Prague’s airport expands express security checks for Schengen flights, but for a fee

Passengers departing from Václav Havel Airport Prague to Schengen zone countries now have the option for faster security checks, regardless of the type of ticket they have. For an additional fee outgoing passengers can use the Security FastTrack service, which entitles them to use a separate corridor for security inspection in Terminal 2.

This
is one of several innovations to improve travel during what is
expected to be the busiest summer season ever at the airport.

“With
the advent of the summer season, we have decided to offer Security
FastTrack in Terminal 2 to ensure a faster check-in process during
security checks. We want to increase the standard of service and
comfort for passengers,” Jiří Petržilka, executive director of
the non-aviation business at Prague Airport, said in a press release.

“We
believe that the FastTrack service will be appreciated by passengers,
especially in the demanding summer season, which places the highest
demands on the airport’s operating capacity,” he added.

Until now, the service has only been available at Václav Havel Airport Prague to passengers using premium travel classes or members of certain airline loyalty programs.

The service can be ordered on-line on the Prague Airport website or directly at the Terminal 2 departure hall.

“In
addition to the online application, Security FastTrack can be
purchased at four Smart kiosks located in Terminal 2 at an
information desk, self check-in kiosks and also near the security
checkpoints,” Petržilka said.

“With
sufficient Security FastTrack capacity, passengers will be able to
decide for themselves at the last minute when assessing the current
situation at the airport, whether they will use the services for
faster transit,” he added.

The
Smart kiosks are available in five languages: English, German,
Italian and French in addition to Czech.

When
booking, the passenger chooses a date and a specific time pass
through the security check within 30 minutes. One use of the Security
FastTrack service is CZK 150.

Prague
Airport has also opened a new relaxation zone in Terminal 2. The
number of refreshment vending machines will additionally be increased
in the near future.

Seven children’s corners at various departure gates will also be modernized. Furthermore, Prague Airport has introduced a new special security check-in procedure at Terminal 2 for families with children in baby carriages.

Over
the next few months, a further 12 new check-in counters will be built
in Terminal 2. In addition, an entirely new apron and 24 more
counters are being built. These could be available to passengers in
the 2020 summer season.

Terminal
1, for travel outside the Schengen zone, also has some changes. The
modernization of three gates with new boarding bridges has been
completed, including one new gate equipped with an additional bridge.
As a result, up to six additional medium-haul planes can be handled
each day.

A
total of eight new check-in counters have been established in
Terminal 1 in the past few months, and they are already in full
operation. These new counters have increased the capacity of the
check-in process for all flights including long-haul flights.

The airport also increased the number of information assistants. A total of 140 information assistants in red T-shirts are available in the airport during the summer season, 15 percent more than last year.

Prague
Airport expects its busiest summer season ever with approximately
640,000 more passengers than last year, a year-on-year increase of
more than 5 percent. Up to 2 million passengers are expected to pass
through the airport during both the months of July and August.

Václav
Havel Airport Prague set a new record in 2018, with over 16 million
checked-in passengers as of Dec. 11, 2018, breaking the 2017 record
of 15.41 million.

Václav
Havel Airport Prague opened April 5, 1937, as Prague Ruzyně Airport.
Right after former president Václav Havel’s death on Dec. 18, 2011,
an online petition asked the government to rename it to Václav Havel
International Airport. This name change took place Oct. 5, 2012, on
what would have been Havel’s 76th birthday.