Czech Airlines to End Operations in October After 101 Years of Flying

After a century of flying, CSA Czech Airlines called it a career after first opening on October 26, 1923. The airline will close its doors one day after its 101st anniversary — October 27, 2024.

CSA Czechs Out

CSA Czech Airlines, one of the oldest airlines still in business, will be set to cease operations this October 27. This airline is the fifth oldest airline still in operation, behind KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Avianca, Qantas Airways, and Aeroflot.

Sister company Smartwings sent out a press release stating that Czech Airlines' OK code will be discontinued from Smartwings' systems, and will be replaced with Smartwings QS code. The press release gave a reason for this decision:

"The reason for the change in CSA's business model is to make the group's operation more efficient using the synergistic effects of Czech Airlines and Smartwings with the aim of increasing productivity while maintaining the CSA and Smartwings brands."

In other words, Smartwings sees CSA Czech Airlines as more suited as a holdings company, putting the company to better use on the corporate side of Smartwings.
 

Smartwings Chairman of the Board of Directors Jiří Jurán also chimed in in the press release, reassuring current Czech AIrlines customers that they will be accommodated accordingly:

"There is a need to constantly optimize the costs of operating companies within the group, simplify processes, and diversify risks. These are steps that will have a positive impact on the group's operations. At the same time, we will offer our clients a consistent, clear, and comprehensible offer of products and services on all flights.”

In 2021, Czech Airlines filed for bankruptcy, stating that the COVID-19 pandemic was the sole reason for its losses in business. The airline made this statement on the company website in conjunction with the bankruptcy filing:

“Prior to COVID-19, CSA was a profitable company. As a consequence of the pandemic and the related extraordinary travel restrictions implemented by governments globally, CSA´s payment reputation was challenged significantly.”
 

Unlike other European airlines such as Lufthansa, CSA wasn't fortunate to receive financial aid in light of the pandemic.

The Future Of Czech Airlines

After October 27, Smartwings will manage and operate its flights, so any passengers who have booked a flight after October shouldn't need to worry and should still have their flights as planned.

Czech Airlines, the Czech flag carrier airline, currently only flies two routes that go from Vaclav Havel Airport in Prague, Czech Republic, and fly to and from Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, France, and Adolfo Suarez-Barajas Airport in Madrid, Spain. 
 

The Paris flight operates twice daily with two Airbus A320s, while the Madrid flight is flown only four times a week with one Boeing 737-800. Smartwings plans to swap the Boeing out in favor of another A320 this December.

As of this writing, Smartwings will not discontinue the Czech Airlines branding on aircraft. In addition to the two A320s keeping their appearances, an additional four A220-300s will also fly with Czech Airlines decals. Two of these new planes will be deployed by the end of the year, with the other two coming in early 2025.

Czech Airlines also has its "OK Plus" loyalty program, but that will also be terminated on October 26. The press release states that customers should use these miles either with Czech or a SkyTeam alliance-affiliated airline by this end date, as the miles can't be exchanged for cash. Smartwings doesn't appear to have a loyalty program and doesn't plan to introduce one at this time.

What do you think of Czech Airlines shutting its doors? Let us read your thoughts in the comments section below.