Czech Airlines will cease operations by the end of October 2024. After serving as the national flag carrier of the Czech Republic for several years, the airline will merge into a holding company with Smartwings, another Czech airline that is currently the country’s largest carrier.
Czech Airlines’ final flight will operate on October 26, 2024, with a service from Paris to Prague.
Ready for takeoff? Let’s depart into the world of this historic Czech-based airline. In no particular order, here are 10 historical facts about Czech Airlines, covering topics such as its history and most recent operations.
Czech Airlines Facts
1. Czech Airlines was founded in the 1920s
Czech Airlines was established on October 6, 1923, by the Czechoslovak government under the name Czechoslovak State Airlines (Československé státní aerolinie). This significant event took place just five years after the founding of Czechoslovakia as an independent country.
The airline’s inaugural flight took to the skies just a few weeks later, with an international service from Prague to Bratislava.
2. Among the world’s oldest airlines
As of September 2024, Czech Airlines is the fifth oldest airline in the world. It sits behind Aeroflot, Qantas, Avianca, and KLM.
However, the airline will lose this distinction when it ceases operations in October 2024.
3. One of the first airlines to fly a regular jet-only route
In 1957, Czech Airlines was one of the first airlines to operate a route entirely with jet aircraft, using the Tupolev Tu-104 between Prague and Moscow.
The Tupolev Tu-104 was a Soviet twin turbojet airliner, produced between 1956 and 1960.
4. World War II impact
During World War II, Czech Airlines ceased operations due to the German occupation of Czechoslovakia in 1939.
As a result, the airline’s aircraft were not used by the carrier for civilian purposes during the war. Instead, the aviation infrastructure in Czechoslovakia came under the control of German authorities, who repurposed airports and aircraft for military use as part of the war effort.
After the war ended, the airline was reestablished and resumed its flights in 1946, marking the beginning of a new era in its history.
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5. Czech Airlines name adopted
After the fall of communism and the formation of the Czech Republic, the airline remained mostly state-owned.
In 1995, it officially adopted the name Czech Airlines.
6. Smartwings acquisition
In the 2000s, the Czech government attempted to sell a majority stake in the airline.
Czech Airlines became fully privatized after being acquired by Smartwings in 2018.
7. A member of SkyTeam
Czech Airlines became an official member of SkyTeam in March 2001. SkyTeam is one of three major airline alliances around the world.
The airline will leave the alliance when it ceases operations at the end of October 2024.
8. Czech Airlines filed for bankruptcy
In March 2021, Czech Airlines filed for bankruptcy.
This was followed by a business restructuring that allowed the airline to emerge from bankruptcy in June 2022.
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9. A new parent company
In 2022, Czech Airlines gained a new parent company, Prague City Air, which acquired a 70% stake in the airline.
Meanwhile, Smartwings maintained a 30% ownership in the carrier.
10. Two active aircraft remain
As of September 2024, Czech Airlines has two active aircraft in its fleet; two Airbus A320-200s.
However, it is anticipated that these Czech Airlines aircraft will be transferred to Smartwings during the upcoming merger involving the two Czech airlines.
This article was updated on October 9, 2024.
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