In a year filled with recovery efforts from the COVID-19 pandemic, Prague’s Václav Havel Airport saw a significant increase in passenger traffic. In 2023, the airport served 13.8 million passengers, a 29% increase from the previous year. This number represents 78% of the total passengers handled in 2019 before the pandemic.
At the beginning of last year, it was estimated that the airport would serve approximately 12.5 million passengers by 2023. This prediction was exceeded by more than 1.3 million. The airport announced this in a press release, underscoring its successful recovery efforts in challenging circumstances.
The airport offered flights to 167 destinations in 2021, served by 69 carriers. Additionally, it added more than 30 new or restored routes to its roster. Czech Republic’s air traffic increased by 13% compared to the previous year, reaching 73% of its pre-pandemic level in 2019.
According to Jiří Pos, Chairman of the Board of Prague Airport, 190 destinations were served in the record year of 2019. Last year, several routes were restored or launched, such as Korean Air returning to South Korea’s Seoul and China Airlines beginning flights from Prague to Taiwan.
Last year’s most popular destinations were the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Turkey, and France. The most frequently used direct route was between Prague and London, with 1.1 million passengers. Paris followed with nearly 700,000 passengers, and Milan took third place with 545,000 passengers.
In 2022, the airport aims to serve 15.5 million passengers and offer more than 170 destinations. Currently, the airport has confirmed eight new destinations. This demonstrates the resilience and growth of Prague’s Václav Havel Airport as it continues to expand and adapt in a post-pandemic world.