Turkiye’s Pegasus wins conditional Czech approval for Smartwings acquisition

Pegasus secures conditional Czech approval for Smartwings acquisition
Approval requires slot transfer on Prague Antalya route
Smartwings holds 65.6 pc capacity on route
Acquisition price set at €154m
Czech proceedings opened in May 2026

Pegasus Airlines has secured conditional Czech competition clearance for its acquisition of České aerolinie a.s., which controls Smartwings Group, the Czech competition regulator confirmed on 11 September 2026. The decision was issued in late August but was not final because the appeals period remained open. The approval requires Pegasus Airlines to transfer some summer slots on the Prague Václav Havel to Antalya route to another airline.

The Czech competition regulator identified competition concerns in scheduled nonstop services between the two cities, warning that the combined group would have a very high market share and a lead over competitors. It also found that expected entry by additional airlines had not materialised. For the seven days starting 21 September 2026, ch-aviation capacities data show Smartwings accounting for 65.6 pc of scheduled seat capacity on the route with 3,940 seats, followed by SunExpress at 22 pc and Pegasus at 12.4 pc.

The slot transfer requirement covers both Prague and Antalya and is intended to give competing airlines access to suitable slot pairs on the route. The Czech proceedings opened in May following an application by Pegasus Europe B.V. to acquire sole control of České aerolinie and its subsidiaries. Pegasus Airlines agreed to acquire Smartwings Group for €154m ($178m), including assigned receivables and subject to closing adjustments.