Wednesday, November 29, 2023
The Czech Republic is grappling with a 34% drought impact, accompanied by a decline in groundwater levels.
Over the last decade, the monthly discharge of springs has seen a worrisome 127% decrease, according to data from the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute.
Groundwater, vital for daily life as a key drinking water source and for soil fertility, is facing challenges. However, insights from the Czech Republic in Data journalism project highlight that scientific initiatives like Smart Landscape may offer solutions.
Continued water scarcity and extreme weather conditions pose a threat to crops, jeopardizing the country’s food supply. Currently, the Czech Republic’s drought affects 34%, correlating with over 30% agricultural losses.
“The primary cause of this decline is the increased evaporation of water from the ground due to rising temperatures. While precipitation during this period was 5% less than the long-term average, the main issue lies in its uneven distribution. Most waterfalls during heavy rains, running off the surface without penetrating the ground,” explains Alexandra Cholevová, an analyst for Czechia in Data.
Would an upswing in rainfall positively impact water reserves?
One might argue that the groundwater shortage stems from drought and insufficient rainfall. However, the crux lies in the evolving climate, resulting in more frequent fluctuations and rising temperatures.
This means an observed increase in the rate of evaporation. Between 2015 and 2019, water vapor values were up to 17% higher than between 1981 and 2010. With heightened evaporation, the loss of water from watersheds and soil will escalate, making a mere increase in precipitation insufficient to rectify the situation.
Addressing the drought challenge
Addressing the decline in groundwater levels presents a formidable challenge with potential diverse solutions. For instance, the Czech University of Life Sciences (CULS) has initiated the Smart Landscape project, leveraging technology from T-Mobile.
As part of the project, several installations monitor the impacts of extreme weather fluctuations on surface and groundwater. Collaboration with T-Mobile marks a significant stride in enhancing data collection for the project, providing a private 5G network enabling continuous, weather-independent data collection on water conditions, eliminating the need for manual readings.
The Christmas season in Czechia is generally seen as a happy event, but it has a darker side. While St. Nicholas rewards good children, in much of Central Europe a horned demon named Krampus comes for the bad apples.
He beats them and drags them off in a sack to only he knows where. Every year, Krampus becomes more popular. People who want to kick off the holiday season with a glimpse of him can go to Výstaviště’s Malá Sportovní Hala on Saturday, November 26, for two large Krampus shows.
Over 130 Krampuses from Austrian and Czech cosplay groups will make the blood of even the most hardened visitors freeze. Masked figures with giant horns will clank heavy chains while wearing shaggy fur coats and cow bells – the traditional garb of the demon.
Fire, sulfur, heavy chains, stinky fur coats, giant horns, cowbells, and other hellish masks of the devil’s servants will provide a terrifying spectacle.
The Krampus Family Show is from 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm.
- 3:30 pm: open door
- 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm: parade and show
The early show is suitable for families with children aged 3 to 10 years old. Children who do not have their own masks can turn into little devils in the hands of experienced painters.
Krampus Night Show from 8:00 pm to 9:30 pm.
- 7:30 pm open door
- 8:00 pm to 9:30 pm: parade and show
The event is intended for adults and children aged 15 and older. Organizers really do not recommend it for anyone younger, even within the well-intentioned education of naughty children.
Just like in the afternoon show, you can prepare at home for the evening and make your own original masks that will shine on the 800-meter route parade. The evening will be accompanied by a DJ.
The refreshment zone will be open until the end of the event, during which, it will be possible to purchase glowing devilish horns and other accessories.
Price:
- Family show from 120 CZK to 690 CZK
- Night show from 150 CZK to 250 CZK
- Photoshoot with Krampuses: 250 CZK
If you’re a fan of draft beer and find the prices in the Czech Republic too high, head to Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, or Romania.
While in local pubs in July, the price averaged around 54 crowns, according to data from the Dotykačka cash register system, in the above-mentioned neighbouring countries it ranged from 25 to 40 crowns.
It has become almost a tradition that during the summer months, the Czech Republic, especially Prague, is flooded with tourists from the Nordic European countries, not for sightseeing, but for cheap beer.
However, if they were to read the comparison of prices for a pint across Europe, compiled by the British tabloid Daily Mail, they would avoid the Czech Republic in the future and find alternatives elsewhere.
