Aviation History
Czech civil aviation traces to 1923, when Czechoslovak State Airlines (ČSA) was founded, later becoming one of the world's longest continuously operating flag carriers. The industry passed through communist-era state control, a post-1989 opening to Western markets, and a 1993 split tied to the dissolution of Czechoslovakia. In 2024 Czech Airlines ended 101 years of independent scheduled operations, folding into sister carrier Smartwings after a 2021 bankruptcy filing, and by late 2025 the combined group's ownership was itself in transition (a Pegasus Airlines acquisition agreement), so its current corporate status should be checked against up-to-date sources.
Czechoslovak State Airlines (ČSA) was established on 6 October 1923; its first flight, between Prague and Bratislava, followed weeks later.
Prague's Ruzyně Airport (later Václav Havel Airport Prague) opened, becoming the country's principal international gateway.
ČSA took delivery of the Tupolev Tu-104A, becoming one of the first airlines in the world to operate scheduled jet service.
The fall of the communist regime opened Czechoslovak aviation to Western aircraft, carriers, and markets after decades of Soviet-bloc isolation.
Following the peaceful split of Czechoslovakia into the Czech Republic and Slovakia, ČSA continued as the flag carrier of the new Czech state.
Czech Airlines became a full member of the SkyTeam global airline alliance.
The Czech Republic joined the European Union, integrating its aviation market into the EU's single aviation area.
After years of losses and a 2021 bankruptcy filing, Czech Airlines ceased flying under its own operating certificate on 26 October 2024, restructuring into a holding company with Smartwings performing its flights.
Turkey's Pegasus Airlines signed an agreement in December 2025 to acquire the Czech Airlines/Smartwings holding for roughly €154 million; as an ownership change still working through completion, this status may have moved on and should be verified against current reporting.
Czech Airlines (ČSA) · Smartwings · Travel Service
Wikipedia, airline corporate histories, aviation trade press (Simple Flying, AeroTime, Cranky Flier, Business Travel News Europe)
Aviation Firsts
Prague–Kbely Airport — Prague (1918): Opened 1 December 1918, described as 'the Czech Republic's first ever airport' / the first Czechoslovak military airfield — predates Prague's main airport Ruzyně (1937, now Václav Havel Airport) by about two decades. The 'first' wording is itself uncited within its own Wikipedia article, so treat with mild caution even though no competing claim was found. · Wikipedia ↗
Czech Airlines (ČSA) (1923): Founded 6 October 1923 as Československé státní aerolinie (Czechoslovak State Airlines; renamed 26 March 1995). Was 'the world's fifth oldest operating' airline until it stopped flying on 26 October 2024 — restructured into a holding company; Smartwings now operates former ČSA routes. No older Czech/Czechoslovak carrier was found. · OK ↗ · Wikipedia ↗
Menzies Aviation (United Kingdom): Menzies Aviation operates as 'Menzies Aviation Czech,' running Cargo Terminal 1 at Václav Havel Airport Prague. No source gives the year it entered the Czech market or confirms it was the first foreign GH company there (vs. other entrants during the 1990s post-communist liberalization). (best-documented candidate found — not source-confirmed as literally first.) · Wikipedia ↗