Václav Havel Airport Prague
Václav Havel Airport Prague Letiště Václava Havla Praha | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Summary | |||||||||||||||||||
| Airport type | Public | ||||||||||||||||||
| Operator | Letiště Praha | ||||||||||||||||||
| Serves | Prague, Czech Republic | ||||||||||||||||||
| Location | Ruzyně | ||||||||||||||||||
| Hub for | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Elevation AMSL | 1,247 ft / 380 m | ||||||||||||||||||
| Website | prg.aero | ||||||||||||||||||
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  PRG Location within the Czech Republic | |||||||||||||||||||
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Václav Havel Airport Prague (Template:Lang-cs), formerly Prague Ruzyně International Airport (Template:Lang-cs, Czech pronunciation: [ˈpraɦa ˈrʊzɪɲɛ]), (IATA: PRG, ICAO: LKPR), is the international airport of Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic. It is located 10 kilometres (6 mi) west[2] of the city centre and is with over 11 million passengers in 2014 the busiest airport in the newer EU member states. It serves as a hub for Czech Airlines as well as a base for Travel Service Airlines including its subsidiary SmartWings, and is also a base for low-cost carrier Wizz Air.
History
Prague–Ruzyně Airport began operations on 5 April 1937, but Czechoslovak civil aviation history started at the military airport in Prague–Kbely in 1919. The Prague Aviation Museum is now found at Kbely Airport.
Due to insufficient capacity of the Kbely airport in the middle of the 1930s, the Government decided to develop a new State Civil Airport in Ruzyně. One of the major awards Prague Ruzyně Airport received include Diploma and Gold Medal granted in 1937 at the occasion of the International Art and Technical Exhibition in Paris (Exposition Internationale des Arts et Techniques dans la Vie Moderne also known as Paris 1937 World's Fair) for the technical conception of the central airport, primarily the architecture of the check-in building (nowadays known as Terminal 4) designed by architect Ing. A. Beneš.
Other awards were granted for modernisation during individual airport development phases.[citation needed] All these facts have been increasing the interest of carriers in using Prague airport.[citation needed] In one of the most dramatic moments in its history, the airport was seized by Soviet paratroopers on the night of 20–21 August 1968, who then facilitated the landing of Soviet troops and transports for the invasion of Czechoslovakia.
The airport has an excellent location with respect both to its short distance from the centre of Prague and within the European area.[citation needed] Moreover, the Ruzyně fields provide opportunities for further expansion of the airport according to the increasing capacity demand. The airport serves as a hub of the trans-European airport network.
The political and economic changes affected the seventy years of existence of Prague–Ruzyně Airport. Some new air transportation companies and institutions were founded and some ceased operation since then. Ten entities have been responsible for airport administration over time, including the new construction and development. Until the 1990s, there were two or three-decade gaps before the major modernisation of Prague–Ruzyně Airport began to match the current capacity requirements.
The airport was used in the James Bond film Casino Royale. The airport, along with a Virgin Atlantic Airbus A340-600, depicts a scene that actually takes place in the film at Miami International Airport.
An online petition organised by one of the best-known Slovak film directors, Fero Fenič, calling on the government and the Parliament to rename Prague Ruzyně Airport to Václav Havel International Airport attracted – in just one week after 20 December 2011 – the support of over 65,000 signatories both within and outside the Czech Republic.[3] A rendition of the airport with the proposed Václav Havel name in the form of his signature followed by his typical heart symbol suffix was included in the blog's article in support of renaming of the airport.[4] This name change took place on 5 October 2012 on what would have been Havel's 76th birthday. However, the PRG name of the airport for IATA and ICAO will remain the same.
Further development
 | This article needs to be updated. (August 2014) |
As the capacity of the airport has been reaching its limit for the last couple of years (as of 2005),[citation needed] further development of the airport is being considered. Besides regular repairs of the existing runways, Prague Airport (Template:Lang-cs) began the preparations for building a new runway, parallel to the 06/24 runway. The construction with estimated costs of CZK 5–7 billion was scheduled to begin in 2007, and the new runway marked 06R/24L (also called the BIS runway) was to be put into service in 2010. However, because of plenty of legal problems and protests of people who live close to the airport premises, the construction has not yet begun. Despite these problems, the project has support from the government, and is expected to be completed by the end of 2014.[citation needed] [5]
It will be over 3,500 metres (11,483 ft) long. Located about 1,500 metres (4,921 ft) southeast of the present main runway, the 24L runway will be equipped with a category III ILS, allowing landing and taking off under bad weather conditions.
