In the latest news, Air Canada is returning to operate flights to Toronto, while Asiana Airlines is increasing its flight capacity to Seoul. Moreover, Etihad Airways is adding a new route to Abu Dhabi. For shorter flights, there’s an expansion of the route to Vilnius by Air Baltic, helping to restore flights between Prague and all the capitals of the Baltic countries. Furthermore, connections to major cities in Europe will improve with a new route by Croatia Airlines to Zagreb. The summer schedule also allows for an increase in flight frequencies and the number of available seats, with over 40 routes offering more flights each week. This includes more frequent flights to popular destinations like Greece, Italy, and Turkey. Some routes will see larger aircraft, such as the Airbus A380, servicing the route to Dubai.
“The upcoming summer schedule shows the growing passenger demand and the airlines’ capability to expand capacity and introduce new direct flights from Prague. This year, we anticipate record numbers with over 18 million passengers processed. However, we cannot guarantee that there won’t be any flight delays this season. Thus, Prague Airport, along with its partners, is taking responsible measures to reduce the impact of operational issues on travelers,” said Jiří Pos, the Chairman of the Prague Airport’s Board of Directors.
“In terms of Czech airspace and Václav Havel Airport Prague, Air Navigation Services of the Czech Republic is prepared to meet the necessary capacity demands for the summer season. Effective airspace optimization has been completed, and the main TopSky control system is stable and capable of meeting all requirements. Additionally, an agreement with EUROCONTROL will implement flexible air traffic flow scenarios starting April 17, 2025. This step will help ease congestion in neighboring countries, especially Germany and Austria,” commented Jan Klas, General Director of the state-owned Air Navigation Services of the Czech Republic, regarding summer season preparations.
For the summer schedule, London will continue to be the most popular destination, with nearly 100 weekly flights, followed by Paris, Antalya, and Amsterdam. New destinations for vacationers include Comiso in Italy, Zanzibar, and Podgorica, the capital of Montenegro. Croatia Airlines will enhance its services to Croatia with direct flights not just to Zagreb, but also to Split and Dubrovnik. In addition to a greater variety of destinations, some routes will utilize larger aircraft and more frequent flights. There will also be new airlines joining the market, such as Condor, which will increase options for long-haul flights.
Preparation for the Summer Season
To prepare for the upcoming summer season, the airport is increasing staffing levels, backed by a recruitment campaign that has been underway since January. Two recruitment events in early March attracted nearly a thousand job applicants looking for positions at the airport. In the security area, new CT X-ray technology will be implemented in Terminal 2 at the Central Security Control Point before the summer season starts, with a total of six machines installed. This upgrade is expected to enhance the security screening process by 20%, enabling passengers to keep electronic devices and liquids in their hand luggage during screening. However, the existing liquid restrictions of up to 100 milliliters per container, totaling no more than one liter, will still apply. Additionally, Prague Airport is expanding self-check-in services in both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, with more airlines adopting Self-Service Bag Drop and Self-Service Check-in kiosks year by year.
As part of improving passenger information, a comprehensive educational campaign will launch in May, providing useful tips about arriving at the airport on time, parking options, and the security screening process. Travelers may face some challenges reaching the airport on certain days during the summer due to road closures and construction nearby. Most of these projects will be completed before the summer begins, although repairs on the D7 highway by the Road and Motorway Directorate of the Czech Republic will continue until mid-August. During this time, restrictions on traffic will apply, including a brief total closure of the highway. Prague Airport, together with RMD, will communicate all closure details in advance.
A recently refurbished Mastercard lounge in Terminal 1 will reopen, providing better accommodations and comfort for travelers. Another new offering is the Flexi Parking service, which allows passengers to park at the POP Airport outlet center and get shuttle service to the airport. Additional improvements include upgrades to the PC Comfort parking facility and a newly added payment option for express parking lanes directly at the exit barrier.
Summer Season Outlook from Major Tour Operators and Czech Airlines
Nearly one-third of Czech travelers are expected to use travel agency services, supporting the growth of air connections from Václav Havel Airport Prague to popular vacation spots. This segment is projected to grow by nearly 5% compared to last year. “We have seen a steady increase in clients traveling with us for summer vacations over the past few seasons, and this year’s initial sales have been exceptionally strong. The most favored destinations remain fairly consistent, with the Turkish Riviera, Greek islands, Spain, Egypt, and Tunisia leading the list. There has also been a significant rise in demand for extra services such as priority check-in, airport lounges, and Business Class tickets. This summer, we will even offer Business Class seats on shorter flights to summer locations like Crete, Rhodes, the Turkish Riviera, and Mallorca,” shared Jan Bezděk, Head of Communication at the DER Touristik CZ Group.
“During this summer season, the majority of our travelers will depart from Václav Havel Airport Prague to Greece, Egypt, Turkey, Albania, Bulgaria, and Spain. Additionally, Čedok will provide long-haul flights from Prague to Zanzibar during the summer, allowing Czech tourists to visit this location from the end of June through October. Our clients typically book high-quality accommodations, mainly four-star and five-star hotels, along with Business Class or Premium seating, and are drawn to extra services. The enhanced food and beverage options during flights are also very popular. Our clients want a pleasant experience throughout their trip, which is why they utilize not only airport lounges but also private transfers,” commented Klára Divíšková, Communication Manager and Spokesperson for the Čedok travel agency.
“Clients of Blue Style strictly travel by air for their vacations. Last year was remarkable, with over 1.5 million Czechs flying for holidays from July to September. Our travel agency transported over 300,000 children and adults to seaside destinations during this time,” explained Lucie Hasman, Spokesperson for Blue Style, adds: “Czechs have a strong love for the sea and prefer to spend at least one week of their vacation every year on the coast. Beach destinations that are easy to reach are very popular among Blue Style travelers. A flight to the sea from Prague takes less than two hours, currently including Albania, frequently referred to as the pearl of the Adriatic. Bulgaria and the Greek islands also rank high among our clients’ preferences, along with Turkey, Tunisia, Egypt, and other locations accessible within a few hours.”
SmartWings leads the holiday segment in terms of transported passengers, accounting for around 60%, followed by Ryanair and Eurowings.
“As the largest Czech airline, SmartWings anticipates a robust demand for flights this summer, expecting an increase in passenger numbers. Last summer, over 2.6 million travelers used SmartWings services for flights to and from Prague. This summer, SmartWings will offer direct flights from Prague to seventy destinations, and there will be more flights than last year to locations like Ponta Delgada (Azores), Madrid, Cagliari, Olbia in Sardinia, Lamezia Terme, Thessaloniki, Tirana, Tel Aviv, Madeira, and Lanzarote. On regular flights to the Canary Islands, clients can now also opt for Business Class travel,” concluded Michal Váňa, Sales Director of SmartWings.