Gdynia-Kosakowo Airport: The History, Functions and Future of Gdynia Airport
- Damian Brzeski
- 3 hours ago
- 10 min read
Can an airport without passengers have strategic significance? Gdynia-Kosakowo is a place where the history of World War II intertwines with modern defense, where the failed ambitions of a civilian port meet the future of offshore and military training.
Find out why this quiet airport still arouses controversy, emotions and⌠hopes.
Location and importance of the airport in Gdynia
Gdynia-Kosakowo Airport, also known as Babie DoĹy Base or Gdynia-Kosakowo Airport (QYD) , is a facility with a complex history, located at the intersection of the Tri-City metropolitan area and the Baltic coast. For nearly a century, it has operated at the intersection of military and civilian spheres.
Its history encompasses the development of aviation technology â from gliding to the modern M-346 Bielik jet aircraft â and geopolitical changes in the region: from the German occupation, through the Cold War, to contemporary conditions within NATO and the European Union.
This report presents an analysis of the history and operation of this site. The study integrates technical, legal, and economic aspects, with particular emphasis on the investment process from 2007 to 2014 and the plane crash of July 2024.
The text also raises questions about the future of the facility in the context of the dominance of the GdaĹsk airport and the country's defense needs.
History of Kosakowo Airport in 1930â1945
The airport's location on the KÄpa Oksywska Plateau provides favorable operating conditions, including approaches from the sea free from terrain obstacles. The aviation history of this location dates back to the 1920s. In 1923, the 2nd National Gliding Competition was held here.
In the interwar period, this area, located near the village of Kosakowo, was treated as an alternate landing site for the airport in Rumia-ZagĂłrze, serving the GdaĹsk Aeroclub and military aviation.
Expansion of the airport during the German occupation
After occupying Gdynia in September 1939 , the German occupiers saw the potential of this region for the Kriegsmarine and the Luftwaffe.
Construction of a research and training base began in 1940. Construction accelerated in 1943, when concrete runways were poured.
Rubble from demolished buildings in Kosakowo, among other materials, was used to harden the road surface. The infrastructure was constructed with the help of forced laborers and prisoners of war.
Operation of the torpedo research center
The base, known as Hexengrund (Babie DoĹy), was closely linked to the torpedo research facility, Torpedowaffenplatz (TWP) Gotenhafen-Hexengrund . Modern naval and air weapons, including acoustic torpedoes, were tested there.
A torpedo station was built in the bay, connected to the mainland by a railway line. The airfield served as a base for torpedo planes (including Heinkel He 111s and Junkers Ju 88s) that performed practice drops.
The test procedure included launch with a suspended torpedo, release into the water, and recovery of the torpedo by vessels for parameter analysis.
Evacuation and end of hostilities
In the spring of 1945, the airport served as an evacuation point for Operation Hannibal, transporting wounded and civilians by sea and air.
The last German units left the base on the night of May 5-6, 1945, just before the area was occupied by Soviet troops, who stationed there until 1947.
The post-war period and the functioning of the 34th Fighter Aviation Regiment (1950â1995)
After the facility was taken over by the Polish military authorities, it needed to be modernized for jet aviation. In 1951, the Minister of National Defense issued an order to form the 34th Fighter Aviation Regiment.
In the 1950s, engineering work was carried out to expand the airport area and build a 2,500-meter by 60-meter concrete runway in the 13/31 direction, which enabled jet operations.
History and equipment of the 34th Fighter Aviation Regiment
PLM (JW 3651) played a key role in coastal air defense, protecting the Tricity ports and the Navy base. The unit underwent successive stages of equipment modernization:
1950s: Piston-engined Yak-9P aircraft, then jet-powered Lim-1 and Lim-2 (licensed MiG-15).
1960s: Introduction of Lim-5 fighters and the first supersonic MiG-21PFM machines.
1970s-1990s: Operation of modernized versions of the MiG-21MF and MiG-21bis, constituting the core of the regiment's defense until the end of its existence.
In the years 1962â1990, the regiment was subordinated to the National Air Defence Forces, being an element of the Warsaw Pact defence system.
Technical infrastructure of the military base
The Babie DoĹy base operated as a self-sufficient garrison. A system of dispersed parking positions, shelter hangars, technical facilities (Field Aviation Workshops), and fuel and weapons depots were constructed. The facility was a strictly guarded zone.
Transformations after 1995 and civil plans
Systemic and geopolitical changes forced a restructuring of the armed forces. On January 1, 1995, the 34th Fighter Aviation Regiment was disbanded, forming the 1st Naval Aviation Squadron.
