Prague Airport (Letiště Praha), the primary international gateway to the Czech capital, has announced that it will temporarily relocate its daily flight operations to the secondary runway due to essential maintenance on the main runway. The maintenance work will take place from Monday until October 27, with specific dates to be determined based on favorable weather conditions. While the switch to the secondary runway is necessary for runway upkeep, it may lead to an increase in noise levels in certain densely populated areas of Prague and Kladno.

During this temporary arrangement, aircraft will depart and land on the secondary runway between 8:00 and 16:00, with the main runway being used during other hours. Maintenance activities on the main runway will include tasks like rubber removal, restoration of markings, inspection of inspection chambers, regular geodetic measurements, and the maintenance of underground facilities and covers.

The days on which operations will be shifted to the secondary runway will be determined based on meteorological conditions, allowing for the most efficient utilization of the maintenance period. Miroslav Charvát, the Manager of Surface Operations and Development at Letiště Praha, clarified, “We will not proceed with maintenance on days when there is fog, low temperatures, or unfavorable winds. This is a regular maintenance activity after the summer season when the main runway has continuous operations. The goal is to ensure the best possible condition of the surface and markings before the winter season.”

The maintenance period will see operations carried out on runway 12/30, which runs nearly perpendicular to the main runway. The airport’s long-term project includes expanding to a parallel runway.

The direction of temporary operations on the secondary runway will be determined by meteorological conditions, particularly wind direction. Nevertheless, the preferred direction for landing will be from Prague, with takeoffs directed towards Kladno.

Prague Airport underlined the importance of conducting regular maintenance on the runway system, especially concerning operational safety. Such maintenance needs to be performed twice a year, in both spring and autumn, even as the airport operates at full capacity. These efforts are designed to ensure the continued safe and efficient operation of the airport’s runways, benefiting passengers, airlines, and the overall aviation community.

Article by Prague Forum