Czech airlines will celebrate the 60th anniversary of providing scheduled service to Venice and Milan in Italy and Helsinki, Finland. The first flights to all three destinations took off from Prague on 19 June 1948. At that time, the routes were operated by the legendary DC-3 Dakotas. Presently, the Airline deploys an ATR42, for 46 passengers, on its flights to Venice, and its most modern Airbus A320 aircraft, for 162 passengers, on the flights to Helsinki and Milan.

Service to Venice and Milan has been bolstered
With the summer flight schedule, service on the Venice and Milan routes has been significantly increased.  Czech Airlines newly offers 12 weekly flights to Venice, instead of the former seven, and 14 weekly flights to Milan, also instead of seven.  Given the enhancement of operations and the great demand for flights to and from Italy, Czech Airlines expects an increase in the number of passengers carried this year on flights between Prague and Venice as well as on the Prague-Milan route.  Last year, Czech Airlines carried over 27,500 passengers to Venice, which constituted a 2.2% increase, in spite of the limited capacity of the route.  This year, due to the increased flight frequency, Czech Airlines expects the number of passengers to grow by up to one-third.  The number of passengers carried to Milan could even double.  Last year, Czech Airlines carried over 40,000 passengers on that route.

Flights between Prague and Italy are used primarily by Italian entrepreneurs and managers.  Departure times from Italian cities in the early morning, and returns in the evening, enable them to use the connection for one-day business meetings in Prague.  Also, the departure time of the Helsinki flight especially suits the business clientele.

Prague – Venice
Passengers can fly from Prague to Venice daily, except Sundays, at 9:25, landing in Venice after a one hour and forty-five minute flight, at 11:10.  The afternoon flight takes off from Prague daily, except Saturdays, at 15:05, and lands in Venice at 16:50.  The morning flight heads back to Prague at 11:40, landing in Prague at 13:25.  The evening flight takes off from Venice at 17:40 and lands in Prague at 19:25.

Prague - Milan
Czech Airlines flies to Milan daily, with a departure from Prague at 7:00 and arrival in Milan after a 1.5 hour flight, at 8:30.  The evening flight takes off from Prague at 17:00 and lands in Milan at 18:30.  On the morning flight, the aircraft returns at 9:15, landing in Prague at 10:45.  The evening flight takes off from Milan at 19:15, arriving in Prague at 20:40.

Prague - Helsinki
The flight to Helsinki leaves Prague daily at 14:55, arriving in Helsinki at 18:15.  The return flight takes off daily at 19:00, landing in Prague at 20:15.