Airfares from Prague are dropping to levels not seen in years, with some long-haul destinations now cheaper than ever before.
The fall in prices comes as international carriers compete for Czech passengers with aggressive discounts, expanded routes, and new connections from Václav Havel Airport.
Travel industry experts say that in some cases, the cost of flying abroad has fallen by half compared to last year, marking the lowest real prices in modern history once inflation is taken into account.
One of the main drivers of the price drop is the entry of new airlines into Prague. Etihad Airways, Condor, Asiana Airlines, Air Canada, and Air Arabia are among the carriers now operating routes that were previously dominated by just a few competitors. Their arrival has triggered fare wars on popular connections.
According to Josef Trejbal, director of the booking platform Letuška.cz, this is especially visible on the Prague–Frankfurt route. “The average price of a return ticket has dropped to around CZK 4,500, which is about half of what passengers paid a year ago. With inflation taken into account, we are currently traveling at the cheapest rate in history,” Trejbal explained.
Long-Haul Flights at Bargain Prices
While cheaper flights to Germany might not excite every traveler, long-haul destinations are now far more accessible. Return tickets from Prague to New York can be found for as little as CZK 9,000. Flights to China start around CZK 11,000, while Thailand and Sri Lanka are available from CZK 14,000.
“The competition is exceptionally strong. Tickets to places like the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Thailand, South Africa, or the United States can now be purchased for nearly half the price compared to last year,” said Miroslav Polach, who operates the travel portals Zaleťsi and Airbakers.
Cheaper Fuel Adds to the Decline
Another factor behind the falling prices is the global cost of aviation fuel. As of late September, the average price was 6.5 percent lower than a year earlier, according to data from S&P Global Commodity Insights for the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
The drop in fuel costs, combined with new competition, has led to regular promotional offers. “Airlines often launch discounts when opening new routes or when flights are not filling up. For example, tickets to Thailand were priced between CZK 18,000 and 30,000 last year, but today they start at around CZK 9,000,” Polach noted.
