Václav Havel Airport Prague
Václav Havel Airport Prague Letiště Václava Havla Praha | |||||||||||||||
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Summary | |||||||||||||||
Airport type | Public | ||||||||||||||
Operator | Letiště Praha, Ltd. | ||||||||||||||
Serves | Prague, Kladno | ||||||||||||||
Location | Ruzyně | ||||||||||||||
Hub for | Czech Airlines | ||||||||||||||
Focus city for | |||||||||||||||
Time zone | CET (UTC+01:00) | ||||||||||||||
• Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+02:00) | ||||||||||||||
Elevation AMSL | 1,234 ft / 376 m | ||||||||||||||
Coordinates | 50°06′03″N 014°15′36″E / 50.10083°N 14.26000°ECoordinates: 50°06′03″N 014°15′36″E / 50.10083°N 14.26000°E | ||||||||||||||
Website | prg.aero | ||||||||||||||
Map | |||||||||||||||
LKPR Location in the Czech Republic | |||||||||||||||
Runways | |||||||||||||||
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Helipads | |||||||||||||||
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Statistics (2017) | |||||||||||||||
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Václav Havel Airport Prague (Czech: Letiště Václava Havla Praha), formerly Prague Ruzyně International Airport (Czech: Mezinárodní letiště Praha-Ruzyně, Czech pronunciation: [ˈpraɦa ˈruzɪɲɛ]), (IATA: PRG, ICAO: LKPR), is the international airport of Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic. The airport was founded in 1937, when it replaced the Kbely Airport (founded in 1918), it was reconstructed and extended in 1956, 1968, 1997 and 2006. It is located in the edge of Prague-Ruzyně area, next to Kněževes village, 12 km (7 mi) west of the centre of Prague[3] and 12 km (7 mi) southeast of the city Kladno.
In 2017 it served over 15 million passengers (expecting 17 million in 2018). It serves as a hub for Czech Airlines as well as a base for Travel Service including its subsidiary brand SmartWings, and is also a base for low-cost carrier - Ryanair. The airport is able to handle wide-body aircraft including the largest passenger airliner Airbus A380 or Boeing 747.
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 Kbely Airport by the mid-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 Adolf Benš.[4]
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.
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 stood in for Miami International Airport in the 2006 James Bond film Casino Royale.
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.[5] 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.[6] 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
As the capacity of the airport has been reaching its limit for the last couple of years (as of 2005), further development of the airport is being considered. Besides regular repairs of the existing runways, Prague Airport (Czech: Letiště Praha s.p.) 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 many legal problems and the 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.[7]
It will be over 3,500 m (11,483 ft) long. Located about 1,500 m (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.[8]
General runway reconstruction
The main runway 06/24 was reconstructed from 2012 - 2013 due to poor technical conditions. During reconstruction, runway 12/30 was the only usable runway as runway 04/22 is closed permanently.[9] The runway reconstruction was originally planned for three stages. The first stage in 2012, the second stage in 2013 and the last stage in 2014. However, runway 12/30 (which would be used during the reconstruction of the main runway) is not equipped for low visibility landings as it offers only ILS CAT I landings. In addition, the approach path of runway 12/30 goes above high-density population areas (such as Prague 6 and Kladno). Therefore, the second and the third stage of the runway reconstruction had to be merged so the works could be finished in 2013.[10][11]
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 1968 and rebuilt 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.[12]
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.[3][9] 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.[13] The head office of Prague Airport is in Prague 6.[14] The former state-owned enterprise had its head office on the airport property.[15][16]
Airlines and destinations
Passenger
In summer season 2017, 66 airlines fly to 154 destinations in Europe, Asia, Africa and North America from Prague Airport. It has 10 passenger airlines regularly flying widebody aircraft here, including daily service of Airbus A380 Emirates or Boeing 747-8i Korean Air 4 times a week from Seoul–Incheon.[17] The following airlines operate regular scheduled and charter flights to and from Prague:[18][19]
Cargo
Airlines | Destinations |
---|---|
Air Cargo Global | Hong Kong, Turkmenbashi |
ASL Airlines Belgium | Brno, Katowice, Liège |
ASL Airlines Ireland | Paris–Charles de Gaulle |
China Airlines Cargo | Abu Dhabi, Amsterdam, Bangkok–Suvarnabhumi, Luxembourg, Taipei–Taoyuan |
Genex | Minsk |
UPS Airlines | Cologne/Bonn |
Qatar Airways Cargo | Budapest, Doha |
Silk Way Airlines | Baku, Hong Kong |
Turkish Airlines Cargo | Seasonal: Istanbul–Atatürk, Riga |
Statistics
Annual passenger numbers
handled[lower-alpha 1] |
% Change |
(tonnes) |
% Change | |
---|---|---|---|---|
2001[54] | 6,098,742 | 29,571 | ||
2002[55] | 6,314,653 | 34,829 | ||
2003[56] | 7,463,120 | 41,440 | ||
2004[54] | 9,696,413 | 46,885 | ||
2005[54] | 10,777,020 | 46,002 | ||
2006[57] | 11,581,511 | 54,972 | ||
2007[58] | 12,436,254 | 55,179 | ||
2008[59] | 12,630,557 | 47,870 | ||
2009[60] | 11,643,366 | 42,476 | ||
2010[61] | 11,556,858 | 58,275 | ||
2011[62] | 11,788,629 | 62,688 | ||
2012[63] | 10,807,890 | 52,977 | ||
2013[64] | 10,974,196 | 51,902 | ||
2014[65] | 11,149,926 | 50,897 | ||
2015[66] | 12,030,928 | 50,595 | ||
2016[67] | 13,074,517 | 71,091 | ||
2017[68] | 15,415,001 | 81,879 |
It was the 37th busiest airport in Europe in 2017 and the second busiest (after Warsaw Chopin Airport) in the newer EU member states.
