Prague Airport‘s Long-Term Vision and Development Strategy

Emphasis on safe and reliable operation

Our activities make Václav Havel Airport Prague one of the safest airports in the world, both in terms of passenger safety and the air traffic itself. To keep it that way, we continuously monitor security risks, inspect the introduced technologies and practices, adopt best practices from abroad, and take precautions to minimize potential security risks.

At the same time, we place emphasis on high-quality security personnel and the use of state-of-the-art technologies. For this reason, we constantly extend and renew the airport’s equipment, especially in the area of detection and security. Another priority in this area is the development of passenger and baggage security controls, which is essential for ensuring safety not only at the airport but also in the air. We want to increase the level of security provided by the fencing and of protection offered by the airport’s expanding perimeter as a whole.

We seek to continually improve the effectiveness of contingency and crisis planning and data integration to allow for faster responses to current threats. Therefore we also seek to deepen the cooperation of all airport and state security forces, and aim to develop adequate forces and means for the airport’s firefighters to handle emergencies both on the premises of the airport and in its immediate vicinity.

We will continue to actively seek, evaluate and reduce the risks arising from the operation of the airport, thoroughly review all occurrence reports, determine their causes, and prevent their recurrence by taking appropriate measures. We do not aim to just abide by national and international regulations, but to reinforce the above standard approach to safety wherever appropriate.

Development of aviation activities

We have record-breaking years in terms of passenger traffic and destinations offered behind us, we provide direct flights to almost all European capitals and expand the network of long-haul routes. There is an increasing interest in Prague as a destination and, at the same time, the Czechs travel more. Therefore we aim to provide an easier access to flight connections to make it possible to fly anywhere in the world from Prague with one transfer at most. For this reason, we want to provide direct connections to all European capitals and to develop connections with attractive destinations in Asia, North America and the Middle East in such a way that Prague Airport becomes the starting point for travelling not only for the Czechs, but for the inhabitants of the Czech-Polish and Czech-German border regions as well. Moreover, we develop direct connections to summer and winter holiday destinations. We also aim to strengthen the potential of our airport as a transfer hub for the new generation, thereby linking Europe with long-haul flights.

Václav Havel Airport Prague creates a number of incentives for carriers to achieve this purpose. These include not only competitive pricing policies in relation to airport charges but also marketing support. As a result, there has been a steady increase and an expansion of connections in recent years.

Attractive spaces and high-quality services

One of the advantages of Václav Havel Airport Prague in comparison to larger European or world airports is our clear arrangement and intuitive accessibility. Its all sections, whether related to the operation of the airport itself or to additional services, are located so as to provide the fastest and easiest route from the public area of the airport directly to the plane.

We, in cooperation with our partners, aim to ensure similar accessibility not only within the airport but also outside it. Therefore we seek to strengthen transport services to the maximum extent possible and to minimize the time spent in transit between the airport and its surrounding areas. That is why we also support state infrastructure follow-up projects, such as rail connections to the airport.

We are also focusing on the conceptual modernization of the airport’s interior. The aim is that the premises of Václav Havel Airport Prague not only conform to modern design and to the standards common in modern world airports, but also include elements that reflect the symbols and motifs of Prague and the Czech Republic.

Our development concept also includes enhancing the attractiveness of additional services, both in terms of the broad range of global and local restaurants with a corresponding price-quality ratio and the variety of options in shopping for all passenger groups.

The plan also includes increasing the level of short-term and long-term parking services. Our goal is to be the first choice for passengers in airport parking.

Capacity optimization and operation

The current airport operates close to its full capacity. Even in these conditions, however, we strive for the smoothest and safe handling of passengers and aircraft. We want to systematically, efficiently and innovatively develop airport infrastructure in line with the predicted development of air traffic. We have a long-term airport development plan (MASTERPLAN), which includes the completion of the terminal capacity expansion and the increase in the capacity of the runway system, which will be gradually implemented with respect to the operating plan and market development.

In order to optimize the capacities, we continuously search for and use new technologies that will guarantee higher reliability and quality of services provided. In doing so, we also ensure a high level of environmental protection, perceive the needs of others and place emphasis on corporate social responsibility.

Our major plans in this area also include long-term efforts to acquire additional land, which will make the development of air traffic possible.

Development of AIRPORT CITY

An important part of our long-term development is the vision of the so-called Airport City, which we aim to implement in stages. Together with the gradual implementation of the aviation capacity development plan and the deepening of air traffic operations, it is also necessary for us to develop the immediate area surrounding the airport accessible to the general public.

Firstly, we seek to expand the infrastructure, which will ensure smooth traffic between the airport and the centre of Prague, and secondly, we aim to provide visitors with additional services that will enhance travel comfort and also the final impression of their visit to Prague and the Czech Republic.

Building on the recommendations of development studies and land planning documentation and the commercial potential of the airport’s surroundings, we plan to systematically use the land and create investment opportunities for business activities that will increase the attractiveness of Airport City and of Prague Airport in general not only for passengers.