Our Review of Gdansk Airport (GDN)

Our Review of Gdansk Airport (GDN)

All the information featured on this page was compiled and written by David Enrich, a renowned expert in aviation and airport guides, since 1999.

At Plan Your Trips, we have analyzed hundreds of airports around the world, gaining a clear understanding of what users expect when visiting an airport. With this know-how, we have created this guide, placing passengers at the forefront of everything, aiming to simplify and enhance the airport experience.

In this Guide, our goal is to present information in a manner that is both quick and reliable. Recognizing that passengers often have limited time and may be in a hurry, we strive to ensure that they do not waste time unnecessarily.

Another key focus of our guide is to highlight the strengths of the airport and also the weaknesses, and in some cases, offer recommendations to travelers. In alignment with this approach, we provide users with aggregated information on delays and on-time performance, analyzing both airlines and individual flights.

Summary of Other Reviews

• Facilities and Cleanliness: The airport is described as modern and clean, but some areas like the toilets are reported to be neglected.
• Staff and Service: Experiences with staff vary; some find them helpful, while others report rudeness and incompetence
• Security and Check-in: Security checks can be slow and disorganized, with long queues for check-in
• Shopping and Dining: The airport features a variety of shops and restaurants, but prices are considered high
• Accessibility: It is easily accessible from Gdańsk via the 210 bus
• Executive Lounge: There have been complaints about the executive lounge, including unclear rules and poor staff behavior

Final Rating: 2.5/5

To derive this rating, we considered the following factors:

• Facilities and Cleanliness: While the airport is modern, cleanliness issues in certain areas detract from the overall experience.
• Staff and Service: Mixed reviews on staff behavior, with some positive interactions but significant negative experiences.
• Efficiency: Long queues and disorganized processes are major drawbacks.
• Amenities: Availability of shops and restaurants is a plus, but high prices are a negative.
• Accessibility: Easy access to the city is a significant advantage.

Overall, while Gdańsk Airport has some positive aspects, such as its modern appearance and accessibility, it is marred by issues with staff behavior, efficiency, and cleanliness, leading to a mediocre rating.

Pros and Cons of Gdansk Airport (GDN)

PROS

• Modern and Clean Facilities: The airport is praised for being modern, clean, and well-organized, with an efficient layout that makes navigation easy.
• Free WiFi: Good-quality free WiFi is available throughout the airport, which many travelers find convenient.
• Efficient Security and Check-In: Security lines are generally quick, and the check-in process is smooth during off-peak hours.
• Convenient Transportation Options: The airport is well-connected to Gdańsk city center via buses, trains, and taxis, offering affordable options for travelers.
• Compact and Passenger-Friendly: Its small size allows for shorter walking distances between terminals and gates, making it easy to navigate.

CONS

• Rude or Unhelpful Staff: Some travelers report negative experiences with airport staff, particularly in the executive lounge and customer service areas.
• Limited Food Options at Night: After security control, there are few places to buy food or drinks late at night, with most shops opening only at 4:00 AM.
• Expensive Food and Drinks: Prices in the food court are considered high compared to local standards, and the quality of food is often criticized.
• Long Queues During Peak Hours: Security checks and baggage collection can take a long time during busy periods, causing frustration among passengers.
• Limited Seating Areas: There aren’t enough seating areas in the terminal, especially near power outlets, which can be inconvenient for travelers waiting for their flights

Mini-Guide of the Airport (2' Guide)

Gdańsk Lech Wałęsa Airport is located 12 km northwest of Gdańsk city center, serving the Tricity metropolitan area (Gdańsk, Sopot, and Gdynia). Opened in 1974 and named after former Polish president Lech Wałęsa in 2004, it is Poland’s third busiest airport, handling over 6.7 million passengers in 2024.

Terminals:
The airport has two terminals:

• Terminal T2: The main terminal, opened in 2012, handles up to 5 million passengers annually. It offers modern facilities, including shops, restaurants, lounges, and baggage handling systems.
• Terminal T1: Primarily used for non-Schengen flights but partially decommissioned as T2 expands.

Runway and Facilities:

• The airport has one 2,800-meter runway, equipped with ILS CAT IIIb for foggy weather landings.
• Facilities include ATMs, currency exchange offices, baby care rooms, a chapel, smoking areas, and duty-free shops.

Transportation Options:

• Taxi: Located outside the arrivals terminal; costs around PLN 65 (€14.50) to Gdańsk city center (20 minutes).
  Tip: Book ahead to avoid peak-hour delays.
• Bus: Routes like No. 210 connect to Gdańsk Main Station; tickets cost PLN 4.80 (€1.10). Night buses (N3) are available.
  Tip: Use apps like SkyCash for ticket purchases.
• Train: The Pomeranian Metropolitan Railway links the airport to Gdańsk Main Station and Sopot; tickets cost PLN 6 (€1.40).
  Tip: Ideal for quick access to Tricity destinations.
• Car Rentals: Companies like Avis and Sixt offer rentals starting at €5 per day; desks are located in Terminal T2 arrivals hall.
  Tip: Reserve online for better rates.

Popular Destinations Nearby:

• Sopot (20 minutes): Famous for its beaches and nightlife.
• Gdynia (30 minutes): A modern port city with cultural attractions.
• Malbork Castle (60 km): A UNESCO World Heritage site.

How we calculate On Time Performance

On various pages of our website, you will encounter a metric widely utilized in aviation and other forms of transportation known as OTP (On Time Performance). We believe that providing this metric assists passengers in planning their trips and exploring alternatives before purchasing their flight tickets.

We calculate the On Time Performance for all flights and airlines, when we have enough data to do so. In certain instances, it may not be feasible to accurately compute the On-Time Performance for a specific flight or airline due to inadequate or non-representative data, which could result in misleading conclusions.

Our calculation of On Time Performance and delay information solely relies on arrival times. This approach is chosen over calculating departure delays, as we consider arrival punctuality to be of primary concern to passengers.

The On Time Performance displayed on our website is calculated as follows:

• On Time: Flights that arrive within 15 minutes of their scheduled arrival time, or earlier. In the absence of data for a specific flight, we assume the flight arrives on time, to avoid penalizing airlines for data unavailability.
• Moderate Delay: Flights that arrive with a delay of 15 to 30 minutes.
• Significant Delay: Flights that arrive with a delay of 30 to 60 minutes.
• Major Delay: Flights that arrive with a delay exceeding 60 minutes.
• Average Delay: The average delay is calculated by considering flights that arrive early as having a delay of 0 minutes. Early arrivals do not contribute to reducing the average delay calculation

Some Stats

Airlines with more flight operations (last 3 months)

Airlines with best on-time performance at Gdansk Airport (last 3 months)

Routes with more flights from Gdansk Airport (last month)