Busiest routes
The top 15 destinations in 2017 were:[69]
Rank | Airport | Passengers handled |
---|---|---|
1 | 748,955 | |
2 | 744,312 | |
3 | 658,694 | |
4 | 521,008 | |
5 | 469,495 | |
6 | 440,370 | |
7 | 437,456 | |
8 | 330,142 | |
9 | 327,557 | |
10 | 326,412 | |
11 | 320,896 | |
12 | 318,366 | |
13 | 295,687 | |
14 | 272,460 | |
15 | 271,546 |
Rank | Country | 2011 Passengers |
---|---|---|
1 | 1,162,114 passengers | |
2 | 1,138,899 passengers | |
3 | 1,017,899 passengers | |
4 | 872,933 passengers | |
5 | 856,849 passengers |
Other facilities
Czech Airlines has its head office, the APC Building,[70] on the grounds of Prague Airport.[71] On 30 December 2009 CSA announced that it will sell its head office to the airport for CZK 607 million.[72]
Travel Service Airlines and its low cost subsidiary Smart Wings have their head office on the airport property.[73][74]
In addition the Civil Aviation Authority also has its head office on the airport property.[75]
Ground transportation
Buses of DPP, the Prague Public Transit Co., stop at both terminals 1 and 2 frequently.
A Czech Railways public bus service, AE – AirportExpress, connects Terminal 1 with Praha hlavní nádraží.
From bus station in front of Terminal 1 there are also regular buses to Kladno, intercity buses of Regiojet run every 30–60 minutes to Karlovy Vary and Cheb.
There are plans to build a rail connection to the airport. Preliminary work commenced in 2018, with main construction likely to start around 2023.[76] [77]
Accidents and incidents
- On 19 February 1973, Aeroflot Flight 141, during approach a Tupolev Tu-154 crashed half a kilometre short of the airport. While most of the passengers survived the crash many died in the fire that followed. Altogether 66 people died from the 100 passengers and crew. The crash was the first loss of and the first fatal accident involving a Tu-154.[78]
- On 30 October 1975, Inex-Adria Aviopromet Flight 450, a 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.[79]
- On 29 March 1989, two teenagers from Czechoslovakia armed with grenades and shotguns hijacked Malév Flight 640 at Prague Ruzyně Airport, and flew the Tupolev Tu-154B with 15 hostages to West German Frankfurt Airport before surrendering.[80]
See also
Notes
- ↑ Number of passengers including domestic, international and transit
References
- ↑ "K 13 milionům letišti pomohly větší a obsazenější letadla i novinky v nabídce destinací | Letiště Václava Havla Praha, Ruzyně". Prg.aero. Archived from the original on 31 January 2017. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
- ↑ "Václav Havel Airport Prague Exceeds 12 Million Passengers Handled a Year | Václav Havel Airport Prague, Ruzyně". Prg.aero. Retrieved 2017-03-29.
- 1 2 3 "AIP Czech Republic Praha/Ruzyně" (PDF). Retrieved 2 April 2017.
- ↑ Oxford Index, from A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture in Oxford Reference. Retrieved 2017-07-23
- ↑ "Letiště Václava Havla". Vaclavhavelairport.com. Retrieved 2017-03-29.
