Krakow-Balice Airport is replacing the ILS that guided aircraft to landing for more than two decades. The new installation is due to enter service on 1 October 2026, and in 2027 the airport aims to move up to CAT II. It is the first real change in the fight against fog in years — but it will not end diversions.
Status as of September 2026
This article describes the schedule announced by the Polish Air Navigation Services Agency (PANSA) and Krakow Airport. Commissioning and certification dates may change — we will update this page after official announcements.
At a glance
| Stage | Date | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Old ILS/DME "KRW" switched off | 4 May 2026 | No ILS precision approaches; landings use replacement procedures |
| New system enters service | 1 October 2026 (planned) | ILS approaches return in CAT I — the same minima as before |
| CAT II certification | Q1 2027 (airport's target) | Landings in noticeably worse visibility than today |
| CAT III | After a new runway is built | Operations almost independent of fog — a multi-year prospect |
Why is the ILS being replaced?
The previous ILS/DME installation, designated "KRW", operated at Balice for 23 years and reached the end of its technical life. PANSA is responsible for the replacement, and on 30 April 2026 the Malopolska Voivode issued an immediately enforceable administrative decision allowing construction to begin.
The investment is worth around PLN 14 million. It includes:
- a localizer antenna made up of 20 masts, defining the approach centreline,
- a glide path transmitter on a mast roughly 16 metres tall,
- DME equipment giving pilots their distance from the runway threshold,
- monitoring systems plus technical containers with power supply.
PANSA notes that the five-month schedule is exceptionally short — comparable replacements usually take around seven months. After installation come on-site acceptance tests (SAT) and a commissioning flight check with a measurement aircraft. For the first time, PANSA is also using a specialised SkyRF drone, which allows a more precise assessment of the infrastructure and faster system tuning.
Summer 2026 without ILS — how did aircraft land?
From 4 May to the end of September 2026, ILS precision approaches were not available at Balice. Aircraft used replacement procedures:
- PBN approaches using GNSS satellite navigation to LPV200 minima,
- LNAV/VNAV procedures,
- approaches based on the DVOR/DME "KAK" beacon.
PANSA warned that in some cases this could limit airport availability in poor visibility. The timing was deliberate, however: fog is rare at Balice in summer, and the new system is due to be ready before the autumn and winter season, when the problem grows. For more on seasonality, see Best months to fly from Krakow.
CAT I, CAT II, CAT III — how do the categories differ?
The ILS category determines how low a pilot may descend without seeing the runway (decision height, DH) and the minimum visibility along the runway (RVR) required for the approach. Indicative values:
| Category | Decision height (DH) | Minimum RVR | Balice |
|---|---|---|---|
| CAT I | not lower than 200 ft (60 m) | 550 m | Before the replacement and from October 2026 |
| CAT II | 100 to 200 ft (30–60 m) | 300 m | Target for 2027 |
| CAT III | below 100 ft or no DH | below 300 m (depending on sub-category) | Only with a new runway |
The exact minima for a given approach come from aeronautical publications and the airline's approvals. For details on individual aircraft types, see Required visibility for landing in Krakow, and for RVR itself, Visibility at Krakow Airport.
What will CAT II change?
Moving from CAT I to CAT II lowers the required RVR from 550 to 300 metres. For Balice that is a significant difference, because typical autumn fog often falls exactly within this range — too thick for CAT I, but not thick enough to rule out a CAT II approach.
Krakow Airport estimates that CAT II would avoid around 70–80% of the diversions seen in difficult winter seasons. Already between September and the end of 2025, modified low visibility procedures (LVP) allowed more than 317,000 passengers to be handled in poor conditions.
CAT II at the airport is not the whole story
To land in CAT II conditions, the airport, the aircraft, the airline and the crew must all be approved. If any one of them meets only CAT I requirements, that flight is still limited by the higher minima. So even after certification, some flights may divert more often than others.
Why CAT II only now, and why not CAT III yet?
Higher ILS categories require not only more advanced radio equipment but also suitable runway lighting. In 2025, technical studies of the existing runway concluded that adding centreline lights without renovating the runway was not recommended. That blocked the path to CAT II.
The situation changed with amendments to ICAO rules on navigation lighting. Krakow Airport concluded that under the new rules it can meet CAT II requirements without rebuilding the runway, and started the certification process.
CAT III, meanwhile, remains tied to the construction of a new runway. That project is still awaiting environmental decisions and faces opposition from some residents, so its timing is hard to predict.
What does this mean for passengers?
- Autumn and winter 2026/2027 — the new CAT I ILS restores the situation from before the replacement. In thick fog, diversions to Katowice remain possible. If it happens to you, see what to do after a diversion to Katowice.
- After CAT II certification — fewer flights sent to alternate airports in moderate fog, especially during winter mornings.
- The densest fog — with RVR below 300 metres it will still stop landings until CAT III arrives. Such conditions are rare, though: visibility below 550 m affects about 2% of the airport's operating hours.
- Departures — the ILS is a landing aid, so it does not shorten winter delays caused by aircraft de-icing.
Check the current situation
Is fog affecting landings at Balice today? The data updates automatically:
For a quick answer, see Is there fog in Krakow? and Is Krakow Airport open?
See also
- ILS in Krakow and fog — how the system works and where its limits come from.
- Required visibility for landing — limits for aircraft flying to Krakow.
- Visibility at Krakow Airport — what RVR is.
- Fog and flight diversions — why aircraft fly to Katowice.
- Fog at Krakow Airport — causes and local conditions.
- Flight diverted to Katowice — a practical passenger guide.
FAQ
When will the new ILS at Krakow Airport start operating?
According to PANSA's schedule, the new ILS/DME 'KRW' system is due to enter operational service on 1 October 2026. The old installation was switched off on 4 May 2026 after 23 years in operation.
Will aircraft land in Krakow in thicker fog from October 2026?
Not yet. The new ILS starts in CAT I, with the same minima as the previous system (RVR 550 m). Lower minima will only follow CAT II certification, which the airport is targeting for Q1 2027.
How many diversions could ILS CAT II prevent?
Krakow Airport estimates that CAT II would avoid around 70–80% of the diversions seen in difficult winter seasons. CAT II allows approaches with RVR from 300 m instead of 550 m.
Will Krakow get ILS CAT III?
CAT III is only planned together with the construction of a new runway. That project is still awaiting environmental decisions, so the timing of CAT III is currently hard to predict.
How did aircraft land in Krakow while the ILS was switched off?
During the replacement, from 4 May to the end of September 2026, replacement procedures were used: PBN approaches with satellite navigation to LPV200 minima, LNAV/VNAV procedures and approaches using the DVOR/DME 'KAK' beacon.
Will every aircraft benefit from CAT II once the airport is certified?
No. To land in CAT II conditions, the airport, aircraft, airline and crew must all be approved. A flight where any of these meets only CAT I requirements remains subject to the higher minima.