Prague 6 supported the construction of a parallel runway at the airport

Prague – The representatives of Prague 6 supported the construction of a parallel runway at Václav Havel Airport. They condition it on the connection of the airport to the metro or railway. The representatives also want to limit operations at the airport until this condition is met. They approved it at their meeting today. Construction of the parallel runway should begin in 2025. Last year, the airport handled 17.8 million passengers, nearly a million more year-on-year.

According to councilor Eva Smutná (TOP 09), the construction of the parallel runway will lead to the dismantling of the existing cross runway, which will relieve some residents of the district. The council currently disagrees with the development of the airport. "This is only about the construction of a parallel runway. The airport will remain a regional airport in the future," she said.

Under the current conditions, increasing the airport's capacity is also impossible according to the mayor of the district Ondřej Kolář (TOP 09). The mayor stated that the lack of a state transport concept, rail connection to the airport, and a sufficient number of parking lots hinder the increase in air traffic at the Ruzyně airport.

The opposition Pirate Party and Greens opposed the construction of the parallel runway and airport development. According to representative Eva Tichá (Pirates), the parallel runway will significantly burden not only the residents of Prague 6 but also those of other districts. She added that the planned expansion of the airport, which is estimated to cost up to 55 billion crowns, will affect the climate in the city and the country and will impact the growing tourism in the capital.

"We are building the airport for foreign companies to benefit from. Looking at it from the perspective of a resident of Prague 6, I see no benefit for Prague," said opposition representative Roman Mejstřík (ANO).

According to a previous statement from the Ministry of Finance, which is the sole shareholder of Prague Airport, investments in the expansion of the airport are necessary because further growth in the number of passengers can be expected in the future, and the airport was already at the edge of its capacity last year.

The coalition in Prague 6 consists of TOP 09, KDU-ČSL, ODS, and STAN. In the 45-member council, they have 27 votes. The opposition includes the Pirates, ANO, and Greens.

Prague 6, where approximately 104,000 residents live, is located in the northwest of the capital. The district includes the entire cadastral territories of Dejvice, Liboc, Ruzyně, Střešovice, Veleslavín, and Vokovice, as well as parts of Břevnov, Bubeneč, Sedlec, and Hradčany.