Prague Airport states that besides increasing the airport capacity, the new runway system will greatly reduce the noise level in some densely inhabited areas of Prague. This should be achieved by reorganising the air traffic space around the airport, and shifting the traffic corridors after putting the two parallel runways into service. The vision of heavy traffic raised many protests from the suburban communities directly surrounding the airport. On 6 November 2004, local referenda were held in two Prague suburbs – Nebušice and Přední Kopanina – giving official support to the local authorities for active opposition against the construction of the parallel runway.
The construction of a railway connection between the airport and Prague city centre is also in the planning stage. The track will be served by express trains with special fares, connecting non-stop the airport with the city centre, and local trains fully integrated into Prague integrated transit system.[6]
Infrastructure
Terminals
Prague Airport has two main passenger terminals, two general aviation terminals, as well as a cargo facility. Most flights depart Prague Airport from the North Terminals (Terminal 1 and 2). The South Terminals (Terminal 3 and 4) handle a few irregular flights, as well as VIP flights, special flights and small aircraft.
- Terminal 1 is used for flights outside the Schengen Area; it was opened in 1997, it includes concourses A and B
- Terminal 2 is used for flights within the Schengen area; it was opened on 17 January 2006, it includes concourses C and D
- Terminal 3 is used for private and charter flights; it was opened in 1997
- Terminal 4 is used exclusively for VIP flights and state visits; it is the oldest part of the airport which was opened on 5 April 1937
There are also two freight terminals, Cargo Terminal 1 is operated by Menzies Aviation Czech while Cargo Terminal 2 is operated by Skyport.
Runways
The airport contains two runways in service: 06/24 (till April 1993 07/25) and 12/30 (till May 2012 13/31). Former runway 04/22 is permanently closed for take-offs and landings and is used for taxiing and parking only. The most used runway is 24 due to the prevailing western winds. Runway 30 is also used often. Runway 06 is used rarely, while runway 12 is used only exceptionally.
Operations
The company operating the airport is Prague Airport (Letiště Praha, a. s.), a joint-stock company that has one shareholder, the Ministry of Finance. The company was founded in February 2008, as part of a privatisation process involving the Airport Prague (Správa Letiště Praha, s.p.) state enterprise. This action was in accordance with the Czech Republic Government Memorandum Nr. 888, which had been passed on 9 July 2008. On 1 December 2008, Prague Airport took all rights and duties formerly held by Správa Letiště Praha, s.p., and Prague Airports took all business authorisations, certificates, employees, and licenses from the former company.[7] The head office of Prague Airport is in Prague 6.[8] The former state-owned enterprise had its head office on the airport property.[9][10]
Airlines and destinations
Passenger
, ,
Cargo
| Airlines | Destinations |
|---|---|
| Air Contractors | Paris–Charles de Gaulle |
| China Airlines Cargo | Abu Dhabi, Amsterdam, Bangkok–Suvarnabhumi, Luxembourg, Taipei–Taoyuan |
| Czech Airlines | Belgrade, Chișinău, Sofia |
| Czech Airlines operated by Genex | Minsk–National |
| TNT Airways | Brno, Katowice, Liège |
| UPS Airlines operated by Farnair Switzerland | Cologne/Bonn |
Statistics
Annual passenger numbers
handled[a] |
% Change |
(tonnes) |
% Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001[24] | 6,098,742 | 29,571 | ||
| 2002[25] | 6,314,653 |  |
34,829 |
|
| 2003[26] | 7,463,120 | |
41,440 |
|
| 2004[24] | 9,696,413 | |
46,885 |
|
| 2005[24] | 10,777,020 | |
46,002 | 
|
| 2006[27] | 11,581,511 | 7.46 |
54,972 | 6.27
|
| 2007[28] | 12,436,254 | 7.38 |
55,179 | 0.38
|
| 2008[29] | 12,630,557 | 1.56 |
47,870 | -13.25
|
| 2009[30] | 11 643 366 | -7.82 |
42,476 | -11.27
|
| 2010[31] | 11,556,858 | -0.74 |
58,275 | 37.19
|
| 2011[32] | 11,788,629 | 2.01 |
62,688 | 7.57
|
| 2012[33] | 10,807,890 | -8.32 |
52,977 | -15.49
|
| 2013[34] | 10,974,196 | 1.54 |
51,902 | -2.03
|
| 2014[35] | 11,149,926 | 1.60 |
50,897 | -1.93
|
It was the 32nd busiest airport in Europe in 2009.
Busiest routes
The top 15 destinations in 2013 were:[34]
| Rank | Airport | Passengers handled |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Paris–Charles de Gaulle |
761,489 |
| 2 |  Moscow–Sheremetyevo |
637,566 |
| 3 |  Frankfurt |
500,603 |
| 4 |  Amsterdam Schiphol |
439,914 |
| 5 |  London–Heathrow |
412,661 |
| 6 |  Milan |
309,216 |
| 7 |  Barcelona |
271,762 |
| 8 | Rome–Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci |
262,183 |
| 9 |  Zürich |
257,802 |
| 10 |  Brussels |
250,118 |
| 11 |  Tel Aviv |
236,700 |
| 12 | Munich |
232,501 |
| 13 |  Copenhagen |
220,924 |
| 14 |  Dubai |
214,046 |
| 15 |  Antalya |
204,762 |
| Rank | Country | 2011 Passengers |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Germany |
1,162,114 passengers |
| 2 | Great Britain |
1,138,899 passengers |
| 3 | France |
1,017,899 passengers |
| 4 | Italy |
872,933 passengers |
| 5 | Russia |
856,849 passengers |
Other facilities
Czech Airlines has its head office, the APC Building,[36] on the grounds of Prague Airport.[37] On 30 December 2009 CSA announced that it will sell its head office to the airport for CZK 607 million.[38]
Travel Service Airlines and its low cost subsidiary Smart Wings have their head office on the airport property.[39][40]
In addition the Civil Aviation Authority also has its head office on the airport property.[41]
Ground transportation
Buses of DPP, the Prague Public Transit Co., stop at both terminals every 10 minutes:
- Bus No. 100 to Metro line B Zličín (18 min). Departures every 12–30 minutes 5:41-23:36.
- Bus No. 119 to Metro line A Nádraží Veleslavín (17 min). Departures every 5–20 minutes 4:23-23:44.
- Bus No. 191 to Metro line A Petřiny (24 min) and Metro line B Anděl (48 min). Departures every 24–40 minutes 4:57-23:11.
- Night bus No. 510 going via Arbesovo náměstí (36 min) and I. P. Pavlova (42 min). Departures from the airport every 30 minutes 23:57-3:57.
A Czech Railways public bus service, AE – AiportExpress, connects Terminals 1 and 2 with Praha hlavní nádraží every 30 minutes. The journey takes 40 to 50 minutes. Some local buses run from Prague to Kladno stop at Terminal 1. Also, Student Agency buses link Terminal 1 with Karlovy Vary.
Accidents and incidents
- On 30 October 1975, Inex-Adria Aviopromet Flight 450, an Douglas DC-9-32 hit high ground during an approach in fog to Prague Ruzyně Airport. 75 of the 120 passengers and crew on board were killed.[42]
- On 29 March 1989, two teenagers from Czechoslovakia armed with grenades and shotguns hijacked Malev Flight 640 at Prague Ruzyně Airport, and flew the Tupolev Tu-154B with 15 hostages to Frankfurt Airport before surrendering.[43]
See also
Notes
- ^ Number of passengers including domestic, international and transit
References
- ^ http://www.prg.aero/en/business-section/aviation-business/statistics-and-reports/prague-airport-traffic-reports/Contents.2/0/0BAB14AFB5EC185C5DC5C3D6DD3BF0C4/resource.pdf
- ^ a b EAD Basic. Ead.eurocontrol.int.
- ^ "Petition to name the Prague – Ruzyne airport Václav Havel International Airport". Retrieved 27 December 2011.
- ^ "Václav Havel International Airport". Retrieved 27 December 2011.
- ^ "Parallel runway". Retrieved 3 June 2015.
- ^ Petr Švec, "Letištní expres: cesta za 120 korun" in Mladá fronta DNES, 12 February 2009
- ^ "About Airport." Prague Airport. Retrieved on 25 February 2012.
- ^ "Contacts." Prague Airport. Retrieved on 25 February 2012. "Letiště Praha, a. s. K Letišti 6/1019, 160 08 Praha 6"
- ^ "Basic Information." Prague Airport. 14 August 2006. Retrieved on 25 February 2012. "Airport Operator: Airport Prague Its office registered at: Prague – Ruzyne Airport, 160 08 Prague 6"
- ^ "ZÁKLADNÍ INFORMACE." Prague Airport. 29 August 2006. Retrieved on 25 February 2012. "Provozovatel letiště: Letiště Praha s.p. Letiště Praha – Ruzyně, 160 08 Praha 6"
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "New destinations and carriers". prg.aero.
- ^ L, J (26 May 2015). "airBaltic Adds New Intra-European Sectors from late-Oct 2015". Airline Route. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
- ^ "Fix: Air Berlin setzt auf Saab 2000". austrianaviation.net. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
- ^ http://finance.yahoo.com/news/transat-introduces-european-destination-prague-132500311.html;_ylt=A2KLOzItWVBSDXwAuA7QtDMD
- ^ "Alitalia Resumes Milan Linate – Prague / Warsaw Service in S14". Retrieved 3 June 2015.
- ^ Drum, Bruce (3 October 2014). "Flydubai is coming to Bratislava, Prague and Sofia". WorldAirlineNews.com. Retrieved 17 December 2014.
- ^ Milan Hnátek. "Pegasus ještě nezačal létat a již vyvolal rozruch". ČeskoTurecko.cz. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
- ^ "Ryanair 20% off: cheap flights to Oslo from Wroclaw for €9! - RushFlights.com". Retrieved 3 June 2015.
- ^ "Severstal Air Adds Cherepovets – Prague Service in S15". Retrieved 3 June 2015.
- ^ a b "SmartWings Flight schedule". smartwings.com.
- ^ "SmartWings starts a new regular connection between Prague and London (Gatwick)". SmartWings. Retrieved 26 November 2014.
- ^ Плохотниченко, Юрий (16 January 2015). ""Трансаэро" начала продажу билетов на линии Москва - Прага". Travel.ru. TRAVEL.RU. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
- ^ "Wizz Air timetable". Wizz Air.
- ^ a b c Prague Airport Traffic Report 2005
- ^ 2002
- ^ Prague Airport Traffic Report 2003
- ^ Prague Airport Traffic Report 2006
- ^ Prague Airport Traffic Report 2007
- ^ Prague Airport Traffic Report 2008
- ^ Prague Airport Traffic Report 2009
- ^ Prague Airport Traffic Report 2010
- ^ Prague Airport Traffic Report 2011
- ^ Prague Airport Traffic Report 2012
- ^ a b Prague Airport Traffic Report 2013
- ^ Prague Airport Traffic Report December 2014
- ^ "The Settlement of Land Relations between Czech Airlines and the Prague Airport Authority to Increase the Value of Both Companies Prior to their Privatisation." Czech Airlines. 22 August 2008. Retrieved on 15 February 2010.
- ^ "Imprint." Czech Airlines. Retrieved on 4 February 2010. "Letiště Ruzyně Prague 6 160 08 Czech republic"
- ^ Heijmans, Philip. "Czech Airlines sells headquarters to Prague Airport." The Prague Post. 6 January 2010. Retrieved on 31 January 2014.
- ^ "Contacts." Travel Service Airlines. Retrieved on 14 November 2011. "Travel Service, a. s. K Letišti 1068/30 160 08 Prague 6 Czech Republic"
- ^ "Contact." Smart Wings. Retrieved on 19 February 2012. "Office at Prague airport K letisti 1068/30 160 08 Praha 6 Czech Republic"
- ^ Home page. Civil Aviation Authority. Retrieved on 25 February 2012. "Postal and visitor's address: Civil Aviation Authority Czech Republic Václav Havel Airport Prague 160 08 Praha 6"
- ^ PlaneCrashInfo.com. PlaneCrashInfo.com (23 October 1975).
- ^ "2 Czech Youths Hijack Jetliner to West Germany". Los Angeles Times. 30 March 1989. Retrieved 19 August 2010.
External links
Media related to Prague Ruzyně Airport at Wikimedia Commons
