Wrocław Airport Shuts Through Dec 4 for Works

Published on Nov 3, 2025, 7:42 pm CST

4 min read

Wrocław Nicolaus Copernicus Airport (WRO) has halted all flight operations from October 26 to December 4, 2025, to complete the most intensive phase of a €460 million modernization program. The airport says work includes resurfacing, a 2.5-kilometer rapid-exit taxiway, expanded de-icing areas, and apron growth to handle more aircraft simultaneously. Travelers booked to or from Wrocław during the shutdown should switch to nearby airports and allow extra time for ground transport until flights resume in early December.

Wrocław's upgrade window, what it changes

Airport officials confirmed the closure window of October 26 through December 4 and outlined the scope: a new high-speed taxiway, de-icing upgrades, and apron expansion that increases simultaneous stands from 16 to as many as 28. Local and trade reports align on a planned reopening with the winter schedule on or about December 5.

Alternate airports, by typical carrier patterns

Low-cost and network carriers have pulled WRO inventory for the outage period and are rerouting passengers to regional hubs. Public statements and schedule changes indicate the following practical alternates:

Ryanair: The carrier's Polish network is dense at Katowice (KTW) and present at Kraków (KRK) and Poznań (POZ), making these the most reliable substitutes for point-to-point leisure routes formerly served from Wrocław.
Wizz Air: Wizz's footprint around southern Poland supports Katowice (KTW) and Kraków (KRK) as primary alternates for suspended WRO routes.
LOT Polish Airlines: For connections and long-haul links, Warsaw Chopin (WAW) is the best like-for-like replacement, with some WRO-origin services, such as Seoul, explicitly moved to Warsaw during the works.
KLM / SkyTeam: KLM pre-notified a pause on Amsterdam-Wrocław during the closure; rebook via KRK, KTW, POZ, or WAW for onward AMS links.

In practice, these four airports offer the strongest mix of European low-cost coverage and alliance connectivity within a 2-4 hour rail or road radius, with some travelers also opting for Prague (PRG) or Berlin (BER) depending on fare and schedule.

What airlines are offering (refunds and reissues)

Airlines operating to and from WRO are applying standard EU rules and their disruption policies:

Ryanair: If no suitable Ryanair flight is available, the airline advises contacting them for assistance; you may be directed to self-rebook and later claim reasonable costs. Refunds are available for cancellations.
Wizz Air: Cancellations trigger a choice of rebooking at the earliest opportunity, rerouting under comparable conditions, or refund, consistent with EU261.
LOT Polish Airlines: LOT references EU261 passenger rights for cancellations and significant delays, with assistance and refunds per its published policies. Rebooking via Warsaw is typical during the closure.

Independent coverage and airport statements concur that Ryanair, LOT, and Wizz Air are enabling rebooking or refunds for the WRO outage period. Always act through your original booking channel to avoid delays.

Getting between alternates and Wrocław

Wrocław Główny is well connected by PKP Intercity and regional services to Kraków, Katowice, Poznań, and Warsaw. With airport traffic displaced, expect fuller trains and plan seat reservations where offered. Polish trade and municipal notices also highlight added and upcoming capacity on cross-border and domestic lines around the December timetable change, which follows shortly after the airport reopens.

For in-city links, the 106 daytime bus normally connects WRO with the main rail and coach stations, useful again after flights resume; during the shutdown it can still serve airport-area workers, but it is not a substitute for air travel. Build extra time for coach transfers from alternates, and check local timetables before you travel.

Background: why close completely

A full stop to flying compresses heavy civil works into a single 40-day block, minimizing multi-season runway closures and allowing the airport to reopen with a larger apron, rapid-exit taxiway, and improved de-icing. That should cut runway occupancy times, reduce winter delays, and add stand capacity for growth in 2026.

Final thoughts

For trips through December 4, 2025, assume no flights at WRO and rebook early to KRK, KTW, POZ, or WAW with rail back to Wrocław. Use your airline's disruption policy or EU261 rights where applicable, keep receipts for reasonable expenses, and watch for the airport's planned December 5 restart.