Employee relations at Václav Havel Airport Prague took a fresh turn on 10 October 2026 when four of the airport’s five trade-union organisations confirmed that their strike alert (stávková pohotovost) remains in force. The statement, published by sector news site Zdopravy.cz, rejects earlier media reports that unions were preparing to call off the action next week. The dispute erupted in early August when Radomír Lašák—former ČSA and Czech Post chief—was appointed CEO of the state-owned airport operator. Unions accuse Lašák of failing to present a clear development strategy and of sidelining employee representatives in discussions on a new 2027 collective agreement. While one smaller union signalled willingness to negotiate an end to the strike alert, the four larger bodies representing security staff, ground handling and technical services say no meaningful progress has been made. For business travellers and airlines the situation bears close monitoring. A formal strike could slow passenger processing just as winter schedules start on 27 October, when capacity peaks with ski-season charter flights. Although the current alert does not automatically disrupt operations, it allows unions to launch a strike on 24-hour notice if talks collapse. Airport management says contingency plans include redeploying administrative staff and requesting police assistance to keep security lanes open. The Ministry of Transport, which oversees the airport, urged both sides to conclude the collective-bargaining round swiftly, pointing out that Prague handled 14 million passengers in the first nine months of 2026—already 9 % above pre-pandemic 2019 levels. Any work stoppage would not only hurt the airport’s reputation but also impact the wider Czech meetings-and-incentives market that relies on seamless hub connectivity. Companies with frequent flyers through PRG should build flexibility into itineraries during the coming weeks, keep travellers informed about potential queue times, and remind staff to allow additional time before departure. Travel-management providers report that several multinational clients have already activated traveller-tracking alerts for flights touching Prague between now and mid-November.
Source: Zdopravy.cz
