From The Floor: Prague Sets Sights On Long-Haul Markets

Václav Havel Airport Prague (PRG) is setting its sights on expanding its long-haul connectivity, particularly to key markets in the US, China, and South Korea, as well as tapping into unserved destinations in India, Vietnam, and Thailand.

Jiri Vyskoc, executive director of aviation business development, told Aviation Week that the airport is employing a range of strategies to attract airlines to these markets, including six incentive programs and comprehensive marketing support.

“We are working to enhance our connectivity with long-haul destinations such as New York, Shanghai, and Seoul, while also targeting unserved markets like New Delhi, Hanoi, and Bangkok,” Vyskoc says. The airport also sees growth potential in several European cities, including Bordeaux, France; Hamburg, Germany; and Zagreb, Croatia.

To attract airlines, PRG offers financial incentives and co-branded marketing campaigns, alongside collaboration with local tourism stakeholders to boost incoming passenger numbers. The airport recently launched the Prague Airport Cargo Point platform to strengthen its competitiveness in air cargo transport.

These efforts are part of a broader growth strategy that has already resulted in the addition of 58 new routes and 14 airline partners in the past year alone, with further expansion and infrastructure upgrades planned to meet rising demand.

New routes added in 2024 include Hainan Airlines’ flights from Beijing, marking the post-pandemic resumption of nonstop service to mainland China, and Eznis Airways’ service to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Egyptair also relaunched service from Cairo after a 13-year absence and Qanot Sharq Airlines opened a route from Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

For summer 2025, Etihad Airways has already confirmed plans to launch a new route from Abu Dhabi, while Air Canada is adding service from Toronto.

As the airport continues to grow its network, it is also investing heavily in infrastructure upgrades to meet rising demand. “We are expanding our terminals and implementing new technologies like self-service bag drop and fast-track security to improve the passenger experience,” Vyskoc explains.

“In the medium-term, we are planning to expand our terminal buildings, increase our capacity to 21.2 million passengers, and construct a new parallel runway. By 2030, our goal is to generate 200 direct connections, 37 long-haul routes, and 10,000 new parking spaces. It will also be carbon neutral.”