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Czech Airlines

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ČSA-Czech Airlines
ČSA-České Aerolinie
IATA ICAO Callsign
OK CSA CSA-LINES
Founded6 October 1923;100 years ago(1923-10-06)
Commenced operations29 October 1923;100 years ago(1923-10-29)
HubsVáclav Havel Airport Prague
Frequent-flyer programOK Plus
AllianceSkyTeam
Fleet size2[1]
Destinations5[2]
Parent company
HeadquartersVokovice,Prague,Czech Republic
RevenueDecreaseCZK 9.5 bn (2014)[3]
Operating incomeIncreaseCZK 285 m (2016)[3]
Total assetsDecreaseCZK 2.2 bn (2014)[3]
Total equityDecreaseCZK(0.3)bn (2014)[4]
Employees587
Websitewww.czechairlines

Czech Airlines(abbreviation:ČSA,Czech:České Aerolinie,a.s.) is theflag carrierofCzech Republic.Its head office is located in theVokovicearea ofPrague's6th districtand its hub isVáclav Havel Airport Prague.

ČSA is thefifth oldestairline in the world, after DutchKLM(1919), ColombianAvianca(1919), AustralianQantas(1920), and Soviet/RussianAeroflot(1923). It was the first airline in the world to fly regular jet-only routes (betweenPragueandMoscow).[5]The airline runs a frequent flyer programme called "OK Plus" about the airline'sInternational Air Transport Associationdesignation, as well as theterm of approval;OKalso featured prominently in its previouslivery,and is the prefix of Czech aircraft registrations. It is a member of theSkyTeamalliance.

When, in 2018, 97.74% of Czech Airlines was bought by the privately owned[6]Smartwings,ČSA became a part of the Smartwings Group. The remaining 2.26% of ČSA was owned by insurance company Česká Pojišťovna.[7]ČSA filed for bankruptcy in March 2021 and went through an extensive business restructuring, exiting in June 2022.[8][9]As of 2022, ČSA was under a new ownership structure with a new parent company called Prague City Air s.r.o. owning 70% of the company, with Smartwings retaining the remaining 30%.

Czech Airlines will end its flight operations in October 2024, handing them over to Smartwings while being repurposed into a holding company for both airlines.[10]

History

[edit]
Farman F.60 Goliathused by ČSA in 1929
AnIlyushin Il-12of Czechoslovak Airlines atParis Orly Airportin 1957
ČSATupolev Tu-104OK-LDA, 1958. This aircraft is displayed in thePrague Aviation Museum, Kbely
A Czechoslovak AirlinesTupolev Tu-134A,OK-EFK atPisa Airportin May 1975
A Czechoslovak AirlinesIlyushin Il-62OK-DBE, 1975 atMilan Linate Airport
The first Western European aircraft of ČSA after theVelvet Revolution,anAirbus A310-300,pictured here in 2005.
A former Czech AirlinesATR 42-500which was phased-out in 2018.

Early years

[edit]

ČSA was founded on 6 October 1923 by the Czechoslovak government as ČSAČeskoslovenské státní aerolinie(Czechoslovak State Airlines).[11]Twenty-three days later, its first transport flight took place, flying betweenPragueandBratislava.It only operated domestic services until its first international flight from Prague to Bratislava and on toZagrebinYugoslaviain 1930. After thedismemberment of Czechoslovakia in 1939and the splitting of the country into three parts, the airline was dissolved.

Following acoup in February 1948,theCzechoslovak Communist Partysuspended some of ČSA's western European and Middle Eastern routes and also gradually replaced much of the fleet withSoviet-built airliners, due to the embargo imposed by the West on the western-built aircraft spares and other equipment. TheIlyushin Il-14was updated and built under licence in Czechoslovakia as the Avia-14.

