Václav Havel Airport Prague

Václav Havel Airport Prague (Czech: Letiště Václava Havla Praha [ˈlɛcɪʃcɛ ˈvaːt͡slava ˈɦavla ˈpraɦa]; IATA: PRG, ICAO: LKPR), formerly Prague Ruzyně International Airport (Mezinárodní letiště Praha-Ruzyně [ˈmɛzɪnaːrodɲiː ˈlɛcɪʃcɛ ˈpraɦa ˈruzɪɲɛ]), is an international airport of Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic. Its official name according to the Air Navigation Services of the Czech Republic is Praha/Ruzyně Airport. The airport was founded in 1937 when it replaced the Kbely Airport (founded in 1918) as the city's principal airport. It was reconstructed and extended in 1956, 1968, 1997, and 2006. In 2012, it was renamed after the last president of Czechoslovakia and the first president of the Czech Republic, Václav Havel. It is located at the edge of the Prague-Ruzyně area, next to Kněževes village, 12 km (7 mi) west of the centre of Prague and 12 km (7 mi) southeast of the city of Kladno. In 2018, it served around 17 million passengers. It served as a hub for Czech Airlines until it ceased operations in late 2024 and it serves as a hub for Smartwings, and as an operating base for Ryanair and Eurowings. History Foundation and early years Prague–Ruzyně Airport began operations on 5 April 1937, but Czechoslovak civil aviation history started at the military airport in Prague–Kbely in 1919. The Prague Aviation Museum is now found at Kbely Airport. Due to the insufficient capacity of Kbely Airport by the mid-1930s, the government decided to develop a new state civil airport in Ruzyně. Among the major awards Prague Ruzyně Airport has received is the Diploma and Gold Medal, granted in 1937 at the occasion of the International Art and Technical Exhibition in Paris (Exposition Internationale des Arts et Techniques dans la Vie Moderne, also known as Paris 1937 World's Fair) for the technical conception of the central airport, primarily the architecture of the check-in building (nowadays known as Terminal 4) designed by architect Adolf Benš. In one of the most dramatic moments in its history, the airport was seized by Soviet paratroopers on the night of 20–21 August 1968, who then facilitated the landing of Soviet troops and transports for the invasion of Czechoslovakia. Development since 2000 An online petition organised by a Slovak film director, Fero Fenič, calling on the government and the Parliament to rename Prague Ruzyně Airport to Václav Havel International Airport attracted – in just one week after 20 December 2011—the support of over 65,000 signatories both within and outside the Czech Republic. A rendition of the airport with the proposed Václav Havel name in the form of his signature followed by his typical heart symbol suffix was included in the blog's article in support of renaming of the airport. This name change took place on 5 October 2012 on what would have been Havel's 76th birthday. The PRG name of the airport for IATA and ICAO will remain the same. The main runway 06/24 was reconstructed from 2012 to 2013 due to poor technical conditions. During reconstruction, runway 12/30 was the only usable runway as runway 04/22 is closed permanently. The runway reconstruction was originally planned for three stages. The first stage in 2012, the second stage in 2013 and the last stage in 2014. Runway 12/30 (which would be used during the reconstruction of the main runway) is not equipped for low visibility landings as it offers only ILS CAT I landings. In addition, the approach path of runway 12/30 goes above high-density population areas (such as Prague 6 and Kladno). Therefore, the second and the third stage of the runway reconstruction had to be merged so the works could be finished in 2013. Expansion plans Terminal expansion An expansion of the existing terminals is scheduled to start construction sometime during the year 2027 or 2028. A new concourse is supposed to be built to expand the existing Terminal 2 and it will be south of the mentioned terminal and north of the new runway (see "New runway"). It will accommodate both non-Schengen (departure and arrival) and Schengen flights (arrival only). It will contain 8 jetway gates and 10 non-Schengen bus gates. An extension of the check-in hall at Terminal 1 is also going to be made. Modifications will be made to the existing concourses (including concourses A and B). Terminal 1 will be used only for Schengen flights and Terminal 2 will be used for both Schengen and non-Schengen flights. In addition, one Schengen bus gate will be added to concourse A. This project is supposed to be completed by 2033. Railway connection The construction of a railway connection between airport and Prague city centre Masarykovo train station is also in the planning stage. The track will be served by express trains with special fares, connecting the airport non-stop with the city centre in 25 minutes, and local trains fully integrated into Prague integrated transit system. The train track will also connect the airport to the city of Kladno, Veleslavín, Dejvice, Výstaviště and Bubny railway stations. As of 2025, it was said that the construction will start in 2027 and the railway will open in 2030. Infrastructure Terminals Prague Airport has two main passenger terminals, two general aviation