Rzeszów & Katowice Airport: How to Get There by Bus

For many Ukrainians, low-cost EU flights start not in Warsaw but closer to the border. Rzeszów airport and Katowice airport offer plenty of routes, and the journey is straightforward: a coach to a Polish city, then a train or local bus. Below are practical pointers as of October 2026.

Where the airports are

Rzeszów-Jasionka (RZE) lies about 8 km north of Rzeszów city centre. It is the nearest major airport to the Ukrainian border. According to Wikipedia, it handled over 1.28 million passengers in 2025. LOT, Ryanair and Wizz Air operate here.

Katowice Airport (KTW) is in Pyrzowice, roughly 30 km north of Katowice. It is a much bigger hub: in 2025 it passed 7 million passengers for the first time (7.3 million), the airport itself reports. Ryanair and Wizz Air dominate, and the winter 2025/2026 network had 75 routes to 66 airports.

Popular destinations

From Rzeszów, flights go to Warsaw, as well as London, Dublin, Edinburgh, Manchester, Malta and Rome. From Katowice, you can reach cities across Europe, plus resorts in Egypt and Turkey, mostly on charters. Schedules change every season, so check the departures board on the official airport website before you travel.

By coach from Ukraine to Rzeszów

A simple plan: an international coach to Przemyśl or Rzeszów, then a train. One important change applies. According to Ukrainian media, since 20 September 2026 coaches leaving Ukraine have been redirected from Shehyni–Medyka to Smilnytsia–Krościenko, Nyzhankovychi–Malhowice and Krakovets–Korczowa. This is expected to last until about November 2027 because of repair work on the Polish side. Routes and journey times may therefore differ from what you are used to.

From Rzeszów Główny station a train runs to the airport: the airport says it takes about 18 minutes, with roughly a 3-minute walk from the stop to the terminal. The line opened on 3 October 2023. A city bus exists too (line L from the bus station was launched years ago), but check numbers and timetables on the Rzeszów MPK website.

By coach to Katowice

A coach to Katowice or Kraków is a convenient start. From there you have several options:

• a train to Pyrzowice Lotnisko station, 500 metres from the terminals (S9 regional trains, PKP Intercity, RegioJet);

• the AP express bus from Katowice, which by public sources runs about every 30 minutes;

• operators such as FlixBus, Matuszek (Katowice, Kraków) and P-Air (Kraków, Częstochowa);

• a taxi, if you have heavy luggage or an early flight.

Journey time depends on connections, so check the PKP timetable and the access page on the airport website.

Lublin as a third option

Lublin Airport (Świdnik, LUZ) is about 10 km east of the city. A station by the terminal links to the main station, and the ride takes around 15 minutes. Ryanair, Wizz Air and LOT fly here. Services have changed over time, so verify them before you leave.

How much time to allow

Plan with a margin: the border, a connection, a delayed coach. For a Schengen flight, aim to arrive 2–3 hours before departure. A practical rule is to reach the Polish city the day before, or keep at least two hours in reserve before the airport train.

Summary

Rzeszów suits travellers from western Ukraine, Katowice offers a wider choice of flights, and Lublin is a quieter alternative. Check every figure against the official airport and carrier websites.