Czech airports surpass pre-pandemic passenger record as 2025 data show business travel rebound

Fresh figures released by the Czech Statistical Office and reported on 8 April reveal that the country’s airports handled their highest ever number of passengers in 2025. Václav Havel Airport Prague alone welcomed more than 17 million travellers, eclipsing its 2019 peak, while regional gateways in Brno, Ostrava and Karlovy Vary also posted double-digit growth. Analysts attribute the surge to a renaissance in European business travel, the expansion of low-cost and full-service carriers to secondary Czech cities, and newly restored long-haul links to Asia and North America. Corporate travel buyers say the rebound has materially improved connectivity for expatriate employees and visiting project teams. Prague now offers at least twice-daily frequencies to major hubs such as Frankfurt, Paris-CDG and Amsterdam, enabling same-day return trips that were impossible during the pandemic slump. Regional airports have lured point-to-point services to Milan, London and Tel Aviv, reducing the need for lengthy ground transfers to Prague.



Before booking those newly added flights, international passengers should verify visa requirements. VisaHQ, an online visa and passport services platform, streamlines applications for entry into the Czech Republic and dozens of other destinations—see https://www.visahq.com/czech-republic/ for details—saving corporate travel teams time and avoiding last-minute border surprises.

Higher volumes, however, are testing infrastructure. Prague Airport’s security lanes regularly exceed a 15-minute wait at morning peaks, and car-hire desks report inventory shortages. The airport operator has accelerated its Terminal 2 expansion, promising eight additional Schengen gates and a new centralised security hall by summer 2027. In the interim, mobility managers are advising travellers to arrive at least two hours before departure and to consider off-site park-and-ride services. The government views the traffic milestone as validation of its ‘Czechia Unlimited’ tourism and investment promotion, but sustainability groups warn of rising emissions. The Ministry of Transport is exploring an air-rail combined ticketing scheme to shift short-haul domestic legs onto trains, mirroring Lufthansa’s "Express Rail" concept. For multinational companies the figures signal that Prague has reclaimed its role as a Central-European aviation hub, improving access for regional HQ relocations and short-term assignments. HR teams planning summer transfers should nevertheless monitor seat availability and peak-season fare spikes.