Brno - With bus companies locked in a fierce fight over customers travelling between Brno and Prague, and Czech Railways about to join the fray with their own special deals, Czech Airlines (ČSA) doesn't want to stay on the sidelines.
The national carrier is reportedly planning to strengthen its service between the two largest cities in the Czech Republic too. It makes sense - Brno Airport company has informed that the air route is prospering and enjoys rising demand.
ČSA started to fly between the two big cities two years ago. Currently, there are two flights a day. Some 66 thousand passengers are said to have used the service so far.
Prague as a transfer point
"In 2006, we had half of the capacity filled. Now, it is 60 per cent," said Tomáš Pláček, the director of Brno Airport.
The connection is generally used by those who need to transfer to another European or long-distance flight.
One-way flight ticket costs 3500 Czech crowns. However, if a passenger transfers to a plane of a company ČSA has contract with, he or she will pay only 1600 Czech crowns.
From Brno to Prague, London, or Moscow
Next year, the number of daily flights between the two cities is expected to rise to four.
"The plan is already being discussed by South Moravia region's officials, Brno Airport and ČSA," said Pláček.
From Brno, it is possible to get not only to Prague, but to London (everyday flights) and Moscow (two flights a week) as well. In addition, a regular daily flight to Gerona (Spanish city near Barcelona) was introduced in October.
It is expected that by the end of this year, the airport in Brno will have served 420 thousand passengers.
With the overall population of the Czech Republic just topping 10,3 million according to the latest statistics, Prague is ba far its most populous city with 1,2 million inhabitants. Brno remains a distant number two with less than 370 thousand people.