In 1950, ČSA became the world's first victim of a mass hijacking. Three CzechoslovakDouglas DC-3airliners flown to an Americanair baseinErding,near Munich, stirred the world on both sides of the "burnt through"Iron Curtainand the case intensified theCold Warbetween East and West overnight. On the morning of 24 March, the three aircraft landed nearMunichinstead of at Prague; the first fromBrno,at 08:20, the second from Moravská Ostrava at 08:40, and the third from Bratislava at 09:20. Two-thirds of the people on board were unwilling participants and later returned to Czechoslovakia. The Czechoslovak Communist government commissioned a 'flight to freedom' book, stage play, and film (all bearing the nameKidnap to Erding) which celebrated the kidnapped returnees as heroes who had not allowed themselves to be swayed by promises of capitalist opulence. Those who remained and requestedpolitical asyluminWest Germanywere proclaimed criminals for whom the Prague government vigorously requested extradition – in vain. The pilot from Brno was Josef Klesnil,[12]a former Royal Air Force pilot with311 squadron,who flew from Brno to Erding with a pistol pointed at his head.[12]

In 1957, ČSA became the third airline to fly jet services, taking delivery of and putting into service the very firstTupolev Tu-104Athat year. ČSA was the only airline other thanAeroflotto operate the Tu-104. The Tu-104A service that began in 1957 between Prague and Moscow was the first jet-only connection (other airlines used both jets and piston/turboprop aircraft).[5]The airline's first transatlantic services started on 3 February 1962 with a flight toHavana[13]using aBristol Britanniaturboprop leased fromCubana de Aviación.ČSA's transatlantic flights were code-shared with Cubana's services to Prague, and Cubana's crews provided initial training and assistance in the operation of the Britannia.

1960 to 1990

[edit]

From the late 1960s, ČSA used a range of Soviet-built aircraft and modified versions of them for its extensive European and intercontinental services which totalled some 50 international and 15 domestic destinations. The Britannia was replaced with long-rangeIlyushin Il-18Dturboprops at this time, and transatlantic routes were established toMontrealandNew York Cityin addition to Havana. Along with the Il-18D, aircraft in ČSA's fleet included the short-rangeTupolev Tu-134,medium-rangeTupolev Tu-154,and long-rangeIlyushin Il-62.As with several other airlines, the Il-62 was the first long-range jet airliner to be put into operation by ČSA (also the first foreign customer to buy Il-62s from the USSR). ČSA operated a fleet of 21 Il-62s between 1969 and 1997, including six Il-62Ms. A ČSA-registered Il-62 and three Il-62Ms were used as official Czechoslovak and Czech government transports between 1974 and 1996.[14]

After absorbing the "heavier" part ofSlov-Airand taking itsLet L-410A Turboletturboprop commuters into its fleet in the early 1970s, ČSA partner airliner Slov-Air became the world's first to have a captain, Ján Mičica, slain at the controls by a hijacker, during a hijacking to West Germany. The aircraft involved, OK-ADN, is currently displayed in an open-air aircraft museum inMartin, Slovakia.[15]

The 1990s and 2000s

[edit]

After thebreakupof the Czechoslovak Federation, the airline in May 1995 adopted its present name. By the late 1990s, most of its Soviet aircraft had either been sold to other airlines or retired (a number were preserved), replaced with Western models such as theBoeing 737,Airbus A310andAirbus A320.ČSA became a full member of theSkyTeam allianceon 18 October 2000. As of March 2007, the airline, with 5,440 employees, was owned by the Czech Ministry of Finance (56.92%), the Czech Consolidation Agency (34.59%), and other Czech institutions.

On 1 January 2010, the whole non-office ground staff of ČSA was transferred to the ČSA Support subsidiary, now named Czech Airlines Handling S.R.O. In February 2010, ČSA sold off itsduty-freeshops to another entity.[13]

EU competition regulators began an investigation into Czech Airlines on 23 February 2011, stating that it doubted the loss-making concern could return to viability and comply with European Union state aid regulations.[16]

In late 2012, ČSA Czech Airlines announced expansion plans and the resumption of long-haul flights in summer 2013 with Airbus A330 aircraft between Prague and Seoul.[17]Starting in March 2013, it operated direct flights from Prague toPerm,Nice,Munich,Zurich,Seoul, andFlorence.[18]

After stock sales to Korean Air on 10 April 2013, ČSA Czech Airlines was owned by Czech Aeroholdings a.s. (56%) and Korean Air Lines Co., Ltd. (44%). On May 14, 2013, Czech Airlines Extraordinary General shareholders' meeting electedCho Won-taeas a new member of its supervisory board. Cho replaced Petr Matousek, who resigned from his position on the supervisory board. This personnel change took effect on 1 June 2013 as a result of Korean Air's equity purchase.

