Our Review of Prague Airport (PRG)

Our Review of Prague Airport (PRG)

All the information featured on this page was compiled and written by David Enrich, a renowned expert in aviation and airport guides, since 1999.

At Plan Your Trips, we have analyzed hundreds of airports around the world, gaining a clear understanding of what users expect when visiting an airport. With this know-how, we have created this guide, placing passengers at the forefront of everything, aiming to simplify and enhance the airport experience.

In this Guide, our goal is to present information in a manner that is both quick and reliable. Recognizing that passengers often have limited time and may be in a hurry, we strive to ensure that they do not waste time unnecessarily.

Another key focus of our guide is to highlight the strengths of the airport and also the weaknesses, and in some cases, offer recommendations to travelers. In alignment with this approach, we provide users with aggregated information on delays and on-time performance, analyzing both airlines and individual flights.

Pros and Cons of Prague Airport (PRG)

Pros

• The airport is very close to the city center, with efficient and affordable public transport options like buses and the Airport Express, making transfers quick and easy.
• Facilities are modern, clean, and well-organized, with clear signage and recently upgraded terminals.
• Short-term parking is conveniently located just steps from the terminals, and the first 15 minutes are free, which is useful for quick drop-offs or pick-ups.
• There are a variety of transfer options (shared, private, taxi, shuttle), allowing travelers to choose based on budget and comfort.
• The airport has been expanding its network, recently opening new direct routes to destinations like Toronto, Abu Dhabi, and Seoul, and increasing frequencies on existing routes.

Cons 

• Airport fees and total ticket prices are often higher than those at nearby airports like Vienna or Warsaw, making it less attractive for price-sensitive travelers.
• The number of direct international connections is more limited compared to major hubs in the region, which can require more layovers for some destinations.
• Prague lacks a strong national carrier, impacting the availability and competitiveness of some routes, especially long-haul flights.
• Security for non-Schengen flights is performed at the gate after passport control, which can cause confusion and delays for some passengers.
• Recovery after the pandemic has been slower than at competing airports, and the loss of key routes to Russia and Ukraine has reduced overall connectivity.

 

Mini-Guide of the Airport (2' Guide)

Prague Airport (PRG) is the main international airport of the Czech Republic, located about 17 km from the city center. It has two main passenger terminals:

• Terminal 1: For flights outside the Schengen Area (intercontinental and some European flights).
• Terminal 2: For flights within the Schengen Area (mainly intra-European).

The airport is modern, accessible, and offers numerous services including free Wi-Fi, shops, restaurants, lounges, and even a small cinema in Terminal 2.

Getting to Prague City Center

Public Transport:

• Bus 119 + Metro Line A: Bus 119 connects both terminals to Nádraží Veleslavín metro station in about 15 minutes. From there, metro line A takes you to the city center in another 10–15 minutes.
• Bus 100 + Metro Line B: Bus 100 connects to Zličín metro station (line B).
• Airport Express (AE) Bus: Direct bus to Prague’s main train station (Hlavní nádraží) in about 33 minutes, running from 5:30 AM to 10:30 PM. Ticket price is about 60 CZK (~€2.50), purchased onboard.
• Night Bus 910: Runs between 00:15 and 05:00, connecting to I.P. Pavlova station.

Taxi and Private Transfers:

• Official taxis are available outside arrivals but can be expensive (~€30–50) and sometimes unreliable. Use licensed companies like Taxi Praha.
• Private transfers can be booked in advance for a fixed price (~€33–35), offering door-to-door service and convenience, especially with luggage or late arrivals.

Parking Options

• Short-term parking (P1 and P2 Express): Located right outside Terminals 1 and 2, first 15 minutes free, then 100 CZK per 30 minutes.
• Long-term parking (PB Economy, PC Comfort, PA Smart Parking): Outdoor and multi-storey lots 1–3 minutes walk from terminals, with daily rates around 80 CZK/hour or fixed rates for multiple days (approx. 990–1290 CZK for 8 days).
• Online booking is recommended for better prices and guaranteed spots.

Additional Tips

• Buy and validate public transport tickets before boarding to avoid fines.
• Airport shops and restaurants offer local products and cuisine; try Czech beer or pastries while waiting.
• The airport has good accessibility features for travelers with reduced mobility.
• For families, there are play areas and baby changing facilities in both terminals.
• Use the airport terraces for plane spotting and great views of runways.

How we calculate On Time Performance

On various pages of our website, you will encounter a metric widely utilized in aviation and other forms of transportation known as OTP (On Time Performance). We believe that providing this metric assists passengers in planning their trips and exploring alternatives before purchasing their flight tickets.

We calculate the On Time Performance for all flights and airlines, when we have enough data to do so. In certain instances, it may not be feasible to accurately compute the On-Time Performance for a specific flight or airline due to inadequate or non-representative data, which could result in misleading conclusions.

Our calculation of On Time Performance and delay information solely relies on arrival times. This approach is chosen over calculating departure delays, as we consider arrival punctuality to be of primary concern to passengers.

The On Time Performance displayed on our website is calculated as follows:

• On Time: Flights that arrive within 15 minutes of their scheduled arrival time, or earlier. In the absence of data for a specific flight, we assume the flight arrives on time, to avoid penalizing airlines for data unavailability.
• Moderate Delay: Flights that arrive with a delay of 15 to 30 minutes.
• Significant Delay: Flights that arrive with a delay of 30 to 60 minutes.
• Major Delay: Flights that arrive with a delay exceeding 60 minutes.
• Average Delay: The average delay is calculated by considering flights that arrive early as having a delay of 0 minutes. Early arrivals do not contribute to reducing the average delay calculation

Some Stats

Airlines with more flight operations (last 3 months)

Airlines with best on-time performance at Prague Airport (last 3 months)

Routes with more flights from Prague Airport (last month)