Prague’s Václav Havel Airport experienced a robust summer season, processing nearly 11.5 million passengers — a 7.7% increase compared to the same period last year. While still around three percent below pre-pandemic levels from 2019, the figures mark a steady resurgence in international travel and tourism.
The summer operational season, defined from late March through the end of October, showed airport traffic approaching normality after years of turbulence in air travel. According to Jiří Vyskoč, Executive Director of Aviation Business Development, the airport’s growth reflects renewed traveler confidence and expanded route offerings. “We can see passengers returning, and the network of destinations from Prague continues to grow,” he noted during a press conference in Prague.
Compared with last year, the number of destinations served from the Czech capital rose from 164 to 167. The United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Greece, and Turkey topped the list of most popular routes, illustrating strong European leisure demand. The mix of passengers also shifted, with international arrivals outpacing Czech travelers more significantly than before.
“For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic, we observed a modest dominance of foreign travelers last year; this year, the trend has strengthened,” Vyskoč said. The proportion of international passengers rose by 1.4 percentage points to 54.5%, while domestic travelers now make up 45.5%.
From January through October, the airport handled nearly 15 million travelers in total — up 7.8% from the same period last year. Foreign visitors comprised 56.3% of passengers, underscoring Prague’s continuing appeal as a gateway to Central Europe and one of the region’s key tourism hubs.
Looking ahead, Václav Havel Airport intends to further expand its reach during the winter schedule. Running from October 26 to March 28, the winter timetable includes flights to 127 destinations, 15 of them new. The total number of offered flights will climb by 12% to around 45,000, highlighting the airport’s commitment to growth and resilience amid rapidly evolving travel patterns.