The court annulled the definition of the parallel runway of the airport in the land use plans

Prague - Preparations for the construction of a new parallel runway at Václav Havel Airport in Prague's Ruzyně are facing complications. The Regional Court has cancelled the designation of the parallel runway in the principles of spatial development of the Central Bohemian Region. According to the court, the region did not take into account certain sources of noise and emissions. This was pointed out today by the website zdopravy.cz. The Czech News Agency (ČTK) has the decision available. The region, which borders Prague where the airport is located, will file a cassation complaint against the verdict. The construction of the runway is set to start in 2025 and should increase the airport's capacity.

The project for the construction of the parallel runway therefore cannot proceed in its current state. The cassation complaint of the Central Bohemian Region will be dealt with by the Supreme Administrative Court. "The regional council decided today to file a cassation complaint to the Supreme Administrative Court against the judgment of the Regional Court in Prague," stated the regional authority on its website.

The Regional Court was particularly concerned about the insufficient assessment of the possible cumulative impacts from the operation on the new runway and the nearby railway and highway. The principles allegedly lack an evaluation of the impacts on noise and air quality in the surrounding area.

"The Central Bohemian Region definitely does not agree with the court's decision and believes that it is not the court's role to assess such highly specialized activities, and it is convinced that the author of the impact evaluation on the sustainable development of the area sufficiently assessed the mentioned impacts," stated the authority on its website.

The airport was not a participant in the proceedings, but it monitored the process. Spokesman Roman Pacvoň stated that the airport continues to prepare projects for further development, including the parallel runway. "We consider investment in Prague Airport to be necessary from both a short-term and long-term perspective," Pacvoň said to the server. A similar situation occurred in 2013, when construction of the runway was planned for 2019.

Representatives of the Prague municipal districts of Nebušice and Suchdol welcomed the court's decision. "Without proper assessment of all negative impacts on the environment, it is not possible to decide on another runway at Ruzyně Airport," said the mayor of Nebušice, Viktor Komárek. According to him, a negative impact from air traffic on residential areas can be expected after the construction of the runway. "And neglecting its proper examination can then create the impression of manipulation with the input data in order to achieve a more favorable result," he noted. The mayor of Suchdol, Petr Hejl, described the parallel runway project as outdated.

The airport is preparing the construction of a parallel runway due to the need to expand maximum capacities. Last year, it handled a record 17.8 million passengers and thus found itself at the limit of its capacity. According to current plans, the construction of the runway should begin in five years and cost around nine billion crowns. Another major project for the airport is the expansion of the second terminal for 16 billion CZK, which is expected to be completed by 2028.