Václav Havel Airport Prague has issued a fresh Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) announcing the complete closure of its secondary runway 06/24 from 04:00 on 23 July until 13:00 on 14 August. The runway – normally used to relieve the main 12/30 strip during peak periods and bad-weather operations – is shut for resurfacing and lighting upgrades, part of a CZK 1.2 billion (€48 million) air-side modernisation programme that must be finished before the winter schedule begins. The NOTAM bulletin also introduces a string of partial taxi-way closures: Taxiway A between A1 and T is closed daily 07:00-14:00, while centre-line lights on Taxiway T and several Visual Docking Guidance Systems (VDGS) on stands 7, 15, 17, 20 and 22A remain out of service. Aircraft unable to meet the standard climb gradient on Standard Instrument Departures from Runway 12 must notify “Ruzyně Delivery” for radar vectors. Airlines have been instructed to factor in longer taxi times and possible slot restrictions, and cargo operators have been asked to avoid peak afternoon periods. For passengers the most visible impact will be a higher share of departures and arrivals on Runway 12/30, meaning longer ground-rolls and the re-routing of ground traffic around construction zones. The airport says its summer capacity will fall by roughly 5 %, or up to 40 movements a day. Flag-carrier Czech Airlines (ČSA) has already retimed evening rotations to Paris and Madrid, while Ryanair, easyJet and Smartwings are warning of possible delays of up to 25 minutes at peak times. Business-aviation operators are advised to request slots at least 48 hours in advance; the airport’s General Aviation Centre reports that weekend overnight parking is now “very limited”. Ground-handling firms have redeployed equipment to remote stands to avoid bottlenecks, and ride-sharing companies have been asked to use an alternative pick-up zone near Terminal 2. The closure comes at the height of Czechia’s record-breaking tourist season. Prague City Tourism expects 2.6 million foreign visitors between June and August – up 11 % year-on-year – and 52 % arrive by air. Companies sending assignees or frequent flyers through PRG should allow extra connection time and monitor airline operational updates. Contingency airports in Dresden, Vienna and Brno report spare capacity if diversions become necessary.
Source: Notamify
