CSA Czech Airlines to End OK-Coded Flights, Shift to Smartwings QS Codes

CSA Czech Airlines will end operations under its OK-coded flight numbers from late October as part of significant changes to its business model. The airline’s existing routes from Prague to Madrid and Paris will transition to Smartwings’ QS-coded flight numbers starting October 27, according to the airline’s booking system.

Currently, CSA operates four weekly flights from Prague’s Václav Havel Airport to Madrid’s Adolfo Suárez-Barajas Airport (MAD) using Boeing 737-800 aircraft, and serves Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport twice daily with Airbus A320s. The Madrid route will see a switch to Airbus A320s starting in December.

This shift is part of a broader restructuring plan by Smartwings Group, which involves CSA becoming a holding company and majority shareholder of Smartwings. As a result, Smartwings and its subsidiaries in Slovakia, Poland, and Hungary will become the group’s sole operating entities. This change aims to enhance operational efficiency and leverage synergies between CSA and Smartwings while maintaining both brands.

Under the new arrangement, all flights will be operated using Smartwings’ fleet, though two A320s will be branded with CSA livery. Additionally, Smartwings plans to introduce four new Airbus A220-300s, with the first two expected by the end of the year and the remaining two in early 2025, all carrying CSA branding.

However, CSA’s OK Plus loyalty program will be discontinued in its current form, and mileage redemption for bonus tickets on CSA and SkyTeam alliance partners will cease after October 26.

SkyTeam has been contacted for comments on these developments and reports of CSA’s potential exit from the alliance.

As of August 2024, Smartwings holds the largest share of the Czech market, with 39.7% of capacity, according to OAG Schedules Analyser data. Ryanair follows with 13.8%, Wizz Air with 5.1%, Eurowings with 4.2%, and easyJet with 3.8%. CSA, which dates back to 1923, ranks 12th with just a 1.2% market share.

Smartwings currently operates a fleet of 39 aircraft, with its Polish subsidiary holding two and its Hungarian and Slovakian operations each possessing one. CSA operates one aircraft. In August 2024, there are nearly 1.2 million departure seats from the Czech Republic, reflecting a 44% increase year-over-year and a 3% rise compared to pre-pandemic levels. Smartwings’ capacity is set to be 60% higher than in 2019, whereas CSA’s capacity will be 92% lower due to the group’s shift toward low-cost carriers.

Analysis of OAG data shows that Smartwings faces growing competition from international airlines, with Wizz Air significantly expanding its capacity by more than six times, Eurowings more than tripling its capacity, and Ryanair increasing its Czech capacity by 31% between August 2019 and August 2024.