Smartwings

Smartwings is a Czech airline based at Václav Havel Airport Prague. It flies scheduled and charter services, mainly to holiday destinations, and also leases aircraft to other airlines. Since 1 October 2026 it has been owned by Pegasus Airlines of Türkiye, which completed its purchase of Czech Airlines and the Smartwings Group that day. Pegasus said Smartwings will keep operating under its two brands, Smartwings and Czech Airlines.

Smartwings, a.s. is part of a group that, according to its own about page, also includes Smartwings Poland, Smartwings Slovakia and Smartwings Hungary. Smartwings is closer to a leisure and charter airline than a pure low-cost carrier: it works closely with tour operators, and its fares include a Business option.

From Travel Service to Smartwings

The airline was founded in September 1997 as Travel Service, flying charters for Czech tour operators, first with a Tupolev Tu-154M and from 2000 with Boeing 737s. In 2004 it launched Smart Wings as a low-cost brand for scheduled flights. Ownership changed several times: Icelandair Group held a stake from 2007 to 2009, and the Chinese group CEFC, later CITIC, held 49.9%. Travel Service bought into Czech Airlines in 2014 and took a 98% holding in 2017, and on 10 December 2018 the company took the name of its low-cost brand, Smartwings.

In February 2024 CITIC sold its shares to Prague City Air, a Czech-owned company that also controlled Czech Airlines. In October 2024 Smartwings took over all flying for Czech Airlines, which continues as a brand, while Czech Airlines became the holding company. Pegasus announced its agreement to buy that holding company in December 2025.

Network

Pegasus describes Smartwings and the Czech Airlines brand together as a network of 80 destinations in 20 countries, with close ties to tour operators. Smartwings itself says it flies scheduled services to dozens of destinations as well as charters, and Wikipedia lists codeshares with Air Europa, Eurowings, Israir and Starlux Airlines. Smartwings also runs special flights for companies and for humanitarian and sports organisations.

Fleet

Wikipedia's fleet table, dated July 2026, lists 41 aircraft: 19 Boeing 737-800s, 14 Boeing 737 MAX 8s, two 737-900ERs, two Airbus A320s and four Airbus A220-300s, the last flying under the Czech Airlines brand. Smartwings also flies a small fleet of Cessna Citation business jets for private charters. Pegasus said the combined group fleet after the deal is more than 175 aircraft.