After more than a century as an independent airline, Czech Airlines (CSA) will cease operations and fully merge into the Smartwings Group. With the final flight on 26 October 2024, a long-standing chapter in Czech aviation history will come to an end, as the “OK” airline code on Czech Airlines tickets will be replaced by “QS.”
After more than a hundred years as a standalone carrier, Czech Airlines will stop selling tickets in just a few weeks and will exclusively operate under the Smartwings Group brand. On Saturday, 26 October, a Czech Airlines plane will land in Prague from Paris – the last independent flight of the airline. At the same time, Czech Airlines will end its membership in SkyTeam, the world’s second-largest airline alliance, reports Czech news channel ČT24.
From next month onwards, the “OK” code on Czech Airlines tickets will be replaced by “QS,” which represents Smartwings. This change marks the complete transition of Czech Airlines into the Smartwings Group, which will take over the entire operation of the newly united Smartwings-CSA group at the end of October.
The history of Czech Airlines dates back to 29 October 1923, when the Czechoslovak state airline made its first regular flight from Prague to Bratislava. The pilot, Karel Brabenec, took off with an Aero A-14 Brandenburg biplane, carrying 760 grams of mail and one passenger. This historic event marked the beginning of a long and proud tradition.
In the following decades, Czech Airlines (České aerolinie) developed into an international airline with connections to around a hundred cities worldwide. Particularly noteworthy was the introduction of jet aircraft in the 1950s, when Czechoslovakia was one of the first countries to adopt this modern technology. In 1957, the airline acquired its first jet aircraft from the Soviet Union.
The political changes after 1989 brought significant transformations to Czech Airlines. The airline began leasing and purchasing Western aircraft, replacing the old Soviet machines. This led to a modernised fleet and an improved safety record. A first attempt at privatisation came with the entry of the French airline Air France as a co-owner in 1992, but this presented unexpected challenges as Air France soon faced its own financial difficulties.
Several failed privatisation attempts followed in the years ahead. Finally, in 2013, the Czech government successfully sold Czech Airlines to Korean Air. However, Korean Air was unable to stabilise the airline long-term and handed it over in 2017 to the Czech Smartwings Group.
In recent years, Czech Airlines has struggled with financial difficulties and the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. The final flight from Paris to Prague will mark the end of an era for the once globally recognised airline.
