Oleśnica, PL 🇵🇱 Closed Airport
ICAO
PL-0073
IATA
-
Elevation
- ft
Region
PL-DS
Local Time
Loading...
Loading...GPS Code: Not available
Local Code: Not available
Location: 51.215° N, 17.434999° E
Continent: Europe
Type: Closed Airport
Help fellow travelers by sharing your experience at Olesnica Air Base. Tips are reviewed before publishing.
See what travelers are saying about Olesnica Air Base from online reviews
AI-generated summary based on publicly available traveler reviews
Researching traveler experiences online...
No community tips yet for Olesnica Air Base.
Be the first to share a helpful tip for fellow travelers!
Loading weather data...
| Designation | Length | Width | Surface | Status |
|---|
| Type | Description | Frequency |
|---|
The military air base was closed following the withdrawal of Soviet forces from Poland, circa 1992-1993. A small portion of the infrastructure was later registered as a civilian landing site (lądowisko) with the ICAO code PL-0073, but this also ceased operations and was officially removed from the Polish Civil Aviation Authority register in the early 2000s, around 2004.
The primary closure was geopolitical, resulting from the end of the Cold War and the complete withdrawal of the Soviet Army's Northern Group of Forces from Poland. The Polish military did not have a strategic need to operate such a large base in that location. The subsequent civilian landing site was closed for economic reasons, including the high cost of maintaining the vast, aging infrastructure and a lack of sustained demand. The land was ultimately repurposed for more profitable industrial development.
The site is no longer an airport and is unrecognizable as such for aviation purposes. The area has been extensively redeveloped into the 'Oleśnica Industrial and Service Zone' (Oleśnicka Strefa Przemysłowo-Usługowa). The former runways, taxiways, and aprons are now covered with large industrial plants, warehouses, and logistics centers for various companies, such as GKN Driveline. While some remnants of the military past, like abandoned hardened aircraft shelters (HAS) and sections of concrete, might be visible in the surrounding area, the core aviation infrastructure has been demolished or built over.
The airport has a multi-layered history. It was originally constructed in the 1930s as a German Luftwaffe base named 'Fliegerhorst Oels' and was used for training and as an operational airfield during World War II. After the war, when the territory became part of Poland, the base was taken over by the Soviet Air Force. During the Cold War, it was a major strategic installation for the USSR's Northern Group of Forces, housing various units over the decades, most notably the 149th Bomber Aviation Division. It primarily operated tactical bombers, such as the Sukhoi Su-24 'Fencer', making it a key Soviet offensive airbase in Southwestern Poland, aimed at NATO forces in Western Europe.
There are zero plans or prospects for reopening the airport. The comprehensive industrial development on the site, including the construction of large, permanent structures directly on the former runway, makes any return to aviation activities physically and economically impossible. The region is adequately served by the nearby international Wrocław–Copernicus Airport (EPWR).