Prague  - State-owned Prague Airport plans to lay off some 160 employees, who account for 7 per cent of firm's workforce, before privatization planned for next year, it was announced Thursday.

In a bid to get in shape prior to the privatization, the company running the airport plans to start cutting the jobs in December. The airport will also cancel 90 vacant positions.

"It is clear that this step will raise the value of our company from the perspective of potential investors," airport's executive manager Miroslav Dvorak said in a statement.

The Czech center-right government of Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek is either to sell or lease Ruzyne international airport, the second largest in Central Europe after Vienna.

Analysts have estimated its price at 100 billion koruny (5.7 billion dollars).

According to earlier reports, potential bidders include Czech and Slovak investment groups as well as foreign airport operators such as Abertis Infraestructuras, Hochtief Airports, Flughafen Wien or Aeroports de Paris. (dpa)