- ↑ "Blogy a názory - Aktuálně.cz » Chyba!". Blog.aktualne.centrum.cz. Retrieved 2017-03-29.
- ↑ "Parallel runway | Václav Havel Airport Prague, Ruzyně". Prg.aero. Retrieved 2017-03-29.
- ↑ "Předplatné MF DNES". Zpravy.idnes.cz. 2009-08-17. Retrieved 2017-03-29.
- 1 2 Aerodrome Chart - ICAO
- ↑ "Generální oprava | Letiště Václava Havla Praha, Ruzyně". Prg.aero. Retrieved 2017-03-29.
- ↑ "Main Runway at Václav Havel Airport Prague Now Back in Service | Václav Havel Airport Prague, Ruzyně". Prg.aero. 2013-09-30. Retrieved 2017-03-29.
- ↑ "Jak se začalo létat z našeho největšího letiště a co ho čeká do budoucna". iDNES.cz. 5 April 2017.
- ↑ "About us | Václav Havel Airport Prague, Ruzyně". Prg.aero. 2008-12-01. Retrieved 2017-03-29.
- ↑ "Contacts | Václav Havel Airport Prague, Ruzyně". Prg.aero. Retrieved 2017-03-29.
- ↑ "Airport Prague - Basic information". Web.archive.org. 14 August 2006. Archived from the original on 14 August 2006. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
- ↑ "Letiště Praha, s.p. - Základní informace". Web.archive.org. 29 August 2006. Archived from the original on 29 August 2006. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
- ↑ "Prague Airport summer season 2017 infographics". www.prg.aero (in Czech). Retrieved 2017-03-26.
- ↑ "Route map and Timetable | Letiště Václava Havla Praha, Ruzyně". Prg.aero. Retrieved 2017-03-29.
- ↑ "Airlines and destinations | Vaclav Havel Airport Prague, Ruzyne". prg.aero.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "New destinations and carriers". prg.aero.
- ↑
- ↑ http://news.aa.com/press-releases/press-release-details/2017/American-Airlines-Announces-New-Flights-to-Europe/default.aspx?sf106407158=1
- ↑ "Rumunský Blue Air od 15.6. z Tel Avivu do Prahy". planes.cz. 2017-06-02. Retrieved 2017-06-02.
- ↑ http://www.prg.aero/cs/aktuality/aktuality/praha-ziska-nove-dalkove-spojeni-do-cinskeho-si-anu/
- ↑ "Flight timetable". cyprusairways.com. Cyprus Airways. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
- ↑ Liu, Jim (7 March 2018). "Cyprus Airways expands planned Prague service in 3Q18". Routesonline. Retrieved 7 March 2018.
- 1 2 "CSA Czech Airlines S17 Europe service additions". Routesonline.com. Retrieved 2017-03-29.
- ↑ "CSA Czech Airlines Adds Kazan Service from late-April 2016". Airline Route. 3 February 2016. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
- ↑ http://platov.aero/raspisanie_reysov
- ↑ https://ec.europa.eu/transport/sites/transport/files/modes/air/internal_market/doc/pso_inventory_table.pdf
- ↑ "CSA Czech Airlines Adds New European Service in S16". Routesonline.com. Retrieved 2017-03-29.
- ↑ https://www.belfastairport.com/blog-news/2018/july/easyjet-announces-three-new-routes-from-belfast-international-airport
- ↑ "easyJet to Launch Venice Base in 2016". Routesonline.com. Retrieved 2017-03-29.
- ↑ "Israel's El Al to drop UP budget brand". ch-aviation.com. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
- ↑ https://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/280688/stobart-air-scales-back-london-southend-service-in-w18/?highlight=flybe
- ↑ Drum, Bruce (3 October 2014). "Flydubai is coming to Bratislava, Prague and Sofia". WorldAirlineNews.com. Retrieved 17 December 2014.
- ↑ Liu, Jim (2 March 2017). "Georgian Airways schedules new routes in S17". Routesonline. Retrieved 2 March 2017.
- ↑ "Hainan Airlines schedules Belgrade Sep 2017 launch". routesonline. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
- ↑ "Luxair Resumes Prague Service from late-Mar 2016". Routesonline.com. Retrieved 2017-03-29.
- ↑ "Norwegian spustí novou linku do Göteborgu". Prg.aero. Retrieved 7 March 2018.
