Prague Airport to increase departing passenger fees by 6 percent

Prague Airport has announced a 6 percent increase in departing passenger fees, effective next year. The board approved the hike to mitigate rising energy costs and inflation. The fee per departing passenger will rise by 41 CZK, moving from 682 CZK to 723 CZK.

Industry representatives from the Association of Czech Travel Agencies and Tour Operators noted that while the increase is relatively small and unlikely to drastically impact tour package prices, it will ultimately be passed on to consumers through higher ticket costs. There are concerns that the increase could affect low-cost carriers, who are highly sensitive to cost changes, potentially leading to reduced flight offerings or passengers choosing alternative airports.

Martin Kupka, chairman of the Civic Democratic Party (ODS), criticized the decision, comparing the move to past management failures at Czech Airlines. He warned that higher fees might not result in increased revenue if they lead to a decrease in flight frequency or airline departures. Airport management defended the decision, stating that previous fee increases had remained below the rate of inflation between 2021 and 2024.