Category Archives: Czech Airlines-CSA

Czech Airlines is declared to be bankrupt, court calls for all claims to be registered

The Municipal Court of Prague has declared Czech Airlines (CSA) to be bankrupt. The court also encouraged all creditors to submit their claims to the court.

The airline reportedly owes around $82 million and has not received any state aid or loans.

The airline continues to operate with a reduced schedule until the court makes a final decision.

The airline previously issued this statement:

Previously Czech Airlines (CSA) filed for reorganization on February 26, 2021 according to the Insolvency Act in the Municipal Court of Prague. The application for reorganization was filed due to the termination of the extraordinary moratorium and after exhausting all possible solutions to resolve the challenging financial situation caused by the global crisis in aviation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of the reorganization process is to save the company and to select the best possible solution for creditors.

Prior to COVID-19, CSA was a profitable company. As a consequence of the pandemic and the related extraordinary travel restrictions implemented by governments globally, CSA´s payment reputation was challenged significantly.  Despite recommendations of the European Commission and the International Air Transport Association (IATA), CSA did not receive any financial support from the government as opposed to its direct competitors having received such support from their respective governments pursuant to EC recommendation and, thus, the airline is confronted with unequal and unfair competition.

The Czech state refused to participate in the rescue of CSA being the fifth oldest airline in the world, this despite the fact that the shareholders declared their readiness for financial support to CSA.

Since August 28, 2020, Czech Airlines and its parent company Smartwings have been requesting the Czech government to implement the “COVID-air transport” compensation program similarly to other government schemes, such as COVID – BUS, COVID – accommodation or COVID – tourism. CSA and Smartwings have further requested the Czech government to provide a financial support to cover 7,198 canceled flights during the state of emergency in the period between March 14, 2020 and May 24, 2020 during which CSA was forced to suspend its operation. The justification, as per which financial support or launching any compensation scheme designed for a single company is not possible, lacks logic and is in a direct contradiction to support provided to airlines in other states.

The parent company Smartwings is addressing the current situation under the regime of regular moratorium with the support of its creditors. The operation of both companies continues uninterruptedly and CSA and Smartwings operate all flights as scheduled as well as both airlines resume the operation on further routes subject to the epidemiological situation and travel restrictions imposed by the relevant countries.

Both companies are planning to address the situation within a common concern solution which will lead to their rescue and is more favorable for the creditors. The proposed reorganization is the last option to save the company, unless the approach of the Czech government is reconsidered.

The airline industry is one of the most adversely impacted industries by the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. Due to the coronavirus crisis, CSA and Smartwings had to terminate more than 600 employee contracts and implemented several restructuring measures.

CSA was supposed to deploy the operation of the most modern and efficient aircraft, Airbus new generation, by the end of 2020. The company’s strategy assumed the expansion of destinations and route network, including the long-haul operation.

As a consequence of the state of emergency declared and the extraordinary measures implemented due to the new coronavirus spread, CSA has suffered a loss of CZK 1.57 billion and an unprecedented drop in the company´s revenues to about 20% of the previous year.

Czech Airlines aircraft photo gallery:

Czech Airlines aircraft slide show:

Smartwings and Czech Airlines file for protection against creditors as flights continue

Smartwings Group has made this announcement:

Members of Smartwings Group including Smartwings, a.s. (Smartwings) and České aerolinie, a.s. (Czech Airlines, CSA) today filed request to the Municipal Court in Prague to declare an extraordinary moratorium under the so-called Lex COVID legislation. This new law introduced the moratorium as a tool to alleviate the impact of the SARS CoV-2 coronavirus pandemic. The need to apply for the moratorium is solely driven by the impacts of the pandemic that has caused the largest crisis in aviation history. Both companies had been profitable before the pandemic broke out and they are expected to return to profitability once it subsides. The extraordinary moratorium will provide protection to both Smartwings and CSA at a time when their revenues have reduced significantly. Both companies will also obtain time to develop and negotiate a long-term sustainable financing solution that would benefit all concerned parties, i.e., creditors, employees, and passengers.

 

“Smartwings and CSA continue with their standard operations. Both companies operate all scheduled flights and have been resuming additional routes as the epidemiological situation and travel restrictions in the respective destinations allow. Smartwings Group, like other air carriers, has implemented restructuring measures to achieve operational efficiencies and savings. The extraordinarymoratorium is only a temporary measure that grants Smartwings and CSA the time they need to achieve their financial stability in cooperation with financing banks, aircraft lessors and other creditors. We believe that the steps we are taking today will help us to successfully overcome this unprecedented crisis,” says Jiří Šimáně, Board Chairman, Smartwings.

