Prague Airport recently introduced pre-boarding sections at select gates to speed up boarding—a change driven by the needs of low-cost airlines. However, the new system has sparked frustration among some passengers, with reports of missed flights.

According to spokesperson Denisa Hejtmánková, the pre-boarding areas were implemented to meet the strict turnaround times required by low-cost carriers. “To support their operating model, which relies on minimal check-in times between arrivals and departures, we had to adopt these measures,” she explained.

Under this system, passengers who have cleared travel document checks, had their cabin baggage inspected, and scanned their boarding passes are granted access to the designated pre-boarding area. Once the aircraft is ready, everyone boards promptly.

Currently, four gates feature these reserved spaces. While available to all airlines, they are primarily used by Ryanair, Wizz Air, and EasyJet, with carriers like Vueling and Sky Express also showing interest.

Hejtmánková added that pre-boarding areas are common in many Western airports. “We studied how major airports, particularly in Helsinki, manage boarding. Typically, these areas do not include restrooms, so passengers can leave at any time before the gate closes to use nearby facilities,” she noted.

When asked about missed flights, she acknowledged that some passengers have been denied access to the pre-boarding area before boarding even began. “This situation is regrettable, but it results from airline procedures rather than airport policy. We advise passengers to familiarize themselves with their airline’s boarding process before purchasing tickets.”