May 2010

EMIRATES ROAD SHOW EVENT IN PRAGUE

Emirates airline is finalizing its preparations to launch direct scheduled flights between Prague and Dubai. On 12^th May, Emirates organized a press conference in Prague to introduce the airline’s activities, services and future plans to local journalists. The media event was followed by a spectacular gala evening in Zofin Palace for more than 500 guests from across Prague’s business and travel industry community. The airline is currently setting up its offices in Prague and gathering a team of 20 employees for sales, finance, airport support and cargo operations. The new service from Dubai to Prague, starting 1^st July, will be operated by an Airbus A330-200 aircraft, offering 27 seats in Business Class and 251 in Economy. Dubai is one of the top Middle East destinations for travellers out of the Czech Republic, while Japan, South Korea, Thailand and China are popular destinations serviced by the airline in Asia.

INTRODUCTION OF THE FOURTH YEAR OF “THE QUITEST AIRLINE” COMPETITION

On 27^th May, the fourth year of “The Quietest Airline” competition was officially declared open at the event that took place in the departure hall of Terminal 2. Prague Airport traditionally organizes this campaign in co-operation with the City District of Prague 6 to motivate operating airlines to adopt a positive approach to the environment, with special focus on the problem of noise. Ten airlines with the highest number of movements at Prague Airport qualified for the jet aircraft category while four airlines will compete in the turbo prop aircraft category. The competition runs from June till October 2010. A sophisticated system, performing complex analyses of aircraft noise and flight tracks, will be used for the competition assessment.

“THE BEST PRICE GUARANTEE” CAMPAIGN

Prague Airport in association with selected airport shops prepared for the passengers a unique long-term campaign “The Best Price Guarantee”. 17 shops have participated in this campaign since its beginning and the number is expected to grow in the near future. These shops will guarantee the buyers the lowest prices of selected products in the whole Czech Republic. Any difference in price of the goods purchased at the airport and in another store will be refunded within 30 days of the purchase. Conditions and further details of this offer are available in shops signed with the campaign logo.

SPECIAL FARES TO GET TO THE AIRPORT BY TRAIN

Czech Railways and Prague Airport introduced a new common campaign promoting special return fares of train tickets to Prague Airport. From 13^th June till 30^th September 2010, passengers holding an air ticket with departure from Prague Airport will be able to buy a one way train ticket from any place in the Czech Republic to the airport. This ticket will also be valid for their return journey within 30 days which will thus be provided free of charge. Transport between the Prague Main Railway Station and the airport is arranged by the Airport Express shuttle bus. Passengers can choose from a wide offer of rail connections and buy their tickets online at www.eshop.cd.cz. Detailed conditions and ticketing instructions are available at the Czech Railways website www.cd.cz.

NEW VIDEO SPOT HELPING PASSENGERS TO GET ORIENTED AT THE AIRPORT

Prague Airport completed a production of a new video spot that, in an entertaining way, instructs arriving and transferring passengers how to move around the airport. The short movie shows three passengers in different situations upon arrival of their flight – the first one terminating the journey in Prague, the second transferring within the terminal and the third one transferring between two terminals. The way of each passenger through the airport is displayed on an airport map, presented in the real setting and accompanied by important information or useful tips for shopping and relaxation. An interesting linking element of different parts of the movie is a motive of paper airplane flying around the airport. This video will be available in a Czech and English version on the Prague Airport’s website and it will also be shown on board of several flights, primarily by Czech Airlines and SkyTeam member airlines that record a major share on the number of passengers transferring at Prague Airport.

SMARTWINGS OPENED ROUTES TO NAPLES AND CATANIA

SmartWings, a Prague-based low cost airline operated by the Travel Service Company continued its expansion with opening two new Italian routes. On 26^th May, flights to Naples were launched with three weekly frequencies on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. On 28^th May, a new seasonal service between Prague and Catania was added to the airline’s offer. Flights to Catania in Sicily are also operated three times a week – on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Italy is an important part of the carrier’s steadily growing destination network. The airline already announced its plan to increase the SmartWings scheduled operations in proportion to the charter operations from the current 30% to 50% in the near future. Get more information at www.smartwings.com.

EASYJET LAUNCHED FLIGHTS FROM PRAGUE TO AMSTERDAM

On Friday 14^th May, easyJet handled first passengers on its new route between Prague and Amsterdam. The launch of easyJet’s flights to the capital of the Netherlands enables passengers from Prague to take advantage of this new low cost service. It also significantly increases the offer of seats on the Amsterdam route with six weekly flights operated by an Airbus 319 for 156 passengers. easyJet now flies from Prague to seven destinations across Europe and counts among the five biggest airlines at Prague Airport in terms of carried passengers. Further information can be found at www.easyjet.com.

KOREAN AIR TO REFURBISH IN-FLIGHT FACILITIES WITH NEXT GENERATION PREMIUM SEATS

Korean Air has announced that it will now initiate the second phase of its extensive refurbishing plan of all mid and long-haul passenger flights by equipping the operating aircraft with next generation premium seats. $200 million will be invested in refurbishing the current thirty-two B777 and A330 aircraft as well as all 38 new aircraft to be delivered. With the refurbished in-flight facilities and next generation premium seats, passengers will be able to access a wide range of entertainment in all classes of Korean Air flights. Korean Air’s new AVOD system offers upgraded in-flight entertainment in high resolution and top streaming speed. The new product of Korean Air will be soon presented at Prague Airport in a B777-200 aircraft equipped by the next generation premium seats. Find more details at www.koreanair.com.

CZECH AIRLINES TO LAUNCH NEW PRAGUE-ASTANA ROUTE

From 1st June, Czech Airlines will start flying new scheduled route between Prague and Astana. Flights on this route will be operated two times a week by an Airbus 319 aircraft with 130 seats capacity, departing from Prague on Tuesdays and Fridays and returning from Astana on the next day. Astana will become a second destination in Kazakhstan, after Almaty with a direct scheduled connection from Prague. At the occasion of the launch of the new route, Czech Airlines together with Prague Airport will organize a small inauguration flight ceremony for passengers travelling on the first flight and a press trip for media representatives from Kazakhstan to introduce the new service and the city of Prague. 23 journalists will also be accompanied by 5 children from a children’s home who will enjoy their stay in Prague for a week. For more information please visit www.czechairlines.com.

In April 2010, the air traffic at Prague Airport, as well as on other airports in the region, was unfavourably affected by the closure of the airspace due to spread of volcanic ash following the eruptions of an Iceland volcano. The suspension of traffic in Prague for three consecutive days and further traffic restrictions in a large part of Europe resulted in a decrease in number of aircraft movements by 16.1% and fall in passenger volumes by 16.8% year-on-year. The only traffic indicator that remained unaffected by “the ash crisis” was the volume of air cargo which grew by 36.5% when compared with the same period of the last year.

The most visible drop in passenger numbers by 20.2% was experienced by low cost airlines, but also full service carriers reported 16.5% decline, while the charter segment was down by 11.5%. The number of passengers transferring in Prague saw a 12.9% decrease.

From the TOP 10 most frequented routes, only Paris/Charles de Gaulle, Barcelona, Moscow/Sheremetyevo and Rome/Fiumicino saw higher passenger numbers compared to April 2009, a trend which was also reflected in the final destination ranking.