Due to the state of emergency declared by the Czech government and the adoption of special measures in response to the coronavirus breakout, Smartwings Group recorded a year-on-year decrease in air traffic volume of 95 percent between April and June 2020 and more than 80 percent in July and August. Since the onset of the epidemic, Smartwings and CSA have implemented a cost saving program and adopted every possible measure to mitigate the negative financial impact of the coronavirus crisis. Air carriers around the globe, including the largest players (such as Lufthansa, British Airways, Air France, KLM, easyJet, Swiss, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Emirates, American Airlines, etc.), have adopted similar measures. While many airlines have already benefited from the support from their national governments (e.g. in the form of capital injection or provision of state-guaranteed loans), Smartwings and CSA have not received any state-support to date.

A support program for large businesses active in the field of transportation and tourism was not implemented in the Czech Republic in the first months of the coronavirus crisis. The COVID Plus program aimed at such businesses that have been affected by the pandemic was launched by Export Guarantee and Insurance Corporation (EGAP) only in the second half of July after notifying the European Commission. Smartwings and CSA are taking steps now to benefit from this program.

“The loan guarantee application process is a complicated and lengthy procedure requiring the agreement of multiple parties. This is one of the primary reasons why Smartwings Group has resorted to the extraordinary moratorium. We are exploring all potential financing options to ensure business continuity of both companies. Throughout the process, we will be cooperating closely with our finance providers and other stakeholders. In this context, we have also mandated an international advisor EY, which has extensive experience in the field of restructuring and finance raising as well as the necessary aviation industry expertise,” adds Jiří Šimáně.

Smartwings currently operates flights from Prague to 25 destinations, from Brno to 9 destinations and from Ostrava to 2 destinations. CSA operates flights to 12 destinations and is planning to resume flights to Barcelona, Madrid, Budapest, Goteborg, Bucharest, Brussels, Warsaw, and Milan in September. Other routes are expected to be resumed depending on the coronavirus situation in the respective countries and applicable travel restrictions.

Smartwings was a successful business before the coronavirus crisis, reporting earnings before tax in the amount of CZK 183 million last year despite problems caused by a global grounding of Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. CSA reported earnings before tax in the amount of CZK 79.2 million in 2019 and has been profitable since Smartwings assumed partial management responsibility. Smartwings Group reported revenues of CZK 28 billion in 2019. Smartwings and CSA transported more than 9.6 million passengers in total last year.

Czech Airlines orders 4 Airbus A220s and upsizes 3 A320neos to A321XLRs

Czech Airlines has ordered four Airbus A220-300 aircraft and opted for additional range by upsizing a previous order for three A320neo to A321XLR.

The two fuel-efficient aircraft types will complement Czech Airlines’ existing fleet of six A319 and one A330-300, and allow it to continue extending its network to reach more markets. The airline will also benefit from the commonality of Airbus Family aircraft. The A220-300 will be fitted with 149 seats, while the A321XLR will cater for top comfort in a two-class layout with 195 seats.

The A321XLR is the next evolutionary step from the A321LR which responds to market needs for even more range and payload, creating more value for the airlines. From 2023, it will deliver an unprecedented Xtra Long Range of up to 4,700nm – with 30 percent lower fuel burn per seat compared with previous generation competitor aircraft. To date, the A320neo Family has captured more than 6,650 orders from nearly 110 customers.

Czech Airlines celebrates 95 years of flying

Celebrating 95 Years of flying

This year, Cezch Airlines will commemorate its 95th anniversary of the company’s foundation and launch of operations.
The first flight was on the Prague – Bratislava route.
The first flight departed Prague’s Kbely Airport on 29 October 29, 1923.
For this reason, some of the CSA aircraft are wearing additional 95 years sticker.
One of them is the largest aircraft on the fleet, the pictured A330-300 OK-YBA departing from Barcelona.
Top Copyright Photo (all others by CSA): Czech Airlines (Korean Air) Airbus A330-323 OK-YBA (msn 425) (95 Years) BCN (Javier Rodriguez). Image: 942611.
Czech Airlines aircraft slide show:
Bottom Copyright Photo: Czech Airlines-CSA ATR 42-500 OK-KFN (msn 637) (95 Years) BTS (Adrián Rúčka). Image: 942625.

Celebrating 95 Years of flying

Eurowings to see its largest growth spurt in 2018

Eurowings (Airberlin) Airbus A320-214 D-ABNI (msn 1717) BSL (Paul Bannwarth). Image: 937576.

Previously on September 26, 2017, Lufthansa’s Supervisory Board approved and announced the rapid growth of its lower-cost Eurowings, especially in Europe:

The Supervisory Board of Deutsche Lufthansa AG approved the rapid expansion of the Eurowings Group at its meeting in September 2017. For this purpose, an investment framework of around EUR 1 billion was approved for the purchase and leasing of aircraft. The funds were used towards obtaining up to