When Czech travellers plan their holidays or business trips abroad, the first airport they consider often isn’t their home gateway, Václav Havel Airport Prague, but rather Vienna, Warsaw, Dresden, or even Berlin. The principal motivation behind this choice is straightforward: significant savings. Despite recent recovery efforts, Prague Airport continues to lag behind its regional counterparts in both pricing and the availability of direct connections.
Alžběta Musilová, a frequent traveller, shared her experience: “Every time we plan a trip, we effectively hold a small bidding contest between airports. Prague rarely wins against Vienna or Warsaw, where flights are consistently cheaper.” The savings can be substantial—a family of five often saves upwards of CZK 20,000, making the longer drive to a foreign airport economically justified.
Extensive Connections and Competitive Pricing
The primary advantages of airports like Vienna and Warsaw are their broader selection of direct flights and intense airline competition, which naturally lowers ticket prices. For example, Vienna International Airport has successfully rebounded from pandemic-related passenger drops, surpassing its pre-COVID traffic with around 31.7 million passengers annually, far ahead of Prague’s anticipated 18 million passengers for the current year.
Warsaw has also outpaced Prague, already surpassing 18.8 million passengers in 2023. In contrast, Prague Airport is struggling to regain its pre-pandemic volume due to lost routes, particularly flights previously connecting with Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus, which together accounted for roughly 1.6 million passengers annually before COVID-19.
EY air transport expert Petr Kováč explained, “The war in Ukraine and the subsequent loss of Russian and Ukrainian markets have severely impacted Prague. Helsinki Airport faces similar issues, but Prague’s recovery has been slower because of its additional disadvantage—the absence of a strong domestic network airline.”
Absence of a Network Carrier and Financial Support
Historically, Czech Airlines (CSA) served as Prague’s hub airline, but its role diminished significantly before its eventual collapse, leaving Prague without a dedicated carrier for critical European and long-haul routes. While Smartwings, currently the largest Czech airline, received state-backed loans during the pandemic, this support was incomparable to substantial bailouts received by airlines such as Lufthansa, Air France-KLM, or SAS, which facilitated their rapid recovery and return to normal operations.
Budapest experienced a similar situation when Malév went bankrupt in 2012, but quickly found a replacement in Wizz Air. Prague, however, has yet to attract a carrier capable of playing a comparable strategic role.
Costly Airport Fees?
Critics often cite Prague Airport’s charges as excessively high. Ryanair’s commercial director Jason McGuinness notably accused Prague Airport of having an uncompetitive pricing structure that discourages airlines. Prague Airport spokesman Jiří Hannich countered, stating that fees increased by only five per cent between 2021 and 2024, effectively decreasing in real terms due to inflation. He emphasized, “Our fees per passenger are significantly lower than Berlin and Vienna. The average fee in Prague is €33.91, compared to Berlin’s €49.13 and Vienna’s €55.14.”
Despite these assertions, ticket sellers and travellers consistently report higher total ticket costs when flying from Prague compared to neighbouring airports.
Convenience and Cost Savings for Travellers
David, another Czech traveller, highlighted another critical advantage of foreign airports: convenient departure and arrival times. He recounted his family’s trip to Iceland from Berlin, saving around CZK 10,000 compared to Prague, even after including fuel and parking costs. Similarly, Marek Zouzalík, a digital nomad, prefers Vienna for its significantly lower fares and better connectivity, despite the additional travel effort.
Future Prospects and Expansion Plans
Recognizing these challenges, Prague Airport is actively working to improve its competitive position. Recent developments include new direct routes such as Toronto operated by Air Canada, Abu Dhabi with Etihad Airways, and Seoul by Asiana Airlines. Negotiations are underway for renewing connections to Montreal, Philadelphia, Chicago, and expanding service to key Asian destinations like Hanoi, Shanghai, and Tokyo.
Additionally, ambitious infrastructure projects like the Airport City initiative aim to transform Prague Airport into a dynamic hub comparable to Amsterdam, Zurich, or Brussels. Planned developments include new parking structures, electric vehicle charging stations, accommodation, offices, and logistics facilities, enhancing the overall attractiveness of Prague Airport.
A Crucial Period Ahead
While Prague Airport continues to enhance its services and infrastructure, attracting more competitive carriers and routes remains essential. The airport has successfully opened 41 new routes and increased frequencies on 66 existing routes recently, boosting its financial performance significantly. In 2024, it recorded an operating profit (EBITDA) of CZK 4.3 billion and a net profit of CZK 2.5 billion, marking strong operational recovery.
Nevertheless, the competition is fierce, and to attract Czech travellers back, Prague Airport must continue to address core issues: competitive pricing, broader flight options, and enhancing passenger convenience. Until these improvements become standard, airports like Vienna and Warsaw will remain attractive alternatives for Czech passengers looking to save both time and money.