As Lodz celebrates its 600th anniversary, the post-industrial city is looking to the future with a new story to tell.
By DAVID CASEY
Although Lodz is the third-largest city in Poland behind Warsaw and Krakow, with roots stretching back to the 14th century, the host destination for Routes Europe 2023 remains something of an undiscovered gem.
The city grew up around its textiles industry in the 19th century, rising to prominence as one of the country’s most important industrial bases, but following its decline has shifted its economy over the past two decades to focus on life sciences, manufacturing, and advanced technology. Former factory buildings and industrial complexes have also been transformed into centers for culture and the arts.
Lodz Airport Central Poland (LCJ) CEO and president Anna Midera said the city is proud of its industrial past but is experiencing a rebirth amid an influx of inward investment. It is also gaining momentum as an emerging tourism hub for domestic and international visitors alike.
“We’re not as well-known as some other cities in Poland—maybe because we have a name that is difficult to pronounce—but we have a compelling story,” Midera said. “It’s a city with enormous potential—and a key reason for hosting Routes Europe is so that people can come here and see how attractive Lodz is for tourists, businesses and investors.”
Recent inward investment successes for Lodz (pronounced Wooge) have included a commitment from US business process outsourcing provider Alorica to create up to 1,000 jobs, as well as home appliances manufacturer BSH investing in a new factory to make washing machines. International companies such as Fujitsu, Infosys, Hewlett Packard and many other well-known global brands also have a presence in the city.
Lodz’s growing appeal to businesses, many of which are supported by the region’s Special Economic Zone, has led to several regeneration projects. These include the transformation of Manufaktura, an old textile factory that has been converted into a boutique shopping and entertainment center, as well as the hipster venue OFF Piotrkowska, a former cotton mill that serves as a hub for culture, arts, bars and restaurants.
Midera said the challenge now is to make sure the appeal of Lodz spreads beyond Poland’s borders and to communicate that the city, located some 140 km (87 mi.) from the capital Warsaw, is an attractive destination in its own right.
“Lodz is an excellent city break destination and we are very competitively priced compared with other European cities,” she added.
At the present time, Lodz Airport Central Poland is served by two airlines on a scheduled basis. Alongside routes from Dublin and London Stansted, Ryanair launched flights from Alicante, Brussels and Milan during the winter 2022/23 season, and each have continued into summer 2023.
Similarly, Wizz Air started flying from London Luton in December 2022 and service has been maintained this summer. This route also marked the carrier’s return to Lodz after almost a decade away.
The growth of each operator alongside LCJ’s charter program is expected to push passenger numbers up to between 300,000 and 400,000 this year, putting the airport on course for its best year since 2012.
However, Midera emphasized that the airport can handle up to 2 million passengers annually without any further investment. She added that ASM’s Airport Catchment Analyser tool has identified that there are 1.7 million active passengers within a 72-km (45-mi.) catchment area of Lodz, where traffic is closer to LCJ than any other airport.
“We’re really only at the beginning of our journey but we are dreaming big,” Midera said. The airport has identified more than 25 unserved routes that would generate strong inbound tourism flows, as well as satisfying outbound leisure demand. “Our charter flights have shown that if we offer good prices and desirable destinations, people will choose our airport over others,” she added.
As a first step, Lodz Airport Central Poland is therefore focusing its attention first on LCCs and charters to help grow passengers in the short term, as well as seeking to develop relations with mainline carriers to connect the city to a major European hub.
Midera said she hopes that hosting Routes Europe will help to sell the story of Lodz and put the city’s name on the lips of travelers from across Europe—even if they can’t pronounce it.