The airport's profile changed from fighter to rescue and reconnaissance. MiG-21 aircraft were withdrawn, and PZL M28 Bryza patrol aircraft and helicopters (W-3 SokĂłĹ, Mi-2, Kaman SH-2G) entered service. Currently, the facility is managed by the 43rd Naval Aviation Base.
The concept of creating a civilian port
In the first decade of the 21st century, the local governments of Gdynia and the Kosakowo commune took the initiative to adapt the military airport for civilian purposes.
The plan was to create an airport serving low-cost airlines, charters and general aviation, which was to support the development of tourism and business in the region.
In 2007, the company Port Lotniczy Gdynia-Kosakowo sp. z o. o. was established, whose shareholders were the City of Gdynia and the Kosakowo Commune.
Implementation of the airport investment in 2010â2014
The project was financed from public funds provided by local governments. Total investment costs amounted to approximately PLN 91.7 million. These funds were allocated to adapting military infrastructure to the requirements of civil aviation.
Characteristics of civil infrastructure
The following facilities were completed as part of the work:
General Aviation Terminal: A building with an area of 3,900 m² and a cubic capacity of 21,300 m³, built by Sport Halls for PLN 20.9 million.
Airport Fire Department Building: A facility essential to ensuring the safety of civilian operations.
Accompanying infrastructure: Modernization of aprons, access roads, fencing.
The installation of an ILS system and support for Code C aircraft (e.g. Boeing 737) were planned for later stages of development.
The issue of state aid and decisions of the European Commission
In 2012, the European Commission began examining the compliance of the investment's financing with EU state aid rules. The so-called Private Investor Test was conducted to determine whether the project was economically viable under market conditions.
By decision of 11 February 2014 (No. 2014/883/EU, later replaced by Decision 2015/1586), the Commission considered the financing to be unlawful state aid.
The main arguments concerned the lack of profitability of the project and the duplication of infrastructure in view of the proximity of the GdaĹsk airport.
The repayment of PLN 91.7 million was ordered , which led to the declaration of bankruptcy and liquidation of the Gdynia-Kosakowo Airport company in May 2014.
Legal proceedings before EU tribunals
The local governments appealed the Commission's decision. The case was heard by the General Court of the European Union and the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU).
In 2017, the EU General Court overturned the EC decision, which was seen as a success for the Gdynia authorities.
Ultimately, however, in its judgment of 22 June 2023 (C-163/22 P), the Court of Justice dismissed the appeal by Gdynia and the company, confirming that the funds provided for the construction constituted an undue economic advantage.
Company bankruptcy and the process of asset disposal
During the liquidation, attempts were made to sell the company's assets.
In 2021, the tender was won by INBAP Intermodal , offering PLN 8.66 million, but the transaction did not take place due to the lack of consent of the aviation authorities to manage the airport shared with the military.
Ultimately, the infrastructure was purchased by the Kosakowo Commune for approximately PLN 7.15 million, taking control of the civilian part of the facility.
Air crash of the M-346 Bielik aircraft in 2024
The M-346 Bielik (Leonardo) aircraft is a twin-engine advanced training jet.
Propulsion: Two Honeywell F124-GA-200 engines.
Performance: Top speed approx. 1090 km/h.
Purpose: Combat aircraft pilot training (LIFT).
Circumstances of the disaster and its consequences
On July 12, 2024, during training for an air show celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Gdynia Naval Aviation Brigade, an M-346 aircraft crashed. The pilot, Major Robert JeĹ, was performing low-altitude aerobatic maneuvers.
The plane hit the runway and burst into flames. The pilot died instantly, making no attempt to eject.
Following the incident, flights of the Bielik fleet were suspended and air shows were canceled. The cause of the accident is being investigated by the State Aviation Accident Investigation Commission.
Current airport operations (2021â2025)
Currently, the civilian part of the infrastructure is managed by the municipal company Kosakowo Sport Sp. z o. o. (Airport Department).
General Aviation Traffic Services
The airport is operating on a limited basis, serving General Aviation (GA) traffic.
Users: Aeroclubs, private aircraft, helicopters.
Traffic Management: AFIS information services are provided during civilian activity hours. Outside these hours, the military controls the area.
Legal status: The Kosakowo Commune does not plan to launch regular passenger flights, focusing on training and private flights.
Gdynia Airport during the Open'er Festival
The airport grounds are regularly used as a venue for the Open'er Festival . It is one of the largest music events in Europe.
Logistics: A festival zone is being created, separated from the operational military part.
Accessibility: Participants use dedicated entrances from the Gdynia and Kosakowo sides. Special bus lines and SKM trains are available.
Impact on aviation activities: During the festival, airspace is closed to operations other than those related to event security.