In April 2015,Travel ServiceGroup bought 34% of the airline, over whichKorean Airhad an option.[19][20]In 2016, the airline returned to profit for the first time in several years.[21]

On 6 October 2017, Korean Air announced the sale of its 44 percent stake in Czech Airlines, which it had held for four years, to Travel Service. Travel Service by then owned 78.9 percent of ČSA.[22]Czech state company Prisko owned 20 percent of ČSA.[22]Travel Service later also acquired Prisko's stake, increasing its stake to 97.74%.[23]

Latest developments

[edit]

In March 2019, Smartwings announced that ČSA would undergo a fleet transition, with theAirbus A319andATR 72to be retired.[24]In October 2019, Czech Airlines announced an order for fourAirbus A220-300and threeA321XLR,which had been converted from orders for theA320neo.But in August 2021, Czech Airlines announced the orders' cancellation.[citation needed]

In the wake of theCOVID-19 pandemic,Czech Airlines announced in April 2020 the end of its already suspended sole long-haul route toSeoul.[25]Thus its soleAirbus A330was to be returned to lessorKorean Airby October 2020.[26][27]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, ČSA fell intoinsolvency,applying for amoratoriumin August 2020.[28]In February 2021, a maintenance provider ordered the seizure of two Czech Airlines'ATR 72-500in Prague over unpaid debts. Before the incident, near the end of the moratorium, majority ownerSmartwingsannounced that Czech Airlines facedinsolvencyshould it not receivestate financial aid,[29]but the aid raised controversy.[30]That same month, the airline notified the Czech Employment Office that it might lay off its entireworkforceof some 430 people. In March 2021, it added that it had no means to meet its financial obligations and filed for bankruptcy.[31]

In March 2021, ČSA announced the immediate retirement of allATR 72-500aircraft, considerably shrinking its remaining fleet.[32]At the end of August 2021, ČSA was operating just oneAirbus A320aircraft; the second was inoperable.[33]As of summer 2022, Czech Airlines had reduced its network to just three scheduled routes.[34]

In June 2022, ČSA exited business restructuring under a new ownership structure. Prague City Air, founded under the aid of Smartwings shareholders Jiří Šimáně and Roman Vik, was created to own 70% of ČSA while current majority shareholder Smartwings retained 30%.[9]As of late 2022, the airline also planned to rebuild its fleet and route network using Airbus A320 and newly acquiredAirbus A220aircraft.[citation needed]On 20 February 2024, Prague City Air s.r.o. purchased 49.92% shares in Smartwings a.s. from Rainbow Wisdom Investment Limited. Smartwings spokeswoman Vladimíra Dufková announced that the Czech shareholders now own 100% of the shares in both Smartwings and CSA Czech Airlines.[35]

In May 2024, it was announced that Czech Airlines will be repurposed into aholding companywithSmartwingscarrying out all flight operations using both brand names.[10]CSA is scheduled to terminate its operations on 26 October 2024 with the last flight arriving from Paris in the evening.[36]

Corporate affairs

[edit]

Head office

[edit]

In 2016, Czech Airlines head office moved to Evropská Street in6th district,Prague,Vokovicedistrict[37]to loweroverhead.[38]Czech Airlines formerly had its head office, the APC Building,[39]on the grounds ofVáclav Havel Airport PragueinRuzyně,6th district, Prague.[40]On 30 December 2009, ČSA announced it would sell its head office to the airport for CZK 607 million.[41]Before the insolvency application, in February 2021, Czech Airlines moved its headquarters to the Smartwings building at Prague airport.

Former subsidiaries

[edit]
A formerAirbus A320-200of Holidays Czech Airlines
  • Czech Airlines Handlingprovided ground handling or passenger and aircraft handling for many airlines operating flights from Prague.[42]
  • Czech Airlines Technicsprovided aircraft maintenance and regular certified servicing for the Czech Airlines fleet and other airlines.[43]
  • Czech Aviation Training Centreprovided training to future aircrew members, as well as refresher and further training to existing crews operated by the state-owned enterprise Air Navigation Services of the Czech Republic. In addition to Czech Airlines, services of the training centre were also used by other airlines. Furthermore, "Flying without Fear" and "Stewardess/Steward Try-outs" courses were offered, as well as the "Flying for Fun" adventure course. These special trainings were also open to the public.[44]
  • Holidays Czech Airlines,a defunctchartersubsidiary, focused mainly on flying to holiday destinations such as Greece, Turkey and Spain.[45]The airline launched on 1 June 2010, and ceased in July 2014.

