Olsztyn - Mazury Airport in Szymany
Olsztyn-Mazury Airport or Port lotniczy Olsztyn-Mazury is an international passenger airport located near the village Szymany, some 10 km from the centre of the city of Szczytno in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship in the North of Poland. The airport was earlier known as Szymany Airport or Szczytno-Szymany Airport.
Photos by Piotr Krajewski - http://pkrajewski.pl
It originally served as air base for the Germans during the World War 2 and later for the Polish Air Force. After it lost its military importance with the end of the Cold War, it served as passenger airport for a few years at the turn of the millennium. Flights were sporadic and passenger numbers very low, so it ceased operations again around 2003. Later on, the Szymany Airport international attention after it was discovered the airfield was used by the CIA in conjunction with a black site prison nearby in 2003.
From 2014 to 2015, the airport was rebuilt with high EU subsidies as part of the Regional Operational Programme Warmia and Mazury 2007-2013. Its runway was extended and overhauled; a new terminal, railway link and further facilities were erected. In January 2016, the airport opened for scheduled flights.
The terminal is both air conditioned and spatial (a combined space of 6 800 sq. metres). It is dedicated to service passenger traffic, both domestic and international. The building was designed to correspond with regions architecture. Architectural components such as a board walk imitation, are inspired by Masuriass lakes interwoven with wooden boards and bridges. Entrences and exits take after masurian wooden houses. Tree top formed poles are also visible in the building.
Terminal` s capacity:
- daily avarage – up to 830 passengers
- peak day – up to 1 250 passengers
- peak hour – up to 310 passengers check – in area covers space of 1 300 sq. meters, it comprises 6 operational counters. On the 1 floor there is an observation deck, food and beverage outlets and conference center.
Departure hall features duty – free stores, business call booths, food and beverage outlets.
Additionally an array of handy amenities has been introduced: car rentals, money exchange, storefronts, kids` zone, VIP lounge. (text source: http://mazuryairport.pl/en/)
