On Monday, 30 March 2026, the second phase of the closure for the main runway 06/24 is set to begin, and this phase will last for 4.5 months. Like last year, essential construction and technological improvements will be carried out near the main runway to ensure it meets regulatory standards, which will enhance safety and reliability for operations. While the main runway is closed, all aircraft will be redirected to the secondary runway 12/30. The flight paths for arrivals and departures will take planes over densely populated areas of Prague and the Central Bohemian Region. Unfortunately, until the new parallel runway is built, this is the only viable option for Prague Airport. This closure will also accommodate work from Pražská plynárenská, the Road and Motorway Directorate, and Air Navigation Services of the Czech Republic.

The closure of the main runway will extend into part of the summer season. “We will continue to use the secondary runway for all air traffic for as long as needed. The closure will also occur in the spring and summer months this year because the runway is not suitable for take-offs and landings in low visibility conditions. Therefore, we are scheduling repairs during times when, based on long-term data, fog occurrences are at their lowest. We sincerely apologize to those affected by this situation, but until we have the parallel runway operating, we have no choice but to reroute all traffic to the secondary runway,” explains Eva Krejčí, the Director of Communications and Marketing at Prague Airport. She also mentioned: “We are maintaining close communication with local representatives from areas impacted by the main runway closure, and this year, we will again contribute financially to these municipalities.” During the main runway closure, incoming flights will mainly be arriving from the direction of Prague, while departures will head towards Kladno.

The redevelopment of the area around the main runway is part of the initial modernization efforts planned for Václav Havel Airport Prague in the upcoming years. During this closure, a total of 14 projects by Prague Airport, valued at approximately CZK 1 billion, will be executed, along with three additional projects from external partners. Pražská plynárenská will replace a high-pressure gas pipeline, the Air Navigation Services of the Czech Republic will upgrade the ILS (Instrument Landing System) radio navigation technology used for directing flights on Runway 24, and the Road and Motorway Directorate will work on improving the Aviatická x Lipská intersection to increase its capacity. The coordination of such a large number of construction and technological efforts reflects extensive preparation and collaboration among all parties involved.

Some significant construction projects at Prague Airport will include the reconstruction and expansion of taxiway crossings, the creation of new cable ducts, the replacement of the perimeter fence, and the installation of new LED signals that assist aircraft during take-off, landing, and taxiing. All of these initiatives and others are crucial for ensuring long-term sustainability and readiness for future operational requirements to maintain high safety standards and reliability at Václav Havel Airport Prague. In addition to these major projects, regular maintenance tasks will also be performed during the closure, such as upkeep on paved and unpaved surfaces, maintenance of underground structures, removal of rubber build-up, restoration of horizontal signage, and more. However, it’s important to note that these repairs will not include the main runway itself, which underwent a complete reconstruction in 2012 and 2013.

It is anticipated that all work will be finished by this year, and no extensive closures are on the agenda for next year. “Unfortunately, we couldn’t carry out all the repairs in one year because we would have to operate during months when adverse weather, particularly fog, is more common, which could disrupt airport operations. The work we’re doing around the main runway spans two years but is being completed in an unusually short time frame,” explains Eva Krejčí. In the meantime, Prague Airport continues to work on plans for building a parallel runway. Once this new runway is operational, the existing secondary runway will be closed, allowing for maintenance and improvements to the runway system without affecting the densely populated regions of Prague and the Central Bohemia Area. Currently, Prague Airport has received a preliminary zoning decision for the parallel runway project.

Here are some key details about the main runway closure:

• The closure will be in effect for 4.5 months (from 30 March to 14 August 2026).
• All air traffic will be exclusively routed to the secondary runway 12/30.
• Prior to the summer operations, there will be a short, roughly four-day closure of the secondary runway 12/30 for necessary preparations.
• 565 new LED signals will be installed.
• Over 3.3 km of new cable routes will be constructed, with around 160 km of cables being laid.
• The expansion of paved areas will cover nearly 8,000 m².
• Around 55,000 m² of taxiways will undergo repairs or reconstruction.