Smartwings

File:Smartwings Headquarters.jpg]]

File:294bd - SmartWings Boeing 737-500; OK-SWZ@ZRH;15.05.2004 (8538223243).jpg in 2004]]

File:Boeing 737-800 Travel Service (TVS) OK-TVB - MSN 32362 1125 (9739875239).jpg in 2013]]

Smartwings was founded in 1997 originally under the name Travel Service and focused on operating charter flights mainly for Czech tour operators. Its first airplane was a Tupolev Tu-154M. In 2000, Travel Service received its first Boeing 737-400.

In 2004, Travel Service launched its low-cost brand Smartwings. Travel Service leased two Boeing 737-500s from Lufthansa which were primary intended for Smartwings flights. Both aircraft were painted in the new Smartwings livery. Former Czech president Václav Klaus attended the opening ceremony, which was held on May 1, 2004.{{Cite web|date=May 5, 2004|title=SmartWings Příjemná překvapení|url=https://www.itest.cz/old/letectvi/smart_wings.htm|website=iTEST.cz}} In 2007, the company carried 2.2 million passengers, and a year later about 2.3 million passengers. In 2014, it carried 4.3 million passengers, about 1.2 of them on regular flights under the brand name Smartwings.{{cite web|url=http://www.novinky.cz/ekonomika/325086-travel-service-hlasi-za-lonsky-rok-skoro-o-petinu-vic-cestujicich.html|title=Travel Service hlásí za loňský rok skoro o pětinu víc cestujících|date=20 January 2014 |publisher=Novinky.cz|language=cs|access-date=20 January 2015}} On 18 September 2007, the Icelandair Group acquired 50% stake in the carrier, and purchased further shares to bring its holding up to 80% by April 2008. In December 2008, it reduced its holding to 66% by selling shares to the other shareholders, Unimex.Annual Report of Travel Service 2007{{cite web|url=http://atwonline.com/news/icelandair-group-signs-loi-acquire-czech-airline-operator-travel-service|title=Icelandair Group signs LOI to acquire Czech airline operator Travel Service|publisher=Air Transport World|access-date=13 May 2007}} In 2009, their stake was further diluted to 50.1% through a new share issue; they also sold a portion of their stake to fellow owners, reducing their holding to 30%.{{cite web |title=Icelandair Group hf. Prospectus - October 2010 |url=http://www.euroinvestor.dk/pdf/cse/11382129_22103.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304090429/http://www.euroinvestor.dk/pdf/cse/11382129_22103.pdf |archive-date=2016-03-04 |publisher=euroinvestor.dk}}{{cite web|url=http://www.euroinvestor.com/news/2009/11/26/icelandair-group-sells-20pct-of-its-share-in-the-czech-airline-travel-service/10757911|title=Icelandair Group sells 20% of its share in the Czech airline Travel Service|publisher=euroinvestor.dk|access-date=26 November 2009}} In 2009, Icelandair spun its 30% stake in Travel Service into a new company, which was taken over by Icelandair's creditors. Chinese investment group CEFC China Energy then held a 49.9% stake in Travel Service.{{cite web|url=http://www.nasdaq.com/article/chinesebacked-firm-travel-service-to-take-over-czech-airlines-20171006-00386|title=Chinese-backed firm Travel Service to take over Czech Airlines|agency=Reuters|date=6 November 2017|access-date=30 November 2017}}

In 2013, Travel Service cancelled its order for a Boeing 787 Dreamliner and purchased a Boeing 737 MAX 8 instead.{{cn|date=May 2024}}

Travel Service owned 98 percent of Czech Airlines; it bought 64% from Prisko and Korean Air in 2017. Before, it owned 34%, bought in 2014. After Czech Airlines went through business restructuring, Smartwings retained 30% of the company.{{Cite web |title=ČSA oslavily 99 let. Až překonají stovku, chtěly by létat i s Airbusy A220-300. |url=https://www.airways.cz/zprava/csa-vcera-oslavily-99-let-az-prekonaji-stovku-chtely-by-letat-s-airbusy-a220/ |access-date=2022-10-11 |website=Airways.cz|language=cs}}

In October 2017, it was announced that Travel Service planned to transfer its branding from an airline to a holding company, and would move all of its operations under the Smartwings brand.[https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/60187-czech-airlines-has-new-owner-as-travel-service-ups-stake Travel Service Rebrand] In 2018, it was announced that the Travel Service livery would be replaced by the Smartwings livery.{{Cite news|url=http://zdopravy.cz/travel-service-meni-nater-letadel-misto-cervene-bude-oranzova-a-logo-smartwings-9137/|title=Travel Service mění nátěr letadel. Místo červené bude oranžová a logo Smartwings|date=2018-03-16|work=Zdopravy.cz|access-date=2018-03-31|language=cs-CZ}} Also in that year, deliveries of the new Boeing 737 MAX began.

Travel Service was renamed to Smartwings, the name of its former low-cost subsidiary, in December 2018.{{Cite web|date=2018-12-09|title=Konec éry Travel Service. Akcionáři schválili změnu jména na Smartwings|url=https://zdopravy.cz/konec-ery-travel-service-akconar-schvalili-zmenu-jmena-na-smartwings-20558/|access-date=2021-03-05|website=Zdopravy.cz|language=cs}}

In March 2019, Smartwings announced plans to create a German subsidiary by late 2019, and to transition its Czech Airlines subsidiary to an all-Boeing 737 fleet.[http://www.austrianaviation.net/detail/smartwings-baut-deutsche-tochter-airline-auf/ austrianaviation.net - "Smartwings establishes German subsidiary"] (German) 7 March 2019 However, as of 2022, these plans have not materialized, and Czech Airlines maintains its Airbus fleet.{{Cite web |title=Aircraft Fleet |url=https://www.csa.cz/cz-en/fleet/ |access-date=2022-05-20 |website=Czech Airlines}} In February 2021, Smartwings announced the return of their stored Boeing 737 MAX to service by the end of the month, the first European airline to resume operations following the flying ban lasting over 20 months due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[https://www.aero.de/news-38599/Smartwings-will-noch-im-Februar-die-737-MAX-einsetzen.html aero.de] (German) 9 February 2021

In February 2024, then owner CITIC – which bought its shares from CEFC – sold all of its shares in Smartwings to Czech-owned Prague City Air, which also owns the majority in Czech Airlines.[https://www.ch-aviation.com/news/137487-smartwings-becomes-fully-czech-owned-company ch-aviation.com - Smartwings becomes fully Czech-owned company] 27 February 2024 In October 2024, Smartwings took over all flight operations of Czech Airlines, operating under the Czech Airlines brand, while Czech Airlines was restructured as a holding company.[https://www.ch-aviation.com/news/140396-czechias-csa-to-become-holding-co-smartwings-to-run-ops ch-aviation.com - Czechia's CSA to become holding co, Smartwings to run ops] 16 May 2024

Smartwings serve over 40 destinations in 25 countries from their hub at Václav Havel Airport Prague. Additionally, some flights are operated from Brno and Ostrava airports. The airline primarily focuses on leisure destinations across Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East.{{cite web|url=https://www.smartwings.com/en/destination/|title=Smartwings destinations|website=www.smartwings.com|access-date=2024-10-30}}{{cite web|url=https://www.flightconnections.com/route-map-smartwings-qs|title=Flight Connections - Smartwings|website=www.flightconnections.com|access-date=2024-10-30}}

Smartwings has codeshare agreements with the following airlines:

• Air Europa{{cite web|title=Air Europa and Smartwings sign codeshare agreement for Prague-Madrid connection

|date=18 March 2025 |url=https://aviation.direct/en/Air-Europa-and-Smartwings-sign-codeshare-agreement-for-Prague-Madrid-connection}}

• Eurowings{{cite web|title=Eurowings / Smartwings Expands Codeshare Network From Feb 2024|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/240129-ewqscodeshare}}

File:SmartWings, OK-TSF, Boeing 737-8GJ (28252068128).jpg]]

File:Smart Wings B737-8 MAX (OK-SWC) @ TFS, Jan 2019.jpg]]

{{As of|2025|4}}, the Smartwings fleet consists of the following aircraft:{{cite web|url=https://www.smartwings.com/en/fleet/|title=Fleet|website=Smartwings}}

Smartwings and formerly Travel Service also operated the following aircraft types:

• Boeing 737-400{{Cn|date=January 2025}}
• Boeing 737-500{{Cite web |title=Boeing 737-500 :: Travel Service a Smart Wings |url=https://travel-service.webnode.cz/boeing-737-500/ |access-date=2024-12-23 |website=travel-service.webnode.cz}}
• Boeing 757-200{{Cite web |last=Cibulka |first=Milan |title=OM-ASB - B757-236 - Praha - Ruzyně (PRG/LKPR) |url=https://www.planes.cz/cs/photo/1016754/b757-236-om-asb-travel-service-tvs-qs-praha-ruzyne-prg-lkpr |access-date=2024-12-23 |website=planes.cz |language=cs}}
• Boeing 767-300ER{{Cite web |last=Všetečka |first=Roman |date=2008-12-05 |title=Dokáže obletět čtvrtku Zeměkoule. Největší dopravní letadlo v ČR startuje |url=https://www.idnes.cz/nastaveni-souhlasu?url=https%3a%2f%2fwww.idnes.cz%2ftechnet%2ftechnika%2fdokaze-obletet-ctvrtku-zemekoule-nejvetsi-dopravni-letadlo-v-cr-startuje.A081205_164605_tec_technika_vse |access-date=2024-12-23 |website=iDNES.cz}}
• Tupolev Tu-154M{{Cite web |last=Popelář |first=Petr |title=OK-VCP - TU154M - Praha - Ruzyně (PRG/LKPR) |url=https://www.planes.cz/cs/photo/1143846/tu154m-ok-vcp-travel-service-tvs-qs-praha-ruzyne-prg-lkpr |access-date=2024-12-23 |website=planes.cz |language=cs}}

File:Cessna 680 Citation Sovereign, Travel Service Airline JP7718802.jpg]]

Smartwings also operates business jets that are available for private air charter.{{cite web|url=https://jet.smartwings.com/en/ |title=Business jet |website=jet.smartwings.com|access-date=28 September 2021}} As of January 2017 the business jet fleet consists of the following aircraft:

{{clear}}

• On 22 August 2019, a Smartwings Boeing 737-800 (Registration: OK-TVO) operated flight QS-1125 departed from Samos, Greece to Prague, Czech Republic with 170 passengers on board. The aircraft was flying at {{convert|36,000|feet|m|sigfig=2}} over the Aegean Sea about {{convert|100|nmi|mi km}} northeast of Athens, Greece when it had an engine failure. The crew drifted the aircraft down to {{convert|24,000|ft|m|sigfig=2}} without informing ATC of the emergency, only informing them of a "technical malfunction". Instead of landing at the nearest suitable airport, as per engine failure procedure, the flight crew carried on to Prague at that level for a landing without further incident about 2 hours 20 minutes later. The Czech Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) confirmed that an investigation had been launched into the incident: "we have decided to launch an investigation as the procedure followed doesn't seem standard."{{cite news |title=Engine of a SmartWings Boeing 737-800 shuts down in-flight, crew continues to Prague for another 2 hours and 20 minutes on remaining engine |url=https://www.aviation24.be/airlines/smartwings/engine-of-a-smartwings-boeing-737-800-shuts-down-in-flight-crew-continues-to-prague-for-another-2-hours-and-20-minutes-on-remaining-engine/ |access-date=30 August 2019 |publisher=Aviation24}}{{cite news |title=Smartwings probed for continuing flight after engine failure |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-airlines-smartwings/smartwings-probed-for-continuing-flight-after-engine-failure-idUSKCN1VH16W |access-date=30 August 2019 |publisher=Reuters}} Following the incident, Prague police launched an investigation into the flight on suspicion of endangering the public due to negligence, and a Smartwings internal investigation demoted the captain from his post as head of flight operations.{{cite web|url=https://airlinegeeks.com/2020/07/26/investigation-blames-pilot-error-for-smartwings-engine-shutdown-incident/|title=Investigation Blames Pilot Error For Smartwings Engine Shutdown Incident|last=Gibertini|first=Vanni|website=Airline Geeks|date=26 July 2020|access-date=2 August 2020}} In July 2020, the CAA released the final report by the Air Accidents Investigation Institute (AAII), which blamed the incident on the captain failing to follow mandatory procedures, including landing at the nearest possible diversion airport after an engine failure.{{cite web |title=Final Report: expert investigation of the causes of a serious incident Boeing B737-800 aircraft, license plates OK-TVO flight TVS1125 from LGSM to LKPR of 22 August 2019 [google translation] |url=https://mentourpilot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/FINAL-REPORT.pdf |website=Mentourpilot |access-date=22 August 2020 |ref=CZ-19-0776}} {{asof|July 2020}}, the captain who piloted the plane during the incident continued to pilot Smartwings flights.{{cite news |title=The captain made 21 mistakes. The investigation into the flight of Smartwings on a single engine is over |url=https://www.mbs.news/en/2020/07/the-captain-made-21-mistakes-the-investigation-into-the-flight-of-smartwings-on-a-single-engine-is-over.html |agency=mbs.news |date=July 24, 2020}}{{dead link|date=May 2025}}{{Unreliable source?|date=May 2025}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Commonscat-inline|Smartwings}}

• [https://www.smartwings.com/ Official website]

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