October 26 will mark the end of the epic of Czech Airlines (Čsa), which will make its last flight from Paris to Prague, closing an important chapter in the history of aviation that lasted over a century. Founded in 1923, Čsa will cease its services as an independent air company, being incorporated into the Smartwings group that has held almost all of its shares since 2018.

The decline of Czech Airlines has roots that date back to the 1990s, when early attempts at privatization failed to produce the desired results. Problems intensified due to questionable management decisions and a series of economic crises, including that of 2008. Added to these were the growing competitiveness of low-cost carriers and the devastating impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.

With its fleet and routes gradually operated, the historic carrier, one of the oldest in the world after KLM, Avianca, Qantas and Aeroflot in terms of longevity, is now preparing for a different future. The turnaround under the aegis of Smartwings may represent a new beginning, but it undoubtedly marks the end of an era for a national symbol that has played a significant role in the global aviation industry.