Czech Airlines takes off for the last time tomorrow

(ANSA) - TRIESTE, OCT 25 - On Saturday, October 26th, the final Czech Airlines (ČSA) flight from Paris will land in Prague, marking the end of a century of aviation history, according to Radio Prague. Flights with the code OK will disappear from the skies as Czech Airlines ceases operations as an independent carrier. Czech Airlines, which was one of the world's five oldest airlines, was founded in 1923 and it will become just another brand in the Smartwings group's portfolio.
    According to Radio Prague, the airline's problems began in the 1990s, with the first unsuccessful privatisation attempts. The issues were exacerbated by managerial mistakes, the 2008 economic downturn, the rise of low-cost airlines, and the Covid-19 pandemic. The fleet of aircraft and number of routes began to decline, and Czech Airlines was acquired by Smartwings in 2018, which purchased nearly 98% of the company's stock. ČSA was the world's fifth oldest airline, following Dutch KLM, Colombian Avianca, Australian Qantas, and Soviet/Russian Aeroflot. (ANSA).