Turkish airline Pegasus Airlines completed its takeover of Czech Airlines and Smartwings on 1 October 2026.[1][2] The two groups together operate more than 175 aircraft and have a confirmed order for a further 140 planes.[2]*

Pegasus Airlines had previously announced that it was buying Czech Airlines for 154 million euros, or about 3.8 billion koruna.[1][2] The purchase price also covers Czech Airlines' subsidiaries and related receivables.[2] The takeover was approved about a month earlier by the Office for the Protection of Competition, on condition that Pegasus give up part of its summer slots on the Prague–Antalya route in favor of another carrier.[1]

According to its spokeswoman Vladimíra Dufková, Smartwings will continue to operate under its established brand and will retain its day-to-day operations.[1] All Smartwings shares are owned by Czech Airlines, which became the group's controlling company at the beginning of October 2024.[2]

Smartwings has been active on the market for 28 years, previously under the name Travel Service, and is the largest Czech airline.[2] Smartwings operates routes to 80 destinations in 20 countries and also offers charter and private flights.[2]

Czech Airlines was founded in 1923 as Czechoslovak State Airlines and stopped flying under its OK code in 2024.[2]

Pegasus Airlines is headquartered in Istanbul, was founded in 1990, and its network covers 161 destinations in 57 countries.[2]

Related articles: Smartwings, České aerolinie

Chronology

  • — The Turkish company Pegasus Airlines completed the takeover of Czech Airlines and Smartwings. Novinky.cz Seznam Zprávy

Sources

  1. Novinky.cz — 1 October 2026
  2. Seznam Zprávy — 1 October 2026
  3. Echo24 — 1 October 2026
  4. E15 — 1 October 2026