Václav Havel Airport is located in the Prague suburb of Ruzyně
In 1930, on a site called Long Mile, clearing of the territory began, and in June 1932, construction of the airport was opened, completed on March 1, 1937, and a month later the first plane landed there. However, as Radio Prague notes, the history of Czech aviation began earlier.
"Next year we celebrate the 100th anniversary of statehood, and hand in hand with the country goes the history of our aviation," says historian Lubomír Dudaček. "The first major military airport appeared in Cheb in 1917 – this year it celebrates its centenary. Military aircraft were concentrated there, at that time still Austro-Hungarian. Several brave pilots hijacked some of these planes in 1918 to Brandenburg, and then flew them to Strašnice, where a temporary airfield was operating. In 1918-19, construction began on the existing Kbely airport. In 1919, a civil aviation department was opened there, and regular passenger transportation began there in 1921. For its time, it was a very modern airport. Some hangars there were allocated for the Franco-German airline, which was the first to start flying to us."
Why was the new passenger airport built not in Kbely, but in a different location?
"The development of civil aviation was proceeding at such a pace that everyone saw the need to create a separate civil airport, since Kbely could no longer accommodate so many military, sports, and passenger aircraft. And in 1929, the government decided to build a separate civil airport for Prague, and a search for a suitable territory began. Sites far from Prague were considered – in the areas of Plzeň, Beroun, and others. Ruzyně won because at that time there was no residential or industrial development there, and the adjacent territories were free."
Lubomír Dudaček also recalls that at that time there were very few fortified airfield sites in the world, and in Czechoslovakia this was done only in 1937. At the time of the opening of traffic at Ruzyně airfield, there were five runways, which by autumn could no longer be used – when it rained, using them was dangerous.
One of the interesting pages in the history of Czech civil aviation was the time when beer was poured directly on the deck of an aircraft.
"This happened right on board," says Lubomír Dudaček. "There was even a chef in a tall hat, and food was served on porcelain plates. These were the 1960s-70s, then for the sake of economy, both the service and the range of dishes became more modest."
A turning point was also the years from 1959 to 1963, when Prague Airport was substantially reconstructed and the northern pavilion began to be built.
"Next year will mark 50 years since June 15, 1968, when the northern terminal began operation. Then, alas, the armies of the Warsaw Pact came 'to our aid,' after which the airport's prosperity declined. At the time of the invasion, I was in Bulgaria, on my first trip abroad, and when my family and I returned, around the place where we lived stood four Soviet tanks. I was only able to get to work at the airport four days later, as entry was forbidden. All working departments were taken under military control, and when we came to our workplaces, that heavy atmosphere was still there."
What place does the Czech capital occupy among European air harbors?
"Already since 1937, thanks to its location in Central Europe, Prague served as both a transit and final point for many air routes. This situation continues to this day, of course, on a much larger scale. And, of course, the joint-stock company 'Prague Airport' strives to make maximum use of this advantage."
Last year, Václav Havel Airport handled 13 million passengers. Meanwhile, neighboring Munich, where this figure reached 20 million, leaves its Czech neighbor far behind.
"Of course, there are much larger airports – London Heathrow, Paris Charles de Gaulle. European continental air transport goes through five major hubs, from which flights across the Atlantic also operate. Here we can recall that 80 years ago, at the beginning of its journey, Prague Airport was at the forefront of civil aviation.
At that time, we were part of the European elite. 'Czechoslovak Airlines' – and at that time they were indeed Czechoslovak – was probably the fifth most important company in Europe among those that contributed the most to the development of civil aviation. It's a pity that later the prestige of the Czechoslovak, and today Czech, airline has somewhat declined..."
At the same time, Prague Airport remembers its former position and today can rightfully build new grandiose plans for the perspective up to 2020 and 2030. "The Airports Council International Europe (ACI Europe) believes that by 2030, the aviation passenger traffic of the Czech Republic could reach 28-29 million per year. Of course, for this, certain additional areas need to be created. This is a very ambitious program, which I hope will be implemented," concludes Lubomír Dudaček.