Wrocław–Strachowice Airport

Wrocław Copernicus Airport, located in Strachowice, was built in 1938 as a military airfield. After World War II, in 1945, the airport began handling civilian flights as well, and between 1946 and 1958, military aviation dominated there. Domestic flights resumed in 1958, and since 1992, it has been managed by the company Port Lotniczy Wrocław S.A. Since 2005, it has borne the name of Nicolaus Copernicus, reflecting the astronomer's connections with Wrocław. In 2007, the airport became the fifth Polish airport to handle over 1 million passengers annually, a milestone it surpassed again in 2014, reaching 2 million passengers. Wrocław Airport has one main terminal, T2, opened in 2012, with a wide range of facilities, including an ILS system and security features. The architecture of the new terminal, with a volume of 330,000 m³, was designed with future expansion in mind, which will increase its capacity to 5-6 million passengers per year. An interesting fact is the presence of a Ryanair technical base at the airport and its cooperation with the US Air Force, making it significant in terms of defense. The airport serves various domestic and international connections, including growing charter traffic, which has made Wrocław an important location on the European map. Transportation links to downtown Wrocław include city buses and taxis, as well as a planned railway line. The history of the airport, its archetypal development, and cultural significance make it not only an important transport hub but also a key element of local identity and infrastructure.