terminals, as well as a cargo facility. Most flights depart Prague Airport from the North Terminals (Terminals 1 and 2). The South Terminals (Terminals 3 and 4) handle a few irregular flights, as well as VIP flights, special flights and small aircraft. Terminal 1 is used for flights outside the Schengen Area; it was opened in 1968 and rebuilt in 1997, it includes concourses A and B Terminal 2 is used for flights within the Schengen area; it was opened on 17 January 2006, it includes concourses C and D Terminal 3 is used for private and charter flights; it was opened in 1997 Terminal 4 is used exclusively for VIP flights and state visits; it is the oldest part of the airport, and was opened on 5 April 1937. There are also two freight terminals. Cargo Terminal 1 is operated by Menzies Aviation Czech, while Cargo Terminal 2 is operated by Skyport. Runways The airport contains two runways in service: 06/24 (till April 1993 07/25) and 12/30 (till May 2012 13/31). Former runway 04/22 is permanently closed for take-offs and landings and is used for taxiing and parking only. The most used runway is 24 due to the prevailing western winds. Runway 30 is also used often. Runway 06 is used rarely, while runway 12 is used only exceptionally. Other facilities Czech Airlines has its head office, the APC Building, on the grounds of Prague Airport. On 30 December 2009 CSA announced that it would sell its head office to the airport for CZK 607 million. Smartwings have their head office on the airport property. The Civil Aviation Authority also has its head office on the airport property. Operations The company operating the airport is Prague Airport (Letiště Praha, a. s.), a joint-stock company that has one shareholder, the Ministry of Finance. The company was founded in February 2008, as part of a privatisation process involving the Airport Prague (Správa Letiště Praha, s.p.) state enterprise. This action was in accordance with the Czech Republic Government Memorandum Nr. 888, which had been passed on 9 July 2008. On 1 December 2008, Prague Airport took all rights and duties formerly held by Správa Letiště Praha, s.p., and Prague Airports took all business authorisations, certificates, employees, and licenses from the former company. The head office of Prague Airport is in Prague 6. The former state-owned enterprise had its head office on the airport property. Airlines and destinations Passenger As of 2024, Prague Airport offers flights to more than 170 destinations, with 70 carriers operating the flights. The following airlines operate regular scheduled and charter flights at Prague Airport: Notes Cargo Statistics Annual passenger numbers Busiest routes by city Busiest routes by country Ground transportation Road Buses of DPP, the Prague Public Transit Co., serve both terminals 1 and 2 frequently, connecting it to Prague and other surrounding towns. Since 2024, a frequent trolleybus line 59 connects both terminals directly to the metro A station Nádraží Veleslavín, from which people can get to the city center. The ride to the metro takes around 15 minutes and the metro ride to the center also around 15 minutes. A Czech Railways public bus service, AE – AirportExpress, connects Terminal 1 with Praha hlavní nádraží. From the bus station in front of Terminal 1 there are also regular buses to Kladno, intercity buses of Regiojet run every 30–60 minutes to Karlovy Vary and Cheb. Proposed rail connection There are plans to build a rail connection to the airport. Preliminary work commenced in 2018, with procurement proceedings launched the following year. Main construction was expected to start around 2023, but as of 2025 construction had not yet begun. According to a 2021 media report, the airport is to be served via a branch off the Prague-Kladno line, including an underground station to serve the airport. The project also includes double tracking and electrifying the existing single-track railway. The plan also includes upgrades to Prague-Masarykovo station, which began in 2024. The project is notable for being the first ever public-private partnership in Czech railway history, and is expected to be completed around 2030 at a cost of 28 billion crowns. Accidents and incidents On 19 February 1973, Aeroflot Flight 141, a Tupolev Tu-154, crashed half a kilometre short of the airport during final approach. While most of the passengers survived the crash, many died in the fire that followed. Altogether 66 people died out of the 100 passengers and crew. The crash was the first loss of and the first fatal accident involving a Tu-154. On 30 October 1975, Inex-Adria Aviopromet Flight 450, a Douglas DC-9-32 hit high ground during an approach in fog to Prague Ruzyně Airport. 75 of the 120 passengers and crew on board were killed. In popular culture The airport stood in for Miami International Airport in the 2006 James Bond film Casino Royale. See also List of airports in the Czech Republic Notes References External links Václav Havel Airport Prague travel guide from Wikivoyage Media related to Prague Ruzyně Airport at Wikimedia Commons Official website Accident history for LKPR at Aviation Safety Network "Accident description for HA-LCF". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 24 April 2024.