Prague Airport shows vision of its future

A new video called Prague Airport – Future Vision shows what the largest Czech international airport could look like in another two decades. It is based on extensive development plans, which include a number of technological and structural changes.

The first phase of the development plan by Prague Airport (Letiště Praha), the operator of Václav Havel Airport Prague, is already in place. Due to the ever-growing number of checked-in passengers, the operator is continuously making modifications to increase airport capacity in its current form.

“This year, we expect to handle over 17 million passengers. The airport must react to this by expanding its capacities. We have opened a new security control station at Terminal 2, where flights to the Schengen Zone are handled. It is equipped with eight modern automatic tracks and six manual tracks,” Václav Řehoř, chairman of the board of directors of the Prague Airport, said in a press release.

“Thanks to this, at the peak, new hubs can clear 40 percent more passengers than the current security check at the same terminal. In addition, we have reconfigured one additional aircraft stand, which has been adapted to handle the largest aircraft, including the Airbus A380. At Terminal 1 will open new high-capacity carousels for checked luggage,” he added.

Other news includes the acquisition of six large-capacity buses for remote staging and 600 new parking spaces that will be opened under existing parking spaces this year.

Next year, the airport should open two completely new boarding gates and a fourth check-in island at Terminal 2. At the same time, Terminal 1 will extend existing check-in islands.

“Within the framework of medium-term development, Prague Airport plans to build a parallel railroad and expand Terminal 2, with new aircraft spots and boarding bridges. Both projects will fundamentally change the shape of the airport,” he said.

“The final decision to start the construction of the parallel railroad and the expanded Terminal 2 will take place next year and will be based on current developments in the air transport market. Upon completion of both projects, the capacity of the airport will increase to 21 million passengers per year,” Řehoř said. Part of the medium-term development plans includes two completely new parking garages.

The long-term development plan presents a clear strategy and vision for a comprehensive future form for not only the non-public parts of terminals and areas but also for adjacent public areas,” he added.

“In the distant future, new administrative, service and commercial infrastructure could be created in the airport area. Hypothetically, there could be new hotels, meeting halls or other commercial spaces. The entire long-term development plan should be fully implemented by 2035. It should also include a future rail link, the construction of which is entirely under the control of the Railway Administration (SŽDC).

“In addition to building modifications, the airport is also intensively involved in technological development, for example, by introducing modern technologies into the whole process of airport operations. Technological development focuses on five areas: customer experience, future mobility, seamless journey and virtual shopping,” adds Václav Řehoř.

Václav Havel Airport Prague opened April 5, 1937, as Prague Ruzyně Airport, and celebrated its 80th anniversary in 2017. Right after former president Václav Havel's death on Dec. 18, 2011, an online petition organized by Slovak film director Fero Fenič asked the government and the Parliament to rename Prague Ruzyně Airport to Václav Havel International Airport. This name change took place Oct. 5, 2012, on what would have been Havel's 76th birthday.

Watch the video Prague Airport – Future Vision below.