Czech Airlines, one of the world’s oldest airlines founded in 1923, is ending its flight operations later this year and leaving the SkyTeam alliance.
The airline operated flights to various destinations worldwide but in recent years has reduced its operations, now serving only two routes from Prague. It leases two A320s from the Dublin offices of Babcock & Brown Aircraft Management (BBAM Dallas) and Aircastle Connecticut.
Owner Smartwings is set to take over flight operations from October 26, with Czech Airlines brand remaining but operating under the Smartwings QS code. The last CSA flight will rotate to Paris on that date.
Czech Airlines’ loyalty programme will also close on October 26, members won’t be able to use miles on SkyTeam partner carriers after this date..
ČSA is the fifth oldest airline in the world, after the Netherlands’ KLM (1919), Colombia’s Avianca (1919), Australia’n’s Qantas (1920), and Soviet/Russia’n’s Aeroflot (1923). It was the first airline in the world to fly regular jet-only routes (between Prague and Moscow.
The airline operated flights from Dublin to Prague and had a dedicated service team based in Dublin headed by Stephen Davitt. Smartwings followed in the route but withdrew amidst competition from Aer Lingus and Ryanair.
