Voivodeship holding a 31.45% stake, the city of Gdańsk holding 29.45%, the Polish Airports State Enterprise holding a 37.61% stake, and the remainder held by the cities of Gdynia and Sopot. The airport passed the one million annual passenger mark in 2006, a number that doubled by 2010. In 2012, a new larger airport terminal was opened in anticipation of the Uefa Euro 2012 championships, and in 2014 over 3 million passengers were served. By 2015, the airport served over 50 scheduled routes and charter and cargo operations.

The airport is located 7.5 miles northwest of Gdańsk, 6.2 miles from the center of Sopot and 14 miles from the center of Gdynia. 

• Current development plans include the extension of the passenger terminal and installing an ILS CAT IIIb landing system. These improvements will bring the airport's annual capacity to nine million passengers. 
• In 2004, the airport was renamed in honor of former Polish president Lech Wałęsa. 
• The FBOs at GDN are LS Airport Services and GDN Airport Services.