Prague Continues to Draw Travelers, 2012 Transportation Results for Václav Havel Airport Prague Show

Prague 1/30/2013

The total number of passengers passing through Václav Havel Airport Prague in 2012 fell year-on-year, but the number of so-called local passengers flying out of or into Prague grew by almost 2%. The drop consists of transfer passengers, i.e., those using Prague as an intermediate location.

In 2012, Václav Havel Airport Prague handled 10.8 million passengers, 8.3% fewer than during the preceding year. "These results were projected in our plan, which took into account the fact that our largest partner, Czech Airlines, was undergoing a period of optimization. As far as economic results, the news was positive, with long-term, stable growth in "point-to-point" passengers having a positive impact on company revenues, along with growth in the non-aviation commercial sales area. The number of passengers flying out of or into Prague as a main destination as part of regularly scheduled flights has grown 9.6% over the last three years. We expect to see growth return in overall results as soon as this year. We are anticipating an approximately 2% increase in the number of passengers handled. The greatest increase in new connections and in the frequency of existing connections will take place under the summer flight schedule," says Jiri Pos, CEO of Prague Airport. He adds: "Other positive influences on the bottom line for 2012 definitely include marked growth in passenger transport by foreign carriers of 13%, moderate growth in discount transport of more than 1% and an increase in the average occupancy of aircraft to almost 72%."

49 airlines provided regularly scheduled flights to a total of 132 destinations in 2012. The favorite passenger destinations were Great Britain, Germany, France, Russia and Italy. The top five airports for Prague passengers were Paris/Charles de Gaulle, Moscow/Sheremetyevo, Frankfurt, London/Heathrow and Amsterdam. The biggest jump in growth came in passengers heading for Heathrow Airport in London.

August was the busiest month, when Václav Havel Airport Prague handled 1,201,725 passengers. The record for a single day came on June 29, with 47,041 passengers landing or taking off. On average, Václav Havel Airport Prague handles approximately 30,000 passengers, with 359 takeoffs and landings per day.

Operating Indicators for 2012

Number of passengers                      10 807 890           change 2012/2011          -8.32 %
Number of aircraft movements              131 564            change 2012/2011        -12.71 %

These statistics make clear that aircraft are flying with a higher occupancy rate and larger aircraft are flying into Prague. The greater drop in the number of aircraft movements was not accompanied by a similar percentage drop in passengers.

Local and Transfer Passengers

Local passengers:                    9,789,652 = growth of 1.7 % / proportion 90.6 %
Transfer passengers:                  991,444 = drop of 52.9 % / proportion 9.2 %
Transit passengers:                       26,794 = drop of 52.3 % / proportion 0.2 %

Market Segments

Regularly scheduled flights                   88.2%
Non-regularly scheduled flights            11.8%

Network airlines                        6,882,654 passengers = year-on-year drop of 12.1%
Discount airlines                       2,654,216 passengers = year-on-year growth of +1.3%
Charter airlines                         1,249,926 passengers = year-on-year drop of -5.0%
Private flight operators                   21,094 passengers = year-on-year growth of +0.8%

Average Occupancy

All segments                                 71.8 % (69.3 % in 2011)
Regularly scheduled flights       72.6 % (69.3 % in 2011)

TOP Countries:

 TOP Destinations:

Airlines

1. Czech Airlines + HCA                 3,306,403         -26.0 %           proportion  30.6%
2. Travel Service + SmartWings   1,214,180        -20.5 %            proportion  11.2 %
3. easyJet                                            746,158          +7.8 %            proportion     6.9 %
4. Lufthansa                                        701,667          +0.8 %            proportion     6.5 %
5. Wizz Air                                            495,776        -14,3 %            proportion     4.6 %

Media Contact:
Eva Krejčí, Director of Communications and Media Spokesperson  
tel.:        +420 220 116 788
mobile:    +420 724 365 353
e-mail:    eva.krejci@prg.aero