Travelers planning to fly from Václav Havel Airport in Prague during the summer of 2025 should prepare for possible delays due to significant staff shortages and increasing air traffic across Europe. Here’s what you need to know to minimize inconvenience:
Why Are Delays Expected?
According to Eurocontrol, Europe’s air traffic control authority, European skies will be busier this summer than ever before. Air traffic has already increased by 5% compared to last year, and this trend will intensify during peak summer months. Major airports including Athens, Barcelona, Munich, and Budapest are experiencing severe shortages of air traffic controllers, causing delays that cascade across European air routes, including flights to and from Prague.
Staff Shortages and Infrastructure Challenges
While Prague Airport faced challenges related to baggage handling and airport staffing in previous years, this year’s primary issue revolves around air traffic control shortages throughout Europe. Prague Airport itself reports minimal direct contribution to delays (only 0.3%), but delays elsewhere in Europe significantly affect flights arriving at and departing from Prague.
What This Means for Passengers
Travelers should anticipate delays ranging from tens of minutes to several hours. The cascading nature of air traffic delays means even short initial delays can compound significantly over a day, causing substantial waiting times.
Delays could be exacerbated by typical summer weather events like thunderstorms and high winds, further complicating flight schedules.
Airport’s Efforts to Mitigate Delays
Prague Airport has proactively improved infrastructure and staffing to manage summer peak periods better:
- Staffing Improvements: 140 additional employees hired, guided by an AI system predicting traffic and congestion.
- Technological Upgrades: Six advanced X-ray machines installed, speeding up luggage processing and security checks.
- Better Infrastructure Management: Streamlined procedures designed to keep passenger flow moving more smoothly.
Czech Air Traffic Control Commitments
Czech Air Traffic Control (ATC) assures passengers that domestic delays will remain within the acceptable European Union target, capped at an average of 0.19 minutes per flight in 2025. While this sounds minimal, variations mean individual flights might experience considerably longer delays.
Economic and Environmental Impact
Delays don’t just inconvenience passengers—they significantly impact airlines. Each day with cumulative delays exceeding 200,000 minutes costs airlines approximately €20 million due to extra fuel, staff overtime, compensation claims, and rerouting flights. Longer flights and circling aircraft also mean increased carbon emissions, negatively impacting the environment.
Tips for Passengers
- Plan extra time: Arrive at Prague Airport well ahead of your scheduled departure.
- Pack essentials in hand luggage: Keep medications, chargers, important documents, and necessities easily accessible.
- Stay informed: Monitor flight statuses closely and subscribe to real-time notifications from your airline.
- Expect baggage delays: Prepare mentally and practically for the possibility of waiting longer for checked luggage upon arrival.
Industry Outlook
Despite these challenges, airlines expect a busy and profitable year, forecasting record passenger numbers globally. Travelers and airlines alike hope improved management and staffing adjustments can mitigate the worst delays.
By being prepared and informed, passengers flying through Prague in 2025 can help reduce the stress of potential delays and enjoy smoother journeys.