The airport, to be completed around 2030 at an estimated cost of 31-35 billion zloty ($8-9 bln), would be located between Warsaw and the city of Lodz.

Critics such as Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary have said the new airport may be inefficient and its construction would be a waste of money, but Polish authorities say the country needs the airport to become a regional transit hub.

State news agency PAP, quoting the government's top representative Marcin Horala who is in charge of the airport's construction, said a strategic adviser would be chosen this year.

The adviser may later become a strategic partner for the Polish airport which is to serve 40-45 million passengers a year.

($1 = 3.8621 zlotys)

(Reporting by Marcin Goclowski; editing by Barbara Lewis)