New route alert: Prague launches direct flights to mountainous Turkish city

Prague Airport has officially launched a new route between Czechia and Turkey, which will enable people to fly directly to the mountainous city of Kayseri in the center of Turkey. Located just 70 kilometers from the world-famous Cappadocia region known for its hot air balloon trips, the new route may be a big hit for tourists in the coming months.

The first plane to Kayseri took off on the morning of Wednesday, Dec. 27. Charter flights are scheduled for every Wednesday during the winter season until the end of March. Kayseri is an especially popular destination for skiing due to its ski resort on Mount Erciyes.

The Cappadocia region lies about one hour from Kayseri by car, allowing tourists to also take in the area's panorama, filled with hot air balloons against the backdrop of mountains. Shuttle buses also travel from Kayseri to Cappadocia.

Fans of winter sports may weigh up a visit to Kayseri. "This direct charter from Prague to Turkey's Kayseri opens doors to a unique ski haven at Erciyes," says Kateřina Pavlíková, spokesperson for travel company Čedok. "With a brief transfer to the Central Anatolia region, guests can access modern slopes, cable cars, and lodgings,” she added.

Erciyes, situated at an altitude of 3360 meters, boasts modern cable cars and lifts designed by experts from renowned alpine resorts.

With options like two cabin lifts, 11 chairlifts, and one train, the resort provides 102 kilometers of tracks. Its tacks also range in difficulty: from beginner-friendly blue slopes to challenging black runs.

"The area's limited tourist influx ensures a queue-free skiing experience," noted Pavlíková. The resort's hotels also provide ski rentals at favorable rates of just CZK 250 per day.

According to the head of Prague Airport Jiří Pos, a total of 15 new flight routes starting this winter will boost traffic at the airport by 10 percent during the season. Speaking to Seznam Zprávy, Pos revealed the new winter schedule includes destinations such as the Albanian capital of Tirana and cities in Egypt that were previously not served directly from Prague.

Notable other new additions include direct routes to Bilbao and Valencia in Spain. Earlier this year, the airport also saw new connections launched to the South Korean capital of Seoul, Yerevan in Armenia, Keflavík in Iceland, and even Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia.