The launch of the direct route between Prague and Philadelphia marks a strategic milestone in the development of long-haul connections from Prague Airport to destinations around the world.
“The United States is a strategic market for Czech companies. A direct route from Prague to Philadelphia therefore means much more than just more convenient travel. It shortens the distance to investors, business partners and new technological opportunities, while also bringing high-spending visitors to Czechia. Philadelphia is also a major hub for the entire North American region, so this route strengthens not only one destination, but Czechia’s overall connectivity to the U.S. market. It is a practical example of how transport, industry, trade and tourism should work together,” says First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and Trade Karel Havlíček.
“A new direct connection is opening up for travellers from Czechia, significantly improving access to the United States, while Prague will also become a gateway to Europe for tens of thousands of additional Americans. The offer of direct long-haul flights from Václav Havel Airport Prague is therefore continuing to expand. I am also pleased that, in recent days, the route to Hanoi has been confirmed and will launch operations this autumn. Our current priority is to secure direct connections to destinations such as Shanghai or Delhi. Long-haul routes are one of the priorities that the Ministry of Finance, in its role as the sole shareholder of Prague Airport, will continue to support under my leadership,” says Minister of Finance Alena Schillerová.
Philadelphia is also one of the key transfer hubs on the East Coast of the United States. Thanks to the new route, passengers travelling from Prague will enjoy convenient access to a wide range of destinations across North America.
“We greatly value the excellent cooperation with our global partner American Airlines, as well as with all other partners who supported the launch of this new route. According to our estimates, more than 57,000 passengers in both directions are expected to use the service during this summer season alone. We believe the route will quickly gain stable demand, creating favourable conditions for extending operations throughout the entire summer season and potentially also during the winter season,” explains Jiří Pos, Chairman of the Board of Prague Airport.
The regular long-haul service between Philadelphia and Prague operates daily until 5 October this year. The airline deploys a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner with a total capacity of 234 seats on the route. The direct flight from Philadelphia departs at 6:00 p.m. local time and arrives in Prague the following day at 8:15 a.m. The return flight departs Prague at 10:15 a.m. and arrives in Philadelphia at 1:05 p.m. local time.
“Our customers around the world are increasingly looking for unique travel experiences, whether it is crystal-clear waters or the history, culture and cosmopolitan atmosphere offered by cities such as Prague,” highlights José A. Freig, Vice President of International Operations and Inflight Service at American Airlines, adding: “Thanks to this new route, our customers in the Czech Republic will also gain access to one of our fastest-growing U.S. hubs in Philadelphia, from where they can travel to more than 100 destinations across the United States and beyond.”
“The United States has long ranked among our most important long-haul markets, and interest among American tourists in Czechia continues to grow. Last year alone, nearly 580,000 visitors from the U.S. stayed in collective accommodation establishments across the country, spending more than 1.5 million nights here. On average, they stay 3.6 days, with the longest stays recorded in the Karlovy Vary Region. While Prague remains their top destination, more and more travellers are also discovering other regions of Czechia. American visitors are especially interested in cultural heritage, gastronomy and the vibrant atmosphere of Czech cities. Their overall travel-related spending in Czechia exceeds CZK 5,000 per person per day on average. We therefore see the new direct connection between Prague and Philadelphia as an important step for the further development of inbound tourism, as well as for strengthening business and cultural ties between the two countries,” says František Reismüller, Director of the Czech Tourist Authority – CzechTourism.
To support the new route, CzechTourism’s foreign office in the USA prepared a series of presentation and networking events in Philadelphia aimed at promoting Czechia as an attractive tourist destination. The programme included, for example, the event “From Cheesesteaks to Czechia – Now Nonstop from Philadelphia to Prague”, organised with significant support from Prague Airport and in cooperation with the Consulate General of the Czech Republic in New York, CzechInvest and American Airlines. The event brought together representatives from tourism, business, media and community organisations. The aim was to present Czechia not only as an attractive travel destination, but also as an appealing partner for trade and new investments. Another part of the programme took place directly at Philadelphia International Airport during the ceremonial launch of the new route. The activities are also complemented by marketing campaigns carried out jointly with Prague Airport and OTA partner Expedia.
“A direct air connection is always the most comfortable way for American travellers to visit Czechia. That is why we are especially pleased that, after seven years, the route between Philadelphia and Prague has been restored. Great thanks belong to all partners who contributed to making this happen. We believe the new connection will further strengthen awareness of our country on the American market and bring more visitors to our regions — visitors looking for authentic experiences, quality gastronomy and rich history,” adds Michaela Claudino, Director of CzechTourism’s foreign office in the USA.
Philadelphia is considered the cradle of American independence, as both the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were drafted and approved there. Visitors can still feel the atmosphere of these historic moments at the famous Independence Hall, where both founding documents were adopted. No visit would be complete without seeing the iconic Liberty Bell, once used to summon lawmakers to assembly sessions. Beyond its historical significance, Philadelphia also attracts visitors with its rich cultural scene, from thousands of large-scale street murals reflecting the stories of local communities to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, which houses more than 240,000 exhibits. The museum’s main entrance is reached via the famous “Rocky Steps”, featured in the iconic Sylvester Stallone film, offering beautiful views of the city centre.
Tickets for flights between Prague and Philadelphia are available on the American Airlines website.
About American Airlines Group
American Airlines, one of the world’s leading airlines, operates thousands of flights daily to more than 350 destinations in over 60 countries. The airline is a founding member of the Oneworld alliance, whose members serve more than 900 destinations worldwide. Shares of American Airlines Group Inc. are traded on the Nasdaq stock exchange under the symbol AAL. During the summer travel season, running from 21 May to 8 September, American Airlines expects to transport 75 million passengers on 750,000 flights, surpassing its previous record set in 2019. The summer season begins with the Memorial Day weekend, during which the airline plans to carry more than 4.2 million passengers on over 40,000 flights between 21 and 26 May. The busiest day of the weekend is expected to be Friday, 22 May.