Prague Airport is significantly expanding its long-haul flight offer with a new direct connection to Philadelphia, USA. American Airlines officially launched the new route today at Prague Airport, with the participation of the First Deputy Prime Minister of the Czech Republic and Minister of Industry and Trade Karel Havlíček, Minister of Transport Ivan Bednárik, and the US Ambassador to Prague Nicholas Merrick. The new connection will be available to passengers daily until 5 October this year.
The launch of a direct flight between Prague and Philadelphia is a strategic milestone in the development of long-haul connections from Prague Airport to the rest of the world. “The United States is a strategic market for Czech companies. A direct line from Prague to Philadelphia therefore means more than just more comfortable travel. It shortens the path to investors, business partners and new technological opportunities while also bringing high-worth visitors to the Czech Republic. Moreover, Philadelphia is a major hub for the whole of North America, so with this route we are not only strengthening one destination, but the entire connection of the Czech Republic to the American market. It is a practical example of how transport, industry, trade and tourism should be interconnected,” says First Deputy Prime Minister of the Czech Republic and Minister of Industry and Trade, Karel Havlíček.
“A new direct connection is opening up for travellers from the Czech Republic, which will significantly improve accessibility to the United States, and Prague will also become a gateway to Europe for tens of thousands of additional Americans. The offer of direct long-haul flights from Václav Havel Airport Prague is thus expanding further. I am delighted that a route to Hanoi, which will commence operations in the autumn, has also been confirmed in recent days. Our priority now is to secure direct connections with destinations such as Shanghai or Delhi. Long-haul routes are precisely one of the priorities that the Ministry of Finance, as a 100% shareholder of Prague Airport, will strive for under my leadership,” says Minister of Finance Alena Schillerová.
At the same time, Philadelphia represents one of the key transfer hubs on the East Coast of the United States. Thanks to this, the new route opens up convenient access for passengers from Prague to a wide range of other destinations in North America. “We appreciate the excellent cooperation with our global partner, American Airlines, as well as other partners who supported the opening of the new route. According to our forecasts, more than 57,000 passengers will use the new connection in both directions during this summer season. We are convinced that this route will quickly gain stable passenger interest, which could further create favourable conditions for its expansion throughout the summer season and potential operations during the winter season,” stated Jiří Pos, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Prague Airport.
The regular long-haul route between Philadelphia and Prague operates daily until 5 October this year. The carrier is deploying a long-haul Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft on the route, with a total capacity of 234 seats. The direct flight from Philadelphia departs at 6:00 p.m. local time and arrives in Prague at 8:15 a.m. the following day. The return flight departs from Prague at 10:15 a.m. and arrives in Philadelphia at 1:05 p.m. local time.
“Our customers around the world are increasingly seeking unique travel experiences, whether it is crystal-clear waters or the history, culture and cosmopolitan atmosphere offered by metropolises like Prague,” says José A. Freig, Vice President of International and Inflight Dining Operations at American Airlines, adding: “With this new route, our customers in the Czech Republic will also have access to one of our fastest-growing US hubs in Philadelphia, from where they can travel to more than 100 destinations in the United States and beyond.”
“The United States has long been one of our most important long-haul markets, and the interest of American tourists in the Czech Republic continues to grow. Last year alone, almost 580,000 visitors from the US arrived at domestic collective accommodation establishments, spending more than 1.5 million nights here. On average, they stay here for 3.6 days, with the longest stays in the Karlovy Vary Region. They most frequently head to Prague, but they are increasingly discovering other regions of the Czech Republic. American travellers primarily seek out cultural monuments, gastronomy, and the lively atmosphere of the local cities. Their total expenses associated with a trip to the Czech Republic exceeds an average of five thousand crowns per person per day. We therefore see the new direct connection between Prague and Philadelphia as a significant step for the further development of inbound tourism and the strengthening of commercial and cultural ties between the two countries,” highlights František Reismüller, Director of the Czech Tourism Board - CzechTourism.
To support the new route, the foreign representative of CzechTourism in the US prepared a series of presentation and networking events in Philadelphia aimed at presenting the Czech Republic as an attractive tourist destination. The programme included, for example, the event “From Cheesesteaks to Czechia - Now Nonstop from Philadelphia to Prague”, which, with significant support from Prague Airport and in cooperation with the Consulate General of the Czech Republic in New York, the CzechInvest agency and American Airlines, brought together representatives from tourism, business, media and community organisations. The aim was to present the Czech Republic not only as an attractive tourist destination, but also as an appealing partner for trade and new investments. Another part of the programme took place directly at Philadelphia International Airport during the ceremonial launch of the new route. The activities are complemented by marketing campaigns implemented jointly with Prague Airport and OTA partner Expedia.
Philadelphia is considered the cradle of American independence, as the Declaration of Independence and the American Constitution were written and approved here. Visitors to the famous Independence Hall, where both founding documents of the US were adopted, will undoubtedly breathe in the atmosphere of these historical monuments. Also not to be missed is a tour of the iconic Liberty Bell, which was previously used to summon lawmakers to sessions. In addition, Philadelphia attracts with its rich cultural scene, whether it is thousands of large-scale street murals reflecting the stories of local communities, or the city’s Museum of Art, with its collection of more than 240,000 exhibits. Leading to the main entrance of the museum are the so-called Rocky Steps, which appeared in the famous film starring Sylvester Stallone and offer a beautiful view of the city centre.
Tickets for flights between Prague and Philadelphia are on sale on the American Airlines website.
About the American Airlines Group
A leading global airline, American Airlines offers thousands of flights daily to more than 350 destinations in more than 60 countries. The airline is a founding member of the Oneworld alliance, whose members serve more than 900 destinations worldwide. American Airlines Group Inc. shares are traded on the Nasdaq stock exchange under the symbol AAL. During American Airlines' summer travel season, which runs from 21 May to 8 September, the airline expects to carry 75 million passengers on 750,000 flights, breaking its previous record set in 2019. The summer season begins with Memorial Day weekend, when American Airlines plans to carry more than 4.2 million passengers on more than 40,000 flights between 21 to 26 May. The busiest day of this weekend will be Friday, 22 May.