Radomír Lašák resigned as chairman of Letiště Praha on 23 October, barely 84 days after taking the helm of Czechia’s busiest airport. Lašák cited “personal reasons,” but insiders told ČTK the departure follows clashes with unions over staffing for the new Entry/Exit System (EES) passport halls and disagreements with the finance ministry about outsourcing security screening. Deputy chairman Jiří Kraus will serve as acting CEO until a formal tender is launched in November. The timing is awkward: construction on an enlarged Terminal 1 border-control zone is set to start in January 2027, and procurement decisions for 60 additional e-gates need board sign-off before year-end to meet EU co-funding deadlines. For business travellers the leadership vacuum could prolong the chronic immigration queues that peaked at 45 minutes during this summer’s tourist surge. Airlines worry about schedule padding and potential slot losses if on-time performance deteriorates next year. Industry analysts note that Lašák’s abrupt exit mirrors his controversial tenure at Czech Airlines a decade ago, when the flag-carrier’s restructuring faltered. The Ministry of Finance—sole shareholder of Letiště Praha—said it still expects the airport to deliver a CZK 5 billion profit in 2026, giving it fiscal room to stay on track with border projects, but admitted a short delay is possible. HR and mobility teams arranging group travel through Prague in Q1–Q2 2027 should monitor airport advisories closely and build buffer time into arrival schedules until the leadership transition stabilises.
Source: AroundPrague.cz