- ↑ Milan Hnátek. "Pegasus ještě nezačal létat a již fvyvolal rozruch". ČeskoTurecko.cz. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
- ↑ https://www.qatarairways.com/en/press-releases/2017/July/qatar-airways-accelerates-its-global-expansion-with-the-launch-o.html?activeTag=Press-releases#
- ↑ http://www.prg.aero/cs/aktuality/aktuality/letecka-spolecnost-rusline-otevre-novou-linku-kaliningrad-praha/
- ↑ Liu, Jim (2 November 2017). "RusLine adds Kaliningrad routes in W17". Routesonline. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
- ↑ "Ryanair Launches Record Prague Summer 19 Schedule". Ryanair. Retrieved 2018-09-26.
- ↑ "Sichuan Airlines Scheduled Prague Service from Aug 2016". routesonline. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
- ↑ https://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/277880/sichuan-airlines-schedules-zurich-launch-in-late-june-2018/
- ↑ "Smartwings S16 New Routes as of 22APR16". Routesonline.com. Retrieved 2017-03-29.
- ↑ https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/flights/todayinthesky/2018/08/30/united-airlines-europe-flights-prague-naples/1139537002/
- ↑ "Ural Airlines schedules new Moscow Zhukovsky – Europe routes from Dec 2018". routesonline.com. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
- ↑ "Volotea Adds New Routes in S16". Routesonline.com. Retrieved 2017-03-29.
- ↑ "Volotea Continues to Roll Out New Routes in S16". Routesonline.com. Retrieved 2017-03-29.
- ↑ "Vueling Adds Paris CDG Base from May 2016". Routesonline.com. Retrieved 2017-03-29.
- 1 2 3 "Airport: Praha-Ruzyne NUMBER OF PASSENGERS" (PDF). Prg.aero. Retrieved 2017-03-29.
- ↑ "Airport: Prague-Ruzyne, NUMBER OF AIRCRAFT MOVEMENTS" (PDF). Prg.aero. Retrieved 2017-03-30.
- ↑ "Airport: Praha-Ruzyne NUMBER OF AIRCRAFT MOVEMENTS" (PDF). Prg.aero. Retrieved 2017-03-30.
- ↑ "Prague Airport Traffic Report 2006" (PDF). Prg.aero. Retrieved 2017-03-29.
- ↑ "Prague Airport Traffic Report 2007" (PDF). Prg.aero. Retrieved 2017-03-29.
- ↑ "Prague Airport Traffic Report 2008" (PDF). Prg.aero. Retrieved 2017-03-29.
- ↑ "Prague Airport Traffic Report 2009" (PDF). Prg.aero. Retrieved 2017-03-29.
- ↑ "Prague Airport Traffic Report 2010" (PDF). Prg.aero. Retrieved 2017-03-29.
- ↑ "Prague Airport Traffic Report 2011" (PDF). Prg.aero. Retrieved 2017-03-29.
- ↑ "Prague Airport Traffic Report 2012" (PDF). Prg.aero. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 March 2016. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
- ↑ "Prague Airport Traffic Report 2013" (PDF). Prg.aero. Retrieved 2017-03-29.
- ↑ "Prague Airport Traffic Report December 2014" (PDF). Prg.aero. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 March 2016. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
- ↑ "Prague Airport Traffic Report December 2015" (PDF). Prg.aero. Retrieved 2017-03-29.
- ↑ "Prague Airport Traffic Report December 2016" (PDF). Prg.aero. Retrieved 2017-03-29.
- ↑ "Prague Airport Traffic Reports | Václav Havel Airport Prague, Ruzyně" (PDF). prg.aero.
- ↑ "Traffic Report 2017" (PDF). Prg.aero. Retrieved 2018-02-16.
- ↑ "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 Archived 1 April 2010 at the Wayback Machine.." Czech Airlines. Retrieved on 4 February 2010. "Letiště Ruzyně Prague 6 160 08 Czech republic"
- ↑ Heijmans, Philip. "Czech Airlines sells headquarters to Prague Airport Archived 2 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine.." 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 Archived 20 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine.." 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"
- ↑ http://www.railjournal.com/index.php/europe/prague-airport-rail-link-plan-finalised.html
- ↑ http://www.radio.cz/en/section/business/rail-connection-to-prague-airport-comes-step-closer
- ↑ Accident description for Cccp-85023 at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on 2016-12-31.
- ↑ "Accident Details : Cairns Airport : Commair". Planecrashinfo.com. 23 October 1975. Retrieved 2017-03-30.
- ↑ "2 Czech Youths Hijack Jetliner to West Germany". Los Angeles Times. 30 March 1989. Retrieved 19 August 2010.