The Sad Demise of Czech Airlines: How ČSA Faded Into Obscurity
Czech Airlines (ČSA) will stop operating flights under its own brand name, marking the effective end of one of the world’s oldest airline companies.
With the introduction of the winter flight schedule on 27th October, all Czech Airlines flights will officially be operated by Smartwings, the parent company of the Czech national flag carrier.
According to the Czech transport website Zdopravy, ČSA flights will no longer carry flight numbers starting with the old Czech Airlines IATA airline code OK and will instead use the QS code of Smartwings from that point onwards.
In recent years, the Czech airline company operated the two brands separately, with the majority of flights under the low-cost Smartwings brand, while a few services still retained the traditional branding and full-service model of ČSA.
As part of a restructuring process to streamline the brand and services, the parent company will henceforth be named Czech Airlines, while all flights will be operated under the Smartwings name.
Consequences
As an immediate consequence of suspending flights under the ČSA brand and OK flight numbers, Czech Airlines will formally leave the SkyTeam alliance, of which it has been a part since 2001.
Czech Airlines will also terminate its OK Plus frequent flyer programme by 26 October 2024, urging members to redeem their frequent flyer miles before this date.
Existing flight bookings will not be affected, including award flights booked with OK Plus miles.
If you are booked on a Czech Airlines flight from 27th October onwards, it will still be operated as scheduled, though now by Smartwings.
However, Smartwings flights will not earn any frequent flyer miles if you were planning to credit them to a SkyTeam frequent flyer programme, as it is not part of the alliance.
Rich history
Czech Airlines is the fifth oldest airline in the world still in operation today, with only KLM, Avianca, Qantas, and Aeroflot having a longer history.
The airline was founded in 1923 as Československé státní aerolinie (Czechoslovak State Airlines), which is the origin of their still-used abbreviation, ČSA.
After the peaceful dissolvement of Czechoslovakia into a separate Czech and Slovak republic, the airline adopted its current name.
In recent decades, the airline operated flights from its hub at Václav Havel Airport in Prague to destinations across Europe.
After Korean Air acquired a minority stake in ČSA, the airline operated long-haul flights to Seoul using an Airbus A330 leased from the Korean company.
In 2017, Korean Air however sold its stake into Czech Airlines to the Travel Service Group, a local Czech transport company which in 2004 had already launched its own low-cost company called Smartwings.
Czech Airlines fell into insolvency during the COVID-19 pandemic, and although it was successfully restructured, from that point on, the airline played second fiddle to Smartwings.
ČSA’s route network was progressively reduced each year, and as of now, it operates only two routes from Prague: One to Madrid, and another to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport.
Although 26th October 2024 will mark the last ever Czech Airlines flight, the brand name will live on, both as the new name of the Smartwings parent company and in the livery of some of their aircraft.
The two Airbus A320 planes that still bear the Czech Airlines livery will retain it, and a couple of brand-new Airbus A220 planes, soon to be delivered to Smartwings, will also feature the traditional white-and-red colours of the ČSA livery.
Flight memories
It’s a great pity to see the Czech Airlines brand name being discontinued, even though it will live on in a highly diminished form as the new name of the parent company.
I’ve taken quite a few ČSA flights across Europe, whether for trips to Prague or for connecting itineraries within Europe.
As a SkyTeam loyalist (holding Air France/KLM Flying Blue platinum status), the airline often provided a good opportunity to earn a bunch of frequent flyer miles, and of course I could always get lounge access before my flight.
However, the last time I flew with the Czech flag carrier was quite a while ago, as its highly limited route network in recent years was of little use to me.
Before the pandemic, I did take about one flight each year with the airline, such as flying between Bucharest and Prague in 2019, or flying from Brussels to Bucharest via Prague in 2018.
My most memorable trip with ČSA was in 2011, when I flew with the Czech flag carrier from Amsterdam to Odessa via Prague, and also on an ATR 42-500 turboprop between Košice in Slovakia and Prague.
It’s a pity I never had the chance to try Czech Airlines in business class or on a long-haul flight, as all my previous flights with them were in short-haul economy.
My own take on the end of Czech Airlines
Given the airline’s long history, I personally don’t quite understand why the airline bosses chose to abandon the well-established Czech Airlines brand and operate all flights under the Smartwings name.
Sure, Smartwings has strong brand recognition within the Czech Republic, where most of their passengers are based, but one would expect that the Czech Airlines brand might still have more strength, particularly internationally.
Conclusion
On 26th October 2024, Czech Airlines (ČSA) will operate its final flight after 101 years of service.
From 27th October 2024 onwards, the remaining routes previously operated by ČSA, namely the flights from Prague to Paris and Madrid, will be operated under the low-cost Smartwings brand.
Although the name of Czech Airlines will continue in some form, as the parent company will be renamed accordingly and its airplane livery will continue, there will no longer be any flights formally operated by ČSA.
This also means that ČSA will no longer be part of the SkyTeam alliance, and their OK Plus frequent flyer programme will be terminated as well.
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