Prague Ruzyne privatisation details revealed

Prague Ruzyne International airport director commercial activities Marta Guthova revealed to delegates on day one of the 2007 Eastern European and Baltic conference in Kiev today that the privatisation of the airport is due to start in April 2008 and end the following December. She explained that most of the retail contracts at the airport were renewed in 2006 under five-year deals, which means the new owners of Prague International will have three years to decide how to develop the retail offer. She said: “Our goal with the retail contract renewals last year was to maximise profits in order to increase the airport’s value for potential buyers.”

Guthova explained that the Czech government is changing the airport’s ownership to a shareholding owned by the Ministry of Finance and Prague City and that 100% of the shares will be sold. She added that 10 companies are bidding for the right to advise the airport on the privatisation process.