Prague Airport is gearing up for a transformative expansion that goes beyond traditional aviation upgrades. Alongside a new parallel runway and terminal modernization, the airport is preparing the Airport City project, which aims to utilize surrounding land for a range of commercial, educational, and recreational facilities.
“There could be a hospital, hotels, a congress center, educational facilities, or sports facilities. There is also talk of a national stadium for football,” Martin Kučera, head of operations and security at Prague Airport, told Czech media outlet iDnes this morning.
A night-flight ban and new runway
A long-planned parallel runway will significantly enhance traffic safety and efficiency. The airport expects a zoning decision this year, with construction targeted for the middle of the next decade.
Kučera noted, “We will stop operations at night from midnight to 5:30 in the morning. At the same time, we will end operations on the existing secondary runway, which affects hundreds of thousands of residents in Prague.” The construction is expected to take three to three and a half years.
Terminal modernization and passenger comfort
Both Terminals 1 and 2 are set for capacity expansion, with improvements in passenger handling and long-haul flight infrastructure. New commercial areas will enhance service and comfort, while additional piers will allow more medium- and long-haul aircraft contact stands.
Kučera added that technological upgrades include CT X-ray machines, enabling passengers to leave electronics and liquids in their luggage, with potential to lift the 100-milliliter liquid limit. Self-service check-in is also expanding, now supporting 13 carriers.
The new Skywalk and new-look parking
Future parking buildings will accommodate electric vehicles and streamline public and coach transport, using advanced IT for occupancy monitoring and security. A Skywalk along Aviatická Street will provide passengers with an unobstructed connection between terminals and parking areas, ensuring safer and smoother movement in the public space.
A quicker journey to the center
The airport is working toward a direct railway connection to Prague’s city center by 2030, with a 25-minute journey expected. The underground station at Terminal 2 will be the first of its kind in the Czech Republic. Electrification of the 119 bus line connecting Nádraží Veleslavín to the airport is also underway.
New cultural, residential offerings
Prague Airport’s Airport City will also feature public green spaces, retail promenades, and cultural venues designed to serve travelers and residents alike. Plans include sports facilities open to the public, a congress center for international events, and dedicated innovation hubs for aviation and logistics companies.
The reclaimed land from the secondary runway will allow for mixed-use developments that combine commercial, educational, and recreational functions. These additions aim to create an environment where passengers, employees, and visitors can work, learn, and relax without leaving the airport premises.