Prague Airport Expands Passport Control in Terminal 1

Prague Airport, together with the Czech police, plans to expand and modernise the arrivals and border control area in Terminal 1. Construction work is scheduled to begin in the first half of September 2026 and continue until the end of April 2027.

The expansion is the airport’s response to increasing pressure on passport control, particularly during peak travel periods. According to the airport, the situation has worsened further since the introduction of the European Entry/Exit System (EES) in October 2025.

“Our aim is to increase the processing capacity of border control while also improving the comfort of waiting passengers,” said Martin Kučera, a member of Prague Airport’s Board of Directors. The additional desks and automated control gates are intended to help manage peak traffic more effectively and reduce waiting times.

Five New Desks and Four Automated Control Gates

A total of five additional passport control desks for arriving passengers will be installed in Terminal 1. The Czech police will also install four new EasyGoGate automated control gates.

The waiting area in front of border control will also be enlarged. In addition, the entire ventilation system in the passport control area will be modernised. The total cost of the project is estimated at up to CZK 290 million. In addition to the construction work itself, this figure includes planning, technical supervision and safety coordination.

According to those involved, the project has been closely coordinated with the Czech police since the planning process began. The modernisation is also intended to strengthen security at the Schengen Area’s external border.

“The new elements must fully comply with all prescribed security standards and legal requirements,” said Tomáš Jelínek, Head of the Foreign Police Inspectorate at Václav Havel Airport Prague.

Temporary Restrictions Possible

The construction work will be carried out in several stages to minimise the impact on airport operations. Nevertheless, there may be temporary restrictions at passport control during the work, potentially resulting in longer queues.

During one construction phase, three passport control desks will have to close temporarily. This work will therefore take place during a period with particularly low passenger traffic and a smaller proportion of travellers from countries outside the Schengen Area.

During the remaining construction phases, only local restrictions in the waiting area are planned. The usual routes through border control will generally remain in place and will be adapted to the respective construction situation.

EU citizens will continue to be able to use the designated desks and automated control gates directly, as they are not subject to EES registration. As before, the so-called Red Team will help manage passenger flows by coordinating the movement of travellers in front of border control and responding to the current operational situation.