Financial results

[edit]

Since its transformation to a joint-stock company in August 1992, ČSA has never paid dividends. The sale of a minority share toAir Francewas a fiasco, and the French airline withdrew. Subsequently, Antonín Jakubše and Miroslav Kůla stabilized the company and enlarged its fleet.[46]In September 2003, Miroslav Kůla was fired. New CEO and ex-minister Jaroslav Tvrdík agreed with the unions to increase wages by a third and announced an "unprecedented" enlargement of the fleet.[47][48]

In 2005, the financial situation sharply deteriorated. Although the sale of two ATR aircraft improved operating results by CZK 198 million, the operating loss was almost half a billion Czech crowns and theGovernment of Jiří Paroubekreplaced Jaroslav Tvrdík with Radomír Lašák. The airline generated further operating losses, despite revenues of CZK 2.1 bn from the sale of almost all real estate and CZK 1.2 bn from aircraft sales. In 2005–2010, ČSA generated an operating loss of CZK 3.4 bn; without long-term asset sale revenues, the operating loss would have been twice as large. The gross margin did not even cover personnel expenses.[49]

In 2016, the airline handled 2.7 million passengers and announced a net profit of 241 million crowns.[50]

Consolidated financial results of České aerolinie a.s. in 2005–2014[49]
billion CZK 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2005-14
Sales 21.5 24.0 24.0 23.2 20.4 16.9 14.8 13.7 10.2 9.5 178.2
Cost of sales (18.3) (18.6) (18.7) (18.7) (18.1) (14.3) (12.8) (12.1) (10.0) (8.8) (150.4)
Gross margin 3.2 5.4 5.4 4.5 2.2 2.6 2.1 1.5 0.2 0.7 27.8
Personnel cost (4.1) (4.5) (4.8) (4.8) (4.9) (3.9) (3.3) (1.5) (1.3) (1.2) (34.3)
Disposals of LT assets 0.2 0.2 0.6 1.4 0.4 0.8 0.3 (0.2) 0.1 0.0 3.8
Reserves 0.3 (0.5) (0,1) 0.3 (0.6) 0.5 0.1 1.1 0.2 (0.1) 1.1
Other (depreciation etc.) (0.0) (0.8) (0.7) (0.6) (0.7) (0.3) (0.4) (0.1) (0.1) (0.0) (3.7)
Operating profit (0.5) (0.2) 0.5 0.7 (3.5) (0.3) (1.1) 0.8 (1.0) (0.6) (5.4)

Corporate identity

[edit]
[edit]

A new look for Czech Airlines was revealed in September 2007. The new logo was created by Michal Kotyza, who works for the airline.[51]

  • Historic logo
    Historic logo
  • 2007–present
    2007–present

Livery

[edit]
  • Pre–1975 Czechoslovak Airlines livery, with a feathered-wing-like branched line on fuselage bottom and "wind-swept" serifs
    Pre–1975 Czechoslovak Airlines livery, with a feathered-wing-like branched line on fuselage bottom and "wind-swept" serifs
  • 1975–1993 Czechoslovak Airlines livery: a red line over windows and OK (JET) prominent on tail
    1975–1993 Czechoslovak Airlines livery: a red line over windows and OK (JET) prominent on tail
  • 1993–2007 Czech Airlines livery: large abbreviation, blue line added, triangles on tail
    1993–2007 Czech Airlines livery: large abbreviation, blue line added, triangles on tail
  • 2007–present Czech Airlines livery, with a rounded triangle
    2007–present Czech Airlines livery, with a rounded triangle

On-board services

[edit]

Czech Airlines offersbuy on boardservice on some flights in addition to free service.[52][53]

Frequent-flyer program

[edit]

The OK Plus frequent flyer programme gives passengers "OK Plus Miles" for flights with Czech Airlines,SkyTeammember airlines, other partner airlines or non-airline partners. OK Plus membership cards are available with the following tier levels: OK Plus membership, OK Plus Silver, OK Plus Gold, and OK Plus Platinum. The higher the card level, the greater the number of benefits passengers receive. CSA announced to termination OK Plus in October 2024 without implementing a replacement scheme.[54]

Destinations

[edit]

