Prague Airport has switched to its summer flight schedule, which will remain in effect until 24 October this year. It will offer flights to 183 destinations, 15 more than last year. 77 airlines will operate their flights from Prague Airport this summer, and the total seat capacity is set to increase by 6% year-on-year. In Terminal 2, the airport will increase the number of CT scanners, which makes it easier for passengers to pass through security.
In total, the number of flights from Václav Havel Airport Prague will increase to more than 30 routes during the summer season. The carrier Etihad Airways plans to operate daily flights to Abu Dhabi (originally three times a week); however, given the current situation in the Middle East, it will start the summer season with fewer flights. The new STARLUX Airlines route to Taipei will operate three times a week from 1 August. From 1 October, this airline, for which Prague is its first European destination, will increase the number of flights to four a week. Air Canada will also add one weekly service in the summer on its Toronto route (now operating four times a week), as will China Airlines on its Taipei route (now operating three times a week).
The airline Smartwings is increasing the number of flights year-on-year on routes such as Valencia (now daily), Malaga (now twice daily), Paris (now three times daily), and Samos (now four times a week). Compared to last summer’s season, Smartwings will now also be flying to destinations such as Barcelona (daily), Rome (daily), Toulouse (twice a week), Bilbao (twice a week) and Porto (twice a week). Among low-cost carriers, Ryanair will add new frequencies on 16 of its routes (e.g. on routes from Košice, Tirana and Milan), Pegasus Airlines will increase the number of flights on its route from Istanbul (now 16 times a week), and Wizz Air will launch new summer routes connecting Prague with Skopje, Iași and Timișoara.
More CT scans and self-service technologies
In early May, the airport will put two new CT scanners into operation as part of the central security screening process in Terminal 2, bringing the total number there to eight. “As our survey shows, the operation of CT scanners in Terminal 2 so far has brought a significant increase in passenger satisfaction with security checks. Thanks to this modern technology, it is faster and smoother,” explains Jiří Pos.
When passing through a CT scanner, passengers do not have to remove electronic devices and liquids from their hand luggage. This requirement remains in place at the remaining security screening lanes. Another advantage for passengers departing from Terminal 2 is that, in addition to the standard allowance of liquids in containers of up to 100 millilitres in a bag of up to 1 litre, they may take one extra container of up to two litres. In Terminal 1, the use of CT scanners is not yet possible due to the current decentralised layout of security screening. However, the installation of this modern technology is planned here for the future as part of the planned modernisation. This will involve constructing a central security checkpoint within Terminal 1 to enable the deployment of CT scanners. The rules in Terminal 1, therefore, remain unchanged: only liquids of up to 100 millilitres, packed in a single transparent one-litre bag, are permitted. Passengers must remove all liquids and electronic devices from their luggage and present them separately for inspection.
New state-of-the-art technology will also be available to passengers this summer in selected departure lounges in Terminal 2. This is a so-called self-boarding gate, or an automated gate that passengers open themselves by scanning their boarding pass, thereby allowing them to board the aircraft. Automation will enable a smoother boarding process; the airport will install this technology in four departure lounges in Terminal 2 at the end of April and beginning of May.
The development of self-service facilities is also continuing. The Terminal 2 departure hall will be fitted with an additional 12 self-service baggage drop-off desks before the start of the summer holidays, which are traditionally the busiest time of year for operations. These are an alternative to traditional check-in desks, where queues can form during peak times. Passengers at Prague Airport will thus have 32 self-service baggage drop-off desks at their disposal. The self-service baggage drop-off service is now supported by 17 airlines at Prague Airport, with more expected to follow.
Prague Airport expects to handle over 12 million passengers during the summer season (a 6.6% year-on-year increase). Before the start of the peak summer months, the airport will launch a communication campaign offering practical advice to passengers on how to prepare for their journey and what to expect before departure.
Learn more about Prague Airport here.
