Václav Havel Airport Prague — Online Webcam with Live Air Traffic

Václav Havel Airport is the main air gateway of the Czech Republic, handling over 17 million passengers per year. For aviation enthusiasts and planespotters, the surroundings of Prague Airport are of particular interest: a unique infrastructure for observing air traffic has developed here, and the road network around the airport territory allows reaching key observation points in various ways.

Transport Infrastructure of Prague Airport

The airport is located 12 kilometers west of Prague city center, in the Ruzyně district. The access road from the highway between Prague and Kladno leads directly to the terminals. Express parking lots P1 and P2, as well as the PC Comfort multi-story garage, are located approximately 70 meters from Terminal 1, providing quick access for passengers and those seeing them off.

Terminal 1 has an express parking lot with 10 spaces, and Terminal 2 has 21 spaces. Due to limited capacity, reservations and long-term parking at these lots are not available. For those planning to leave their car for several hours or days, long-term parking lots P2, P3, and PD HOLIDAY are provided, located further from the terminals. Shuttle buses run from them to the airport buildings, and the walk takes up to 15 minutes.

Road Network Around the Airport Perimeter

The surroundings of Prague Airport are predominantly open fields and private roads. The north side of the air harbor is surrounded by small settlements, including the village of Kněeves. Unpaved roads prevail here, and vehicle access to aircraft observation points is difficult or officially prohibited. Nevertheless, a significant portion of the airport perimeter can be explored on foot or by bicycle, making planespotting accessible to those who do not have a lot of time.

Many planespotting spots are only reachable on foot or by bicycle from bus stops. For example, bus 319 runs to Kněeves, from where a considerable walk is required to reach the observation areas. This creates certain logistical challenges but simultaneously ensures relative seclusion and the absence of traffic congestion at the filming locations.

Planespotting Platforms and Their History

The planespotting platform near the village of Kněeves long remained one of the most popular spots for observing air traffic. However, in May 2018, it was dismantled due to the construction of a new aviation fuel pipeline and the planned expansion of the airport perimeter. A new platform was subsequently built on its site, preserving its functionality for aviation enthusiasts.

Access to the new platform is via a gravel road from Na Staré silnici street. Approximately 100 meters from the platform, there is a parking area that can be reached by car, after which the journey continues on foot. This is a typical arrangement for most observation points around the airport: the car is left at a relatively safe distance, and the final stretch is covered on foot.

How to Reach the Observation Points

For those planning to visit planespotting locations, there are several transportation options. Prague's public transport connects the airport to the city via bus routes that run to metro stations. However, public transport does not reach the actual observation points outside the airport grounds — a walking or cycling segment is required.

Motorists can use access roads from the D7 highway, but parking in close proximity to the observation spots is limited. Most planespotters use a combined approach: they drive to the nearest village or settlement, leave the car in a permitted parking area, and then walk to the shooting spot. This approach minimizes the risk of receiving a parking fine and allows choosing the optimal angle depending on wind direction and the active runway.

Infrastructure for Aviation Enthusiasts

Václav Havel Airport is not only a transportation hub but also a magnet for aviation enthusiasts. A community of planespotters has formed around the airport, who document flights, share coordinates of successful observation points, and monitor changes in infrastructure. The road network around the airport, despite its simplicity, allows covering virtually all angles of the runways.

It is important to consider that a significant portion of the roads in close proximity to the airport perimeter are unpaved, with limited capacity. In rainy weather, they can become difficult to navigate, further restricting vehicle access. A bicycle or a walk often proves to be a more reliable way to reach an observation point than attempting to drive on a washed-out dirt road.

What You Can See on the Camera

The camera overlooking the runway of Václav Havel Airport broadcasts a panoramic view of air traffic in real time. In the foreground are streetlights, barbed wire fencing, trees, and shrubs typical of the airport-adjacent area. The runway markings, along which aircraft follow, are clearly visible.

In the background, a view of the horizon with infrastructure structures opens up, including an overpass or bridge, as well as a line of trees framing the airport territory. The camera allows observing aircraft taxiing, takeoffs, and landings, as well as assessing the intensity of air traffic depending on the time of day and day of the week. For planespotters, this is an opportunity to capture rare aircraft or track flight schedules without the need to be physically present at the airport.