Scheduled flights

[edit]
Further information:List of Czech Airlines destinations

As of February 2021, Czech Airlines served four scheduled year-round and seasonal destinations including their home base atVáclav Havel Airport Prague.[2]This figure is down from 33 routes in summer 2019.[55]Flights are operated mainly in Europe, withBeirutbeing the sole remaining Middle Eastern destination. ČSA offers more than 110 destinations and 45 countries from Prague, but none of the long-haul service via its codeshare partners.[56]

Charter flights

[edit]

In June 2007, ČSA signed a contract with Exim Tours, the largest Czech travel agency, extending their contract for another three years. In May 2010, ČSA withdrew its last Airbus A310 used for these services.[57]

Codeshare agreements

[edit]

Czech Airlinescodeshareswith the following airlines:[58]

Fleet

[edit]
Czech AirlinesAirbus A320-200

Current fleet

[edit]

As of July 2024,Czech Airlines operates the following aircraft:[61][1]

Aircraft In service Orders Passengers[61] Notes
B E Total
Airbus A320-200 2 — — 180 180
Total 2 —

Historical fleet

[edit]

Czech or Czechoslovak Airlines operated these aircraft types in the past:[62][63][64]

Aircraft Total Introduced Retired Notes
Aero A.10 5 1923 1924
Aero A.14 Brandenburg 3 1923 1927
Airbus A310-300 4 1991 2010
Airbus A319-100 8 2007 2022
Airbus A321-200 3 2005 2018
Airbus A330-300 1 2013 2020 Leased fromKorean Air.
ATR 42-300 5 1994 2011
ATR 42-400 2 1996 2005
ATR 42-500 6 2004 2018
ATR 72-200 5 1992 2015
ATR 72-500 6 2012 2021 [32]
Boeing 737-400 15 1995 2016
Boeing 737-500 15 1992 2008
Boeing 737-800 1 2018 2020 Leased fromSmartwings.
Bristol Britannia 2 1962 1969 Leased fromCubana de Aviación.
Douglas DC-3 7 1946 1956
de Havilland DH.50 8 1925 1930
Avia F-VIIb-3m 6 1936 1939
Ford Trimotor 1 1929 1930
Ilyushin Il-12 10 1949 1959
Avia Il-14 32 1957 1977
Ilyushin Il-18 18 1960 1990
Ilyushin Il-62 9 1969 1995
Ilyushin Il-62M 6 1969 1995
Junkers Ju 352 1 Un­known Un­known
Junkers Ju 52 5 1946 1948
Let L-200 Morava 20 1958 1969
Let L-410 Turbolet 12 1976 1981
Let L-410M Turbolet
Lisunov Li-2 8 1949 1957
Saab 340B 3 2008 2010 Operated byCentral Connect Airlines.
Saro Cloud 1 1935 1938
Savoia-Marchetti S.73 6 1937 1940
Tupolev Tu-104A 6 1957 1973
Tupolev Tu-124 3 1964 1972
Tupolev Tu-134A 14 1971 1997
Tupolev Tu-154M 7 1988 1999
Yakovlev Yak-40 5 1974 1992

Accidents and incidents

[edit]

