One Of The World's Oldest Airlines Is Coming To A Permanent Close

Czech Airlines, the flag carrier of Czechia, started its aviation journey in 1923, making it one of the oldest airlines in the world. However, its long history is about to come to a halt, as some major changes are underway at the carrier. From late October 2024, Czech Airlines will no longer operate its usual flights, which include routes between Prague and other iconic capitals like Paris and Madrid.

If you plan to visit Czechia's stunning national parks or explore the streets of its historical cities, don't expect to find Czech Airlines in your flight search. The carrier's old flights will be replaced with flights operated by Smartwings, its sister company. The airlines' "OK" prefix will also be retired as part of the shift.

Unsurprisingly, the closure of Czech Airlines as a commercial carrier also means that it will no longer be a member of the SkyTeam alliance. With that said, this is unlikely to impact your travel benefits, even if you have airline elite status with the group. A SkyTeam representative told Aviation Week, "Given Czech Airlines' current limited schedule and network, there will be little overall impact to SkyTeam's global customer offering."

Czech Airlines' downfall can be attributed to multiple factors, including the rising cost of fuel, the COVID-19 pandemic, and competition from European budget airlines. Internal disagreements over the company's finances may have also taken a toll after the carrier filed for bankruptcy in 2021. That said, Czech Airlines isn't gone for good. While you may not be able to book tickets directly through the airline or find its code on your boarding passes anymore, Czech Airlines will continue as a holding company. Moreover, it's expected to remain in charge of managing the Czech Airlines division of Smartwings.

The airline's brand will also carry on in some capacity. Its website, for instance, is expected to remain functional, and a handful of planes will continue to fly with the Czech Airlines logo. In fact, four new aircraft set to join the Smartwings fleet will carry the shuttered airline's branding. Czech Airlines or not, there's no excuse not to head to Prague for that picture-perfect winter vacation.