Year 2013 marks a round anniversary for both the Prague Airport and Czech Airlines (ÈSA). While the airport construction commenced on July 24th, 1933, the ÈSA inaugural flight from Prague to Bratislava was celebrated already on October 29th, 1923 on board of Aero A-14 aircraft. The picture taken 90 years later in the summer of 2013 shows ÈSA Airbus A319, bearing the anniversary logo, talking off from Prague on a regular route to Moscow.
Growing significance of the UAE as a transfer hub for journeys from Europe to Asia became recently apparent even in Prague. The regular route to Dubai, operated by Emirates since July 1st, 2010, is currently operated every day by Boeing 777. Dubai ranked #14 among the 2012 most frequent destinations of the Prague Airport.
Upon a March 13th, 2013 government decision, the Czech Republic sold a minority 44% share in Czech Airlines to Korean Air. The picture shows a Korean Boeing 747-400, lining up runway 12 of the Prague airport in a warm afternoon sun. The Incheon Airport of Seoul is just 11 hours away for the largest plane flying into Prague during the 2013 summer season.
Prague Airport has become an important international airport in the Central European region since its opening in April 1937. It serves more than 90 % of all passengers in the Czech Republic, offers direct flights to 111 destinations all over the world and almost 11 million people used its services in 2012.
New parallel runway and high capacity railway connection to the city centre are the two most important projects for the future development of Václav Havel Airport in Prague. While the number of passengers grew almost five times over the past 30 years, the buses of the Prague public transport system still remain the only public transport connection to the airport.