Fatal accidents

[edit]
  • On August 12, 1930, a ČSAFord 5-AT-C Trimotor(registration OK-FOR) crashed near Jihlava (Iglau) while attempting to avoid a thunderstorm. The aircraft struck the ground in poor visibility after a sharp turn to avoid a chimney and caught fire, killing 12 of 13 on board.[65]
  • On August 13, 1938, a ČSASavoia-Marchetti S.73(registration OK-BAG) struck a wooded mountain near Oberkirch on approach to Strasbourg en route from Prague via Paris, killing all 17 on board, the stewardess survived, but died a day later.[66]
  • On March 5, 1946, a ČSAJunkers Ju 52/3m (registration OK-ZDN) crashed near Prague after two landing attempts, killing 10 of 15 on board. The aircraft was operating a Paris-Strasbourg-Prague passenger service.[67]
  • On February 13, 1947, a ČSA Douglas C-47A (registration OK-XDU) crashed shortly after takeoff from Ruzyne Airport while on a training flight, killing all three on board; improper maintenance was blamed, leading to a five-day crew strike.[68]
  • On December 21, 1948, ČSA Flight 584 (a Douglas C-47A, registration OK-WDN) struck a hillside near Pilos, Greece in bad weather, killing all 24 on board. Other reports state the aircraft was shot down after the pilot lit a flare or crashed into the hill while dropping weapons for communist insurgents. The aircraft was operating a passenger service from Czechoslovakia to Israel with stops at Rome and Athens.[69]
  • On February 27, 1950, a ČSA Douglas C-47A (registration OK-WDY) struck Praded Mountain en route to Prague from Ostrava, killing six of 25 on board.[70]
  • On January 12, 1954, a ČSA Douglas C-47A (registration OK-WDS) struck a chimney and power lines and crashed near Prague after nearly failing to take off, killing all 13 on board.[71]
  • On January 18, 1956, a ČSA Douglas C-47A (registration OK-WDZ) struck Mount Skapova after the aircraft was blown off course by strong winds, killing 22 of 26 on board.[72]
  • On November 24, 1956, a ČSAIlyushin Il-12(registration OK-DBP) crashed into a field near Egislau, Switzerland, killing all 23 on board.[73]
  • On January 2, 1961, a ČSAAvia 14(registration OK-MCZ) crashed on a climb out from Prague during a pilot training flight after failing to gain height on takeoff, killing all 10 on board.[74]
  • On March 28, 1961,ČSA Flight 511(an Ilyushin Il-18V) crashed in Gräfenberg near Nürnberg during a Prague-Zurich service due to structural failure, killing all 52 on board.
  • On July 12, 1961, ČSA Flight 511 (an Ilyushin Il-18V, registration OK-PAF) crashed near Anfa Airport due to a possible crew error, killing all 72 on board.[75]
  • On October 10, 1962, ČSA Flight 306 (an Avia 14, registration OK-MCT) crashed near Slavkov while on approach to Brno, killing 13 of 42 on board.[76]
  • On September 5, 1967,ČSA Flight 523,an Ilyushin Il-18D (registration OK-WAI), crashed on climbout fromGander International Airportwhile on a Prague-Shannon-Gander-Havana passenger service, killing 37 of 69 on board; the cause was never determined.[77]
  • On October 11, 1968, a ČSA Avia 14-32A (registration OK-MCJ, namedSvit Gottwaldov) crashed near Ptice shortly after takeoff from Prague, killing 11 of 40 on board.[78]
  • On June 1, 1970, a ČSA Tupolev Tu-104A (registration OK-NDD, namedPlzen) crashed after two attempted approaches to Tripoli International Airport, killing all 13 on board.[79][80]
  • On August 20, 1975ČSA Flight 540,anIlyushin Il-62(registration OK-DBF, namedBrno Trade Fair) flew into the ground during a night-time approach to Damascus International Airport due to a misunderstanding between the pilots and the control tower that resulted in an incorrect altimeter setting, killing 126 of 128 on board in Syria's worst ever air disaster.[81][82]
  • On July 28, 1976,ČSA Flight 001,an Ilyushin Il-18V (registration OK-NAB, namedKošice), which was operating as a scheduled domestic passenger flight from Prague's Ruzyně airport to Bratislava-Ivanka Airport, both in Czechoslovakia, crashed into the Zlaté Piesky (Golden Sands) lake while attempting to land in Bratislava. All 6 crew members and 70 out of 73 passengers died.[83][84]
  • On February 11, 1977, a ČSA Avia 14T (registration OK-OCA) struck trees and crashed near Ivanka Airport due to crew error, killing four of five on board.[85]This is ČSA's last fatal accident.