Development prospects and analysis of the aviation market
The aviation market in the region is dominated by GdaĹsk Lech WaĹÄsa Airport.
Data summary (2024):
Gdansk Airport (GDN): It served a record 6.7 million passengers in 2024. It has an extensive network of connections (Wizz Air, Ryanair, LOT) and cargo infrastructure.
Gdynia-Kosakowo Airport (QYD): No scheduled passenger traffic. Operations limited to general and military aviation.
Forecasts indicate further growth in traffic in GdaĹsk (estimated 7.3-7.4 million passengers in 2025), which limits the economic justification for a second passenger airport in close proximity.
Transport integration plans (Northern Agglomeration Railway)
An important element of spatial planning is the project of the so-called Northern Agglomeration Railway (PKA).
Assumptions: Construction and modernization of the railway line connecting Gdynia with the Kosakowo commune, including the construction of the "Gdynia Kosakowo Airport" stop.
Goal: Improving communication for residents of the northern districts of Gdynia and the Kosakowo commune.
Status: The investment is on the reserve list of projects, and its implementation depends on obtaining financing and an agreement with local governments.
Development directions: offshore wind and defense
The future of the airport in Kosakowo looks like it will specialize in something other than mass passenger transport:
Offshore Sector : Possibility of using the airport as a helicopter base for servicing wind farms in the Baltic Sea (transport of technicians, rescue).
Defense: The 43rd Naval Aviation Base is gaining importance in the national security system. Investments in military infrastructure (TACAN navigation systems, modernization) confirm the facility's strategic role.
Despite the failure of the commercial passenger airport project, Gdynia-Kosakowo Airport remains an important element of the region's infrastructure.
Its role is evolving towards a military base of key strategic importance and an airport serving general aviation.
The history of the facility, from World War II to contemporary legal and operational challenges, reflects the complex fate of public investments at the intersection of local and central interests.
FAQ - everything about Gdynia airport in a nutshell
Below is a list of frequently asked questions regarding the status, history and accessibility of Gdynia-Kosakowo Airport, prepared to clarify doubts of travelers and residents.
Do low-cost airlines (e.g. Ryanair, Wizz Air) fly from Gdynia-Kosakowo Airport? No, the airport does not operate scheduled passenger flights and has no plans to do so in the near future.
Who can land at this airport? The airport is open to state aircraft (military, police) and civilian general aviation (private light aircraft, training flights, business flights) after obtaining prior consent from the airport operator (PPR).
Why does the newly constructed passenger terminal sit empty? The European Commission deemed the financing of the construction by local governments as unlawful state aid, forcing the repayment of funds, the bankruptcy of the management company, and blocking plans to handle mass passenger traffic.
What are the airport codes for Gdynia Airport? The airport uses the IATA code QYD and the ICAO code EPOK .
Is there an SKM or PKM train service to the airport? No, despite existing plans to build a so-called railway to the north of Gdynia, currently access is only possible by road (ZKM Gdynia buses, car).
What happened at the airport on July 12, 2024? During training for an air show, an M-346 Bielik military combat trainer aircraft crashed, killing its pilot, Major Robert JeĹ.
Who owns the airport property? The land is owned by the State Treasury and permanently managed by the Ministry of National Defense, while the civilian infrastructure (terminal, aprons) was purchased from the trustee by the Kosakowo Commune.
Is it possible to visit the old German torpedo station visible from the beach? No, the ruins of the torpedo station on the water are in a disastrous state of repair and access is strictly prohibited for safety reasons.
What is the role of the airport during the Open'er Festival? The airport grounds are leased to festival organizers for the construction of stages and the festival village, and air operations are suspended or severely limited during this time.
How much did the construction of the General Aviation Terminal cost? The terminal building itself cost approximately PLN 21 million, while the total investments questioned by the EU amounted to over PLN 91 million.
What does the name "Hexengrund" mean? It was the German codename for the base ("Devil's Jar") used during World War II, when it housed a Luftwaffe research center and torpedo station.
Does the airport have an ILS system for landing in fog? The military airport has navigation systems (including TACAN), but they are not certified to handle civilian passenger aircraft to the same standard as those used in large airports.
What are the future plans for this facility? The Kosakowo commune plans to develop general aviation services (training, private flights) and create a service base for offshore wind farms.
Is entry to the airport grounds generally accessible? No, it is an active military facility (43rd Naval Air Base) and entry for unauthorized persons is prohibited, except for designated areas during mass events.
Is Gdynia Airport a competitor to GdaĹsk? No, GdaĹsk Airport completely dominates the region (over 6 million passengers per year), while Kosakowo serves as a dedicated and military airport with a completely different scale of operations.
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