Photo: Pegasus Airlines The surprising move in European aviation has begun. Turkish airline Pegasus Airlines has acquired the Czech company Smartwings while negotiations with Lot Polish Airlines were underway. The Turkish airline's CEO Güliz Öztürk issued a special statement following the acquisition.
"At Pegasus Airlines, we set out in 2005 with a bold ambition, to make air travel accessible to everyone. Since then, we’ve expanded our fleet from 14 to 127 aircraft, becoming one of the world’s most efficient and profitable airlines. Now, by joining forces with Czech Airlines and Smartwings which have a combined fleet size of 47, we’re opening a new chapter in our growth journey. "
The CEO also took the opportunity to shed light on the two companies' conduct from now on: "A shared vision has emerged with Czech Airlines and Smartwings management: together, we aim to spread our wings across Europe with two distinctive brands, Smartwings and Pegasus Airlines. This integration is not just about growth, but about creating resilient, technology-driven companies that put safety at the heart of operations and are prepared to meet the future to deliver easy, personalized, and efficient travel experiences. We look forward to shaping this future together."
The CEO linked the company's past to the now-beginning future, saying:
“Today, I can confidently say that we didn’t start aviation in Türkiye, but we transformed it. And now, we’re ready to take the next step in our growth story. Together with Czech Airlines and Smartwings, we have a shared vision: as Pegasus Airlines and Smartwings operating under two distinct brands, we will continue spreading our wings across the world.”
Photo: Pegasus AirlinesShareholder of Czech Airlines and co-founder of its subsidiary Smartwings, Jiří Šimáně: "We take great pride in having successfully established and grown Czech Airlines and Smartwings with limited financial resources and without the external support that most airlines typically receive from their respective governments. Throughout these years, we have remained steadfast in our commitment to resilience, innovation, and customer satisfaction, whilst overcoming every challenge on the path to long-term prosperity. We are confident that Pegasus Airlines represents the ideal shareholder for Czech Airlines and Smartwings, one that will bring millions of passengers across its network new benefits, enhanced connectivity, and a continued joy of travel."
Šimáně added that "the management and shareholders express their sincere gratitude to all employees, partners and passengers for their loyalty, trust and contribution to the company's success. We look forward to seeing the airlines continue to thrive under Pegasus."