Non-fatal accidents

[edit]
  • On November 9, 1946, a ČSADouglas C-47A(registration OK-XDG) force-landed near Dobrovíz after running out of fuel while in a holding pattern due to bad weather; all 18 on board survived, but the aircraft was written off.[86]
  • On December 24, 1946, a ČSA Douglas C-47A (registration OK-WDD) was written off following an emergency landing near Paris; all 15 on board survived.[87]
  • On January 25, 1947, a ČSA Douglas C-47A (registration OK-WDB) was struck by a crashing Douglas Dakota while parked at Croydon Airport; there were no casualties, but the aircraft was written off. See1947 Croydon Dakota accident.[88]
  • On March 16, 1963, a ČSATupolev Tu-104A(registration OK-LDB) caught fire and burned out while being refuelled at Santa Cruz Airport, India; no casualties except for a flight attendant who was injured after jumping from the plane.[89]
  • On August 18, 1970, ČSA Flight 744, aTupolev Tu-124V (registration OK-TEB, namedCentrotex), landed wheels-up at Kloten Airport after the crew became preoccupied with cabin pressurization problems; all 20 on board survived, but the aircraft was written off.[90]
  • On August 29, 1973,ČSA Flight 531, a Tupolev Tu-104A (registration OK-MDE)slid off the runway while landing atNicosia Airport;all 70 on board survived, but the aircraft was written off.[91]
  • On January 2, 1977, a ČSATupolev Tu-134A(registration OK-CFD) collided on the runway at Ruzyne Airport with a ČSA Ilyushin Il-18 (OK-NAA) that was taking off; all 48 on board the Tu-134 survived, but it was written off; the Il-18 (all six on board survived) was substantially damaged but was repaired and returned to service, it was retired in 1981 and is now in a museum.[92][93]
  • On October 11, 1988, a ČSA Tupolev Tu-134A (registration OK-AFB) landed hard at Ruzyne Airport; there were no casualties, but the aircraft was written off and flown to Piešťany where it served as a restaurant.[94]
  • On June 9, 2012, a Czech AirlinesATR 42-500(registration OK-KFM) was destroyed in a hangar explosion and fire at Ruzyne International Airport. A second ATR 42 (OK-JFK) was also damaged by the fire. Two Czech Airlines Technics employees were working with an explosive liquid. The liquid was sucked into a heavy technic vehicle, which then blew up near the aircraft and caused the fire.[95]

Hijackings

[edit]
  • On April 6, 1948, a ČSA Douglas DC-3 was hijacked toNeubiberg Air Base,Germany by 20 people wishing to escape Communist rule in Czechoslovakia.[96]
  • On March 24, 1950, threeDouglas DC-3sfrom Czechoslovakia were simultaneously hijacked. All three aircraft landed at the US Air Force Base atErding, West Germany.In all, 26 of 85 passengers chose to stay in West Germany to escape Communist rule in Czechoslovakia.[97]
  • On March 23, 1952, a ČSA Douglas C-47 was hijacked by four people who demanded to be taken to Germany. The aircraft landed safely atFrankfurtwith no casualties.[98]

References

[edit]

Citations

[edit]
  1. ^abairfleets.net - CSA Fleet| retrieved 19 June 2024
  2. ^abcsa.cz - Destinationsretrieved 1 July 2022
  3. ^abcAnnual Report 2014
  4. ^Accounting statements of Český Aeroholding, a.s. for 2014, page 11, auditor Deloitte Audit s.r.o.
  5. ^abZeman 2003, p. 70
  6. ^JOHNSTON, RAYMOND."TRAVEL SERVICE BUYS CZECH AIRLINES".Prague TV.Archived fromthe originalon 2021-08-01.Retrieved2020-07-30.
  7. ^"Travel Service to Become the Majority Owner of Czech Airlines".7 October 2017.
  8. ^"Stát ČSA nepomůže, věřitelé schválili jejich reorganizaci. Do výboru zasedli i zástupci Korean Air".Zdopravy.cz(in Czech). 2021-06-09.Retrieved2021-09-08.
  9. ^ab"ČSA oslavily 99 let. Až překonají stovku, chtěly by létat i s Airbusy A220-300".Airways.cz(in Czech).Retrieved2022-10-11.
  10. ^abch-aviation - Czechia's CSA to become holding co, Smartwings to run ops16 May 2024
  11. ^CSA Portal/History Section in English;CSA Portal/History Section in Czech
  12. ^ab"CZECHOSLOVAKIA: Mutiny in the Air Lanes".Time.3 April 1950. Archived fromthe originalon February 8, 2010.Retrieved23 December2016.
  13. ^abFlight International3 April 2007
  14. ^"V padesátých letech boj se škůdcem vyhrávaly, teď čelí úpadku. Příběh ČSA".iDNES.cz(in Czech). 2014-10-06.Retrieved2022-03-15.
  15. ^"Aviation Museum: Letecke Muzeum Slavnica (Dubnica n. Vahom, Slovakia)".KN Aviation.2016-08-11.Retrieved2022-03-15.
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Bibliography

[edit]
  • Zeman, Libor (2003).Czech Airlines 1923/2003 - For 80 years at home in the skies.Prague: Czech Airlines.
[edit]

Media related toCzech Airlinesat Wikimedia Commons

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