Prague Airport has been named the overall winner at the Routes Europe 2026 Awards, marking a major recognition for Czechia’s busiest aviation hub as it continues to expand its international network. The airport also won the five to 20 million passengers category, before being selected as the overall winner by a panel of judges at the Routes Europe event in Rimini, Italy.
The awards recognize excellence in route development, airport marketing, destination support and airline network growth. For Prague, the result comes after a strong year in which the airport handled 17.8 million passengers in 2025, an 8.5% increase compared with 2024 and above pre-pandemic levels.
The win also follows Prague Airport’s success at Routes World 2025, where it took the award in the 10 to 20 million passengers category. Together, the results show that the airport is becoming one of Europe’s more closely watched mid-sized hubs, especially as airlines look for growth outside the continent’s most congested gateways.
Prague Airport supported 46 new routes in 2025, including 24 new destinations, and welcomed 12 new airlines. More than 55 existing routes also saw frequency or capacity increases, adding nearly 1.5 million seats to the airport’s network. That combination of new destinations and higher capacity on established services has helped strengthen Prague’s position for both inbound tourism and outbound travel.
Long-Haul Growth Strengthens Prague’s Position
Long-haul connectivity has become one of the airport’s most important strategic priorities. Recent and upcoming additions include routes to Seoul with Asiana Airlines, Abu Dhabi with Etihad Airways, Toronto with Air Canada and Sharjah with Air Arabia. In 2026, the airport is also preparing for new long-haul services to Philadelphia with American Airlines and Taipei with STARLUX Airlines, the Taiwanese carrier’s first route to Europe.
These additions matter because Prague has long had strong short- and medium-haul European connectivity, but more direct long-haul routes can change how the city competes for international visitors, corporate travel and connecting traffic. Direct links to North America, Asia and the Middle East give Czechia more visibility in global travel markets and reduce reliance on larger hubs such as Frankfurt, Amsterdam or Vienna.
Prague Airport officials have said their strategy is not only about launching new routes, but also about increasing seat capacity and flight frequencies on existing services. That approach is designed to build sustainable growth rather than chase short-term announcements. It also reflects how airports are judged by airlines: not just on marketing campaigns, but on whether routes can mature into profitable, stable operations.
Other winners at Routes Europe 2026 included Florence Airport in the under five million passengers category and Athens International Airport in the over 20 million passengers category. The Canary Islands Tourist Board – Promotur won the destination award, while Jet2.com won the airline category for the third consecutive year.
Jet2’s award reflected continued expansion across more than 650 routes from 14 UK bases to over 80 destinations, including new bases such as London Gatwick and Bournemouth. The carrier’s growth also shows the strength of leisure travel demand across Europe, particularly to Spain, Greece, Turkey, Portugal, Italy, Croatia, Bulgaria and Cyprus.
For Prague, the overall Routes Europe award is both a recognition and a signal. The airport is no longer simply recovering from the pandemic years. It is actively competing for new airlines, new markets and a larger role in European and long-haul travel.