The UK’s widely read newspaper has come up with a comparative map of pint prices across Europe and has compiled a top ten.
The cheapest beer in Europe is offered in Debrecen, Hungary, where a pint of beer costs an average of 92 pence or 25.89 crowns.
Moldova’s capital, Chisinau, is second on the list, where you will pay a mere 31.86 crowns. In third place is Szeged, Hungary, where visitors can cool off with a pint for 32.36 crowns.
The Daily Mail awarded the fourth place, or as we say in Czech, the potato medal, to Poland’s Szczecin, where a pint of beer costs 33.23 crowns. In fifth place is Prešov, Slovakia with 34.33 crowns, and the Bulgarian seaside town of Burgas, in sixth place, selling pints for 36.59 crowns.
If you go to Romania, go for a beer in Târgu Mureș, where a pint of beer costs 37 crowns (£1.32); earning it seventh place in the rankings. In a split eighth place are two places in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in Mostar and Luka, where you can get a pint of beer for a reasonable 37.43 crowns.
The Romanian city of Sibiu in Transylvania rounds off the top ten, where visitors pay an average of 39.67 crowns for a pint.
Where not to go for a beer?
Price per pint
1. Reykjavik, Iceland – 231 Kč
2. Bergen, Norway – 227.7 Kč
3. Stavanger, Norway- 218 Kč
4. Espoo, Finland – 215 Kč
5. Trondheim, Norway – 207 Kč
6. Oslo, Norway – 206.8 Kč
7. Geneva, Switzerland – 203.7 Kč
7. Lausanne, Switzerland – 203.7 Kč
7. Curich, Switzerland – 203.7 Kč
8. Basel, Switzerland – 203.5 Kč
The Czech Technical University (ČVUT) campus in Prague opened a training and research centre for simulated space missions on Tuesday, which was also attended by Italian astronaut Paolo Nespoli.
The Little Moon City project will provide facilities and conditions for scientific, university and commercial research. The entire concept is to allow testing of instruments, materials, procedures, or human crews in conditions resembling space.
Little Moon City consists of a deep-sea station called Deep Lab H03 by the Hydronaut project. It is designed for long-term stays of small diving crews underwater, as well as on land, and can also simulate a stay in the space shuttle.
The station has been designed for a wide range of research, from the effects of isolation and extreme environments on the human psyche, to testing the functionality of technologies under extreme pressure.
“Our goal, among other things, was to enable people who don’t have diving training to work in the habitat. We could observe how a biologist or zoologist, for example, would work in such an environment. Getting such people into the module when it is ten metres underwater is a problem,” said project leader Jiří Schneider.
The module is less than ten cubic metres and has an area of eight square metres. It is designed for a crew of two to three and is equipped with the latest technology available for environmental control, communication and data collection.
From the control tower, it is possible to analyse machine and crew data, create documentation and work remotely with other sites. In addition to simulating space missions, the module can also be used to practice complex rescue situations. The entire simulator can then be carried on a mobile basis.
In addition to the module, the deepwater training station itself also includes a control centre and information and project infrastructure from Hydronaut.
The software and data transfer are handled by a communication and project system called Common Tongue from the 1st Cloud Republic. The system is designed to allow scientists to implement any additional parameter to meet the needs of the specific research being conducted.
The project also involves the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and the Faculty of Biomedical Engineering of the Czech Technical University in Prague, and the Department of Psychology of the Faculty of Arts of Palacký University in Olomouc.
According to the representatives of Hydronaut, connecting Little Moon City with the university world creates a unique combination of science and education, with great commercial potential.
At the same time, students and graduates of the newly opened study field of Aeronautics and Astronautics at the Czech Technical University will be able to find employment in simulated space research.
The Czech Republic has been elected to the Executive Board of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in Paris, and will serve from 2023 to 2027.
“The Czech Republic has just been elected to the UNESCO Executive Board,” the Foreign Ministry said on the social network X.
Adding that one of the topics the Czech Republic will focus on, during its mandate, will be the transformation of education, and the protection of cultural and natural heritage.
The Executive Board, together with the General Conference, is UNESCO’s governing body and is made up of 58 member countries, elected by the Conference according to their respective electoral groups.
The last time the Czech Republic was a member of the Executive Board, within the Central and Eastern European Group, was between 2012 and 2015.
