Who Owns Prague Airport?

By Alice Nichols

Prague Airport is the main international airport in the Czech Republic, located about 10 kilometers west of the city center. It serves as a hub for Czech Airlines and Ryanair, among other airlines. But who owns Prague Airport?

Ownership Structure

Prague Airport is owned by a company called Letiště Praha, which translates to Prague Airport in English. Letiště Praha is a joint-stock company that is 100% owned by the Ministry of Finance of the Czech Republic.

History

The history of Prague Airport dates back to 1937 when it was opened as a military airport. In 1947, it was converted into a civilian airport and started serving commercial flights. The airport underwent major renovations and expansions in the 1950s and 1960s to accommodate increasing air traffic.

In 1995, Letiště Praha was established as a state-owned company to manage and operate Prague Airport. Since then, the airport has undergone several modernizations and upgrades to meet international standards.

Recent Developments

In recent years, Prague Airport has seen significant growth in passenger traffic. In 2019, it handled over 17 million passengers, making it one of the busiest airports in Central Europe.

To meet this growing demand, Letiště Praha has invested heavily in expanding and upgrading the airport’s infrastructure. In 2020, a new terminal extension called Terminal 2E was opened to handle non-Schengen flights.

The Future

Letiště Praha has ambitious plans for the future development of Prague Airport. One of its key goals is to increase capacity to handle up to 21 million passengers per year by 2025.

To achieve this goal, Letiště Praha plans to invest over CZK 16 billion (approximately $700 million) in expanding and upgrading the airport’s facilities. This includes building a new runway and taxiways, expanding Terminal 2, and improving ground transportation links to the airport.

Conclusion

In summary, Prague Airport is owned by Letiště Praha, a state-owned company that is 100% owned by the Ministry of Finance of the Czech Republic. The airport has a rich history and has undergone significant modernization in recent years to meet growing demand. With ambitious plans for future expansion, Prague Airport is set to remain a key aviation hub in Central Europe for years to come.