One of the world’s oldest airlines to close down

One of the world’s oldest running airlines is to close after nearly 100 years of operation.

One of the world’s oldest running airlines is to close after nearly 100 years of operation.

Czech Airlines, the flag carrier of the Czech Republic, will stop all flights next month.

The airline, which has a history spanning nearly a century, was once one of the largest in Eastern Europe.

However, it has confirmed that operations will close on October 28 and be absorbed by another Czech airline, Smartwings.

It has struggled in recent years for a number of reasons, including the aftermath of the September 11th attacks, the rise of low-cost airlines and the Covid pandemic.

There are also reports of internal mismanagement carrying out costly purchases and extravagant spending, also leading to the airline’s decline.

Czech Airline’s first flight regular flight took place on October 29, 1923, but from October 26 this year it will cease all flying operations. Picture: Daniel Slim/AFP

Currently, Czech Airlines only operates two routes – to Paris and Madrid from Prague Václav Havel Airport.

It has two Airbus A320-200 aircraft, which will be fully integrated into Smartwings.

The airline’s final flight will arrive from Paris on October 28, marking the official end of its operations.

Its frequent flyer programmes, OK Plus and OK Plus Corporate, will also be terminated in their current setup.

Czech Airlines is the fifth oldest airline in the world. Picture: Michal Cizek/AFP

Czech Airlines is the fifth oldest airline in the world, after Dutch KLM (1919), Colombian Avianca (1919), Australian Qantas (1920), and Soviet/Russian Aeroflot (1923).

Its first regular flight took place on October 29th, 1923, when Czechoslovak State Airlines was its official name.

When the airline closes it will be absorbed by Smartwings – currently the biggest airline in the Czech Republic. Picture: Philippe Huguen/AFP

In the early years, the airline played a pivotal role in connecting Prague to Bratislava, with other international routes to Paris, Berline, and Moscow following shortly afterwards. During World War II, the carrier ceased operations, but resumed services after the war ended.

Post-war, it continued to expand its route network, with flights to Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.

By the 1980s, it had become one of the largest airlines in Eastern Europe, and served over 50 destinations.

Today, Smartwings is the biggest airline in the Czech Republic, offering regular flights to more than 80 destinations.

While its headquarters is in Prague, it also operates in Slovakia, Poland and Hungary.

This article originally appeared on The US Sun and was reproduced with permission