UNESCO was founded shortly after World War II to develop cooperation in education, science, and culture. In the latter area, it is best known for its World Heritage List, in which the organization includes the world’s most important sites.
As for the Czech Republic, its first additions to the UNESCO World Heritage List were the Historic Centre of Prague, the Historic Centre of Český Krumlov, and the Historic Centre of Telč; all added in 1992.
Since 2023 the Czech Republic has 17 sites inscribed on the list and 13 additional ones on the tentative list.
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Oil, flour, and sugar have recently become cheaper, but prices still remain higher than before the pandemic, according to a price comparison on the Seznam Zprávy website.
Journalists looked at goods from Tesco, Albert, Lidl, and Penny Market supermarkets and found that it is still possible to save significant money by avoiding products whose prices have not changed – for example, chocolate and sweets in general, juices, rice, meat, or canned food.
Flour, some dairy products, and sugar have become cheaper. Cheese, for example, has decreased by sometimes up to nine crowns per pack, and that’s without considering discounts that can save even more.
It is important to note that it is a good idea to look for discounts, especially at private-label supermarkets. In some instances, however, the price adjustment is only cosmetic or in units of crowns, for example, for yogurt.
Regardless, it is unreasonable to believe prices will adjust to that before the pandemic. As far as this year’s most expensive products are concerned, we are mainly paying big bucks for smoked meat, branded pasta, rice, or muesli.
The record price is said to be set by Granko, which has risen by 50 percent in Lidl, in less than a year.
Temporary Cuts
There are several reasons for the price cuts, such as lower prices for energy and raw materials. Even though the price of wheat has decreased, bread prices remain the same.
This is largely due to bakeries not being able to cover the earlier extreme rises in costs. The only products where somewhat cheaper prices are expected are soya, lentils, or oats.
There are reported trend changes in the price of cheap raw materials, meaning we will begin to see slow rises in prices, resulting in the prices of the above-mentioned products soon increasing too. This may be reflected in products such as milk, wheat, and other essentials; which may also face additional increases due to the winter costs for electricity and gas.
While experts say that the price increase of discounted goods won’t be so drastic, it is important to prepare.
This is a result of both the increase in the regulated price for wholesale consumers, as proposed by the Energy Regulatory Authority, and the government’s consolidation package. For example, electricity prices may increase by tens of percent for food producers; who are large consumers of it.
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Trade unions are planning a protest march in Prague on Monday the 27th of November to join the protest against the government’s austerity package which is expected to hit both companies and individuals, the pension reform and the upcoming hike in energy costs.
The Czech-Moravian Confederation of Trade Unions (ČMKOS) is organizing its own day of protests, and the school unions are preparing a day-long strike for higher wages and more funding for education.
The Association of Independent Trade Unions (ASO) also wants to hold an event on Malostranské náměstí and Mostecká and Karmelitská streets and has reported 5,000 trade unionists to the municipality.
Union members will meet at 12:00 p.m. at Jan Palach Square, from there they should set off at 12:30 via Mánes Bridge, Klárov, Letenská, Josefská, and Mostecká streets to Malostranské náměstí, where the demonstration is due to start at 13:00.
The unions should have a clear idea, at least three days before the strike, of how many people and which workplaces should stop working during the planned protest on Monday 27th November.
The right to strike is guaranteed by the Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms “under the conditions laid down by law”.
According to this law, unions declare a strike if at least half of the employees vote on it and at least two-thirds of them agree to it.
Participation in the strike is treated as an excused absence from work, no wages will be paid for the time spent on strike. People who do not take part in the strike, but are unable to work because of it, should be compensated for their wages with their usual earnings, this is protected by the Collective Bargaining Act, which regulates strike rules.
The last major strike in the Czech Republic took place in mid-June 2011, when transport unions stopped trains in the country and the Prague metro, for a whole day in protest of the government’s planned reforms.
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According to the latest data from the Czech Statistical Office, 2.2 million visitors came to the metropolis in the third quarter of 2023, i.e., in the summer season.
Compared to the same period last year, the total number of tourist arrivals increased by 15 percent, reported Klára Janderová, the spokesperson of Prague City Tourism (PCT).
Domestic guests (399,207) made up one-fifth of all visitors to the metropolis during the summer, an increase of 32 percent from the summer period of 2019.
