History of Václav Havel Airport Prague

Beginnings of the Airport: 1932−1937

The history of Prague Airport began in 1929, when the government of the former Czechoslovakia approved a proposal to build a new airport. Construction started in July 1933, using as little mechanisation as possible in order to help reduce unemployment during the economic crisis. The airport was completed on 1 March 1937.

At the time, international aviation experts described Prague Airport as one of the finest airports in Europe. Its modern, timeless terminal building became a model for many newly built airports across the continent.

Operations at the brand-new Prague–Ruzyně Airport officially commenced on 5 March 1937 at 9:00 a.m., when the first aircraft landed. It was a Douglas DC-2 operating a domestic service on the Piešťany–Zlín–Brno–Prague route. The first international flight, operating between Vienna, Prague and Berlin, arrived one hour later.

The Second World War: 1940–1945

During the occupation and the Second World War, the airport was operated by the German military air base. The Germans suspended all Czechoslovak air services, took over the aircraft fleet and used it primarily for military purposes. The Czechoslovak aircraft registration prefix "OK" was replaced with the German "D-A". The only route that remained in operation was Berlin–Prague–Vienna, served daily by Deutsche Lufthansa using Junkers Ju 52 aircraft.

The war left a significant mark on the airport and its infrastructure. The German army used the airport hangars to repair military aircraft and established an air force training school for bomber pilots. Despite the war, development of the runway system continued. By 1945, the airport had four runways ranging in length from 950 to 1,800 metres.

Thanks to the Prague Uprising in May 1945, the airport was secured with its runways almost entirely undamaged, allowing operations to resume immediately.

Post-War period: 1946–1959

Following the liberation of Czechoslovakia in May 1945, civil operations at the airport were quickly restored. In 1946, plans for a new runway and the airport's further expansion were approved. The airport underwent gradual modernisation: runways were extended, a system of taxiways was added, and lighting equipment was installed to support night operations. Construction of a parallel northeast–southwest runway also began in 1947–1948.

The 1960s–1980s

Plans to expand the capacity of Prague–Ruzyně Airport were approved as early as 1956. Four years later, the government decided to build a new terminal north of the existing one, which became known as the North Terminal (today's Terminal 1). Construction of the new complex began in 1964. The new passenger terminal, designed to handle up to 2.3 million passengers annually, was officially opened in June 1968. The runway system was further expanded, with the main runways extended to a length of 4.3 kilometres.

Just two months later, in August 1968, the airport faced an unprecedented test when it became one of the main arrival points for aircraft carrying the occupying forces of the Warsaw Pact.

During the 1980s, domestic air transport declined significantly, largely due to the opening of the Prague–Brno–Bratislava motorway and the cancellation of short-haul domestic services as part of fuel-saving measures.

In 1986, the original 1937 terminal building was carefully restored with full respect for its Functionalist architecture. Today, the building, now known as Terminal 4, primarily serves state and official flights.

The turn of the Millennium

By the early 1990s, it had become clear that air travel demand in the Czech Republic would continue to grow rapidly. In June 1995, the foundation stone was laid for a new passenger terminal complex and multi-storey car park. The new terminal, with an annual capacity of 4.8 million passengers, entered service in June 1997. The same year also saw the opening of the South Terminal (today's Terminal 3), which primarily serves private aviation. A year later, a modern cargo terminal, a de-icing stand and an upgraded air traffic control tower were completed.

While just over three million passengers used the airport in 1995, the six-million-passenger milestone was reached in 2001.

In 2002, Car Park C was opened as the largest multi-storey car park in Central Europe at the time. The extended Pier B, equipped with glass boarding bridges and moving walkways, also entered service, while the reconstruction of the passenger terminal was completed. In 2005, Prague Airport handled more than 10 million passengers for the first time.

In September 2005, the public area of the North Terminal (today's Terminal 2), dedicated to flights within the Schengen Area, was officially opened. Following its full completion in January 2006, passengers had access to 27 boarding bridges, increasing the airport's passenger handling capacity by approximately 30%.

The 2010s: 2012–2019

In May 2012, a major reconstruction of the airport's main runway (RWY 06/24), which had been in service since 1963, began. The project was completed in several stages and finished in 2014.

On 5 October 2012, to mark the anniversary of the birth of the first President of the Czech Republic, Prague–Ruzyně Airport was officially renamed Václav Havel Airport Prague.

In 2015, the airport introduced a simplified parking system under the unified Aeroparking brand.

Exactly one year before celebrating its 80th anniversary, Prague Airport exceeded the milestone of 13 million passengers for the first time. Daily Airbus A380 services to Dubai were introduced, requiring a specially modified boarding bridge at Pier B to accommodate the world's largest passenger aircraft. Prague also maintained regular long-haul connections to South Korea, China, Canada and the United States.

During this period, plans for the airport's future development also began to take concrete shape, as it became clear that existing capacity would soon no longer be sufficient.

Another major milestone came in 2019, when Prague Airport set a new record by handling more than 17 million passengers in a single year.

The 2020s: 2020–2025

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic brought much of the world to a standstill, and airports were no exception. Václav Havel Airport Prague experienced a dramatic decline in traffic, handling just 3.7 million passengers in 2020—a 79% decrease compared with the record-breaking year of 2019. The network of destinations was significantly reduced and changed continuously in line with the evolving epidemiological situation. At the beginning of the year, flights operated to 111 destinations worldwide, while in the following months services were gradually available to up to 87 destinations.

Flights gradually resumed throughout 2021, when Prague Airport handled a total of 4.4 million passengers. This increased to 10.7 million in 2022, with continued year-on-year growth thereafter. In 2023, the airport welcomed 13.9 million passengers, followed by 16.3 million in 2024, marking a return close to pre-pandemic traffic levels.

In 2025, Prague Airport achieved a new all-time record, handling a total of 17,750,528 passengers, an increase of 1.4 million compared with the previous year. During 2025, 84 airlines operated services to 194 destinations, while 19 new routes were launched in cooperation with airline partners.

The Future: Václav Havel Airport Prague 2030+

In the years ahead, travelling through Václav Havel Airport Prague will become an even more comfortable and seamless experience. The airport is embarking on an ambitious transformation that will create a modern gateway designed for the future while remaining welcoming and passenger-focused.

Prague Airport is launching the largest modernisation programme in its history. The project will increase hourly capacity, deliver more efficient services, create a more user-friendly environment and significantly enhance passenger comfort. This transformation is not only technical—it is also strategic, built around four key pillars:

• Improving transport accessibility
• Enhancing passenger comfort and streamlining the travel process
• Modernising safety systems and technical infrastructure
• Strengthening sustainability and operational efficiency

The modernisation of Václav Havel Airport Prague represents a long-term transformation programme that responds to the evolving needs of airlines, passengers, business partners and employees alike.

On 5 October 2012, the airport in Prague-Ruzyně was renamed Václav Havel Airport Prague, which was a step approved by the Czech government in March of the same year.