Prague Airport on the path to the future: capacity, new flight routes, shops, customised parking3/10/2023|Press releasesFaster check-in, better service, customised parking or new direct connections. Prague Airport can finally present its development plans for the next years after the pandemic crisis. Passengers can look forward to a more comfortable travel experience even on the way to the airport. More than 90 percent of the Czech population supports the new plans. The airport development will bring 200 direct connections, 37 long-haul routes and 10 000 parking spaces until 2030. And last but not least, the airport will be carbon neutral. Jiří Pos, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Prague Airport, says that the airport will develop on the principles of sustainability, innovation and comprehensiveness. "We are pleased that the Ministry of Finance has approved the update of our long-term development concept and strategy, which includes the plan to develop the airport's capacity as one of its main pillars. We estimate the cost of the first phase at CZK 32 billion and I would like to stress in this context that no development project will be financed by taxpayers. All visions and plans will be implemented from our finances." According to the Minister of Finance Zbyněk Stanjura, Prague Airport plays a crucial role not only in the development of tourism but of the entire economy. "That is why we fully support the development of Václav Havel Airport Prague. It will contribute to new investments, make us richer and develepe international trade. I am very happy that after the crisis management, the company management can proceed with the concept for the next years. The airport management has revised the development plans and the proposed strategy has been approved by the Ministry of Finance." Transport minister Martin Kupka adds that expanding terminal capacity, new air connections and increasing passenger numbers will not be possible without good connections to the centre of Prague. "Trains from Prague to the airport should start running in 2030, which is in line with the plans for further development of Václav Havel Airport Prague. We also want the new line from the Masarykovo nádraží station to the airport to be connected to Prague's main railway station. Our goal is to better connect long-haul trains to future airport traffic. The Ministry of Transport is thus ready to contribute to the development and increased competitiveness of Václav Havel Airport Prague." Václav Havel Airport Prague will be a competitive air port that carefully follows new trends and will offer: convenient transport connection with the centre of Prague and the catchment area of the Czech Republic (high-capacity trolleybus connection from 2024 and train connection from 2030) sufficient passenger and aircraft handling capacity (2029-2033) fast check-in processes (partly from 2024) new direct routes for Czech citizens, interesting connections for foreign passengers (gradually already now) expanded offer of shops, restaurants, services including parking and accommodation (gradually this year and during 2024) THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE AIRPORT UNTIL 2030 WILL BRING: 200 direct connections (now 160) 37 long-distance lines (now 21) 10 000 parking spaces (now 6 500) 16 000 sqm of shops and restaurants (now 11 000) 600 hotel rooms (now 380) 10 500 sqm of lounges (now 2100) On top of this, over 90 percent of the Czechs surveyed support the need for Prague Airport development. In a survey done by Median for Prague Airport in August this year, the most important aspects of the airport are the building of transport infrastructure, its modernisation and digitalisation, expansion of air connections to new destinations, sustainable development and the development of operational capacities. And this was also confirmed by Josef Fišer, Sales and Marketing Director of Median. "A total of 89 percent of respondents support the development of air travel, up 7 percentage points from 2019." There were 2042 respondents aged 18-65 participating in the survey. Expansion of terminal capacity The development and expansion of the terminals will increase capacity to 21.2 million passengers and double the peak hour capacity. Martin Kučera, Executive Director of Airport Operations, also talks about the Central Security Checkpoint at Terminal 1. "This will improve passenger convenience, enable more efficient use of capacity and move part of the Schengen traffic to Terminal 1. The expansion of Terminal 2 capacity will ensure multi-functional operation and flexibility in both Schengen and non-Schengen modes. In addition to this, individual carriers will have only one specific terminal assigned to check-in at any given time, improving passenger orientation." A carbon neutral airport As part of its development plans, Prague Airport also considers sustainability and continuously reduces CO2 emissions in accordance with the terms of the Airport Carbon Accreditation programme. The airport will be carbon neutral and species diverse by 2030. At the same time, we will reduce noise pollution. By 2025, five hundred apartments/houses will be equipped with ventilation and we will continuously update noise protection measures with an emphasis on night traffic. All information is already available on the special website https://letisteprobudoucnost.cz/.