More tourists from the US (142,699 visitors) and Asia (218,281) are also heading to the metropolis, thanks to regular flights from Seoul and Taipei. According to PCT experts, the mix of inbound travellers is also gradually changing.
A total of 5,446,130 tourists visited Prague between January and September. Compared to 2019, the number of visitors climbed up to 91 percent of the original figures. Most of the tourists visit from Germany, the United States, Great Britain, Slovakia and Poland.
Domestic tourism has also been on the rise, with Czech tourists making up a full fifth of the total number of visitors compared to 2019. The Association of Hotels and Restaurants of the Czech Republic published the average length of stay, which remains at 2.2 to 2.3 nights. For one night in the capital, visitors pay an average of 126 euros.
“For us, the goal is not to have as many tourists as possible come to the metropolis, but to increase the spending per tourist and not to encourage the burden on the monument reserve. It is also important that the composition of tourists is changing,” said PCT vice-president Jana Adamcová.
The data also shows an increase in the number of visitors from Asian countries, who arrived in the third quarter with a total of 218,281, an increase of 63 percent from the previous year. These tourists also usually stay longer in the capital.
The higher arrival rate is due to the recommencement of direct air connections from Prague to Seoul in Korea and Taipei in Taiwan. The number of tourists from the United States is also growing, with 17% more arrivals than last year, these tourists also spend the most in Prague.
In addition, the company is supporting tourism with campaigns subsidized by the accommodation fee, for the second year. Along with the campaign to promote domestic tourism, the Stay in Prague campaign, which is implemented in cooperation with Václav Havel Airport and CzechTourism, will be used to target selected source markets, during the summer season.
In December, Prague City Tourism, in cooperation with foreign journalists and influencers, will implement a Christmas campaign to attract tourists to take part in the Christmas atmosphere.
According to a proposal by the Energy Regulatory Office (ERO), the regulated price of electricity in the Czech Republic is expected to increase by 71 percent, next year.
Which would result in an annual increase of around four thousand crowns for one household.
What does the ERO’s proposal state?
The ERO’s proposal states that the regulated price of electricity should increase by 71 percent next year compared to this year. After including VAT, Czech electricity will increase by an average of CZK 1,408 per megawatt hour.
According to data, the average Czech household consumes around three-megawatt hours of electricity per year. However, following the increase in the regulated component, it will cost Czech households around CZK 4,200 per year.
What is the regulated component?
Energy billing in the Czech Republic consists of two components. The first part of the price is the price per commodity, which can be influenced by individual suppliers, and the second part is the regulated component, the amount of which is decided by the ERO.
Why is this happening?
Up until now, the state has partially been subsidizing energy for Czech households. However, this is about to change, and consumers will have to pay again, for example, for fees for supported renewable sources, costs for technical losses in the transmission and distribution system or costs for support services.
The government took this initiative in response to the dire condition of the state budget. Part of the payments will thus be passed on to customers, households, and companies.
What do the government and experts say?
At a press conference on Tuesday, Prime Minister Petr Fiala (ODS) denied that the ERO’s proposal would mean significant price increases in electricity for Czech households. According to the Prime Minister, the increase in the prices of regulated electricity will be compensated for by a decrease in the prices of power electricity.
“I must stress immediately and clearly that energy prices will not rise by tens of percent. Because the price of power electricity is falling, they will pay mostly the same as this year or at most one percent more,” said Fiala.
Some experts are not in complete agreement with the Prime Minister’s words and according to them, the type of contract customers have with their suppliers will play a major role next year.
“For the third of people who are still on the old, pre-crisis price lists and still pay very low prices, this will mean higher prices. Not just because the regulatory component has increased, but also because they will end the old, favourable prices for power energy, and will pay what the rest of us are currently paying” energy expert Jan Béreš told TN.cz.
In a post on the social network X, Tomáš Prouza, president of the Union of Trade and Tourism, said the ERO’s decision has thwarted the government’s efforts to lower prices and tame inflation in the Czech Republic.
“Today’s proposal by the ERO means a significant increase in energy prices for households and companies, especially in the energy-intensive parts of the industry, including the food industry,” Prouza wrote.
Advent, the pre-Christmas period filled with an atmosphere of magic, warmth, and coziness, will soon arrive in Prague. The city streets will be ablaze with colourful garlands and festive markets will open in the squares.
Most of them will be open until Christmas Eve (24 December), and only a few will keep locals and tourists in a festive mood until New Year’s Eve.
We’ve made a selection of Christmas markets in Prague where you can stroll around, drink hot mulled wine, and enjoy the fairytale atmosphere.
Náměstí Míru
This market is located on the square, of the same name, near St Ludmila’s Church. Here, visitors will find a typical festive assortment: Christmas gingerbread, Christmas toys and garlands, candles, souvenirs, Czech snacks, mulled wine, and sweets.
- Address: náměstí Míru, Prague 2, Vinohrady
- Opening hours: 20 November – 24 December, daily from 10:00 to 20:00.
Anděl metro station
This small market will open in the pedestrian zone near the Anděl metro station. There is an important tram intersection and several shopping centres, so expect a lot of people to be there.
- Address: Nádražní, pěší zóna Anděl, Prague 5, Smíchov
- Opening hours: 24 November – 24 December, daily from 08:00 to 20:00.
Náměstí Republiky
This market is located on the yellow metro line, of the same name, next to V Celnici street, opposite the Kolkovna restaurant, and the Christmas tree market is usually also open at the same location.
- Address: náměstí Republiky, Prague 1, Staré Město
- Opening hours: 25 November – 24 December, daily from 10:00 to 20:00
I.P. Pavlova metro station (Tylovo náměstí)
This small market is located near the Peace Square, with a distance of only 3-5 minutes by foot or a single tram stop. The market is primarily meant for locals, which is why the assortment mainly consists of ready-made festive delicacies and fresh products.
- Address: Tylovo náměstí, Prague 2, Vinohrady
- Opening hours: 26 November – 24 December, daily from 10:00 to 20:00
Jiřího z Poděbrad Square
The market on Jiřího z Poděbrad Square, located near the metro station of the same name, will delight visitors with a variety of treats, handmade goods, fresh farm products, and a rich entertainment programme.
Almost every day children’s choirs, magicians, circus, folk ensembles, and musical groups, of various genres, perform on a specially installed stage. For the young guests, organisers also promise to set up special tents hosting creative workshops.
Visitors can order Christmas biscuits and other traditional dishes, specially prepared for the festive table, from the vendors at the market i.e., baked goose, roasted carp, potato salad, etc.
- Address: náměstí Jiřího z Poděbrad, Prague 3
- Opening hours: 29 November – 23 December, daily from 10:00 to 20:00.
Old Town Square
This one is Prague’s largest Christmas market. Thousands of tourists and locals come here every day to get into the festive mood. At the market, you will also find a small enclosure with live sheep, goats, and ponies, eagerly fed by children.
Blacksmiths and other craftsmen will also showcase their skills, and national ensembles will entertain guests from the stage. Most of the market will consist of food and drink stalls. The section with inedible goods will be traditionally much smaller than that of other markets.
On the evening of Saturday, the 2nd of December, the country’s main Christmas tree will be lit up at the market.
- Address: Staroměstské náměstí, Prague 1, Staré Město
- Opening hours: 02.12.2023 – 06.01.2024, daily from 10:00 to 22:00 (some fast-food stalls until 24:00).
Christmas Market on Wenceslas Square (lower part)
This market will be located in the lower part of the famous Wenceslas Square at the exit by the Můstek metro station. This market is primarily aimed at tourists, meaning it will remain open for almost a week after New Year’s Eve.
- Address: Václavské náměstí, Prague 1, Nové Město
- Opening hours: 02.12.2023 – 06.01.2024, daily from 10:00 to 22:00 (some fast-food stalls until 24:00).
Palladium shopping centre
This will be another market by the Republic Square, but the organizers and opening hours will differ from the other. Festive stalls with souvenirs and treats will be directly located at the main entrance of the famous Palladium shopping centre.
- Address: náměstí Republiky, Prague 1, Staré Město
- Opening hours: 2 December – 30 December, daily from 10:00 to 22:00 (Snack tents until 24:00).
Christmas market on Kampa Island
A small but very cosy market will be held on Kampa Island near the Charles Bridge. Traditional Christmas food and drinks, farm products, musicians, and a festive atmosphere await its guests.
- Address: Kampa, Praha 1 – Malá Strana
- Opening hours: 03.12.2023 – 01.01.2024, daily from 10:00 to 20:00.
YouTube has long been setting the scene for popular fads and trends, the newest of which is the PRIME energy drink founded by world-famous YouTubers Logan Paul and Olajide William Olayinka, otherwise known as KSI.
The energy drink has been promoted extensively by the original creators, as well as other notable personalities from the sports world, however, its suitability for children and composition has raised concerns.
It is not just the high content of caffeine, according to a practitioner, but also the large dose of potassium which poses risks. Excessive intake of it could cause a range of health issues such as heart problems, muscle weakness, and overall fatigue.
“A lot of my friends drink it, it is a hit in the classroom and at school,” said twelve-year-old Matouš, who attends secondary school to iDNES.
Some children even exchange and sell the cans with one another and others drink the energy drink regularly, “I think it is the most popular energy drink in elementary schools right now” adds Matouš. The reason for the popularity of the drink is evident to Matouš, as the brand is promoted by celebrities with millions of followers, especially children.
Sweetened coconut water worth CZK 300
Up until a few months ago, it was difficult to find the popular drink in the country and could only be ordered from the UK or in online stores, meaning a small can cost up to CZK 320.
Today, however, the drink is available in convenience stores, chain stores, and even drugstores for only CZK 90, attracting even more intrigued children.
The drink comes in two basic variants and flavors that imitate ice cream or fruit. The “energy” variant, sold in cans containing 200mg of caffeine, is equivalent to three espressos.
The second variant, “hydration”, is caffeine-free but replaced with a large dose of potassium, which according to the half-liter bottle comprises 700mg of its content. Doctors, however, point out that neither option is suitable for children.
According to the Czech doctor Rodion Schwarz, energy drinks often contain high quantities of caffeine and other stimulants, and because children are far more sensitive to caffeine than adults, it has various negative effects on children.
Among the other effects of caffeine, he mentions increased heart rate and blood pressure, insomnia, sleep disturbances, nervousness, anxiety, and dehydration.
“The high potassium content of the hydration drink can be problematic, if children consume the drink in large quantities, especially if their diet is not balanced and does not contain enough sodium. While potassium is an important electrolyte for muscle and nerve function, excessive intake can lead to hyperkalemia, a condition in which there is too much potassium in the blood, which can be dangerous”.
Aerospace developers have been exploring new technology that would allow people to airlift between cities using AI-controlled drones, allowing Prague passengers to transport between Prague’s main station Hlavní nádraží to Vaclav Havel Airport in a matter of minutes.
This technology is not a part of a new sci-fi movie, but rather it is the future of air transport that was presented by experts at the Aerospace Research and Test Institute on Monday.
While the construction of the new metro connection in the direction of the airport is still nowhere in sight, Czech experts have begun working on the concept of air travel.
This new project seeks to provide fast transport at an affordable price, within the price range of a regular taxi, except it will be transporting you 400 meters in the air. “A new chapter of Czech industry, business, and aviation is beginning,” says Josef Kašpar, Director General of VZLU.
According to him, the new mode of transport will be designed primarily to help Prague, “but also to the regions, because a network of motorways or railways is not everywhere. In addition, the platform will not only be for personal transport but also cargo transport” says Kašpar.
“We need influence on deciding what will be built where, and not to wait for developers to occupy all the places. We are communicating with the state administration and with the regions, and believe the concept will be a success, not only in Prague but also the rest of the Czech Republic, because it has potential” Kašpar adds.
“The drone carrying the cabin is a robot that will be moving along a pre-planned route,” said Petr Raška, head of the Unmanned Systems Department of VZLU, yesterday when presenting the Czech prototype, designated MiYa.
Raška also states that “During the journey, it will be necessary to communicate with passengers from the ground control post, to be informed of what is happening on board, therefore there will be video cameras so that the supervisor from the ground can monitor the flight, even more so the aircraft, at the same time,”.
MiYa is designed for a flight altitude of up to four kilometers, but according to Raška, there will be no reason to fly that high.
“We expect a height of 400 metres above Prague. Because Prague is relatively rugged, we need height for possible maneuvers,” he explains.
For the time being, the take-off and landing stands, or the so-called vertiports, are planned for the Hlavní nádraží, Vítězné náměstí, Letňany, Pankrác, Chodov and Ruzyně Airport.
“We are heading to the middle of the next decade, where we expect transport to be emission-free. It will be an alternative to land transport, and for a reasonable price, comparable to that of a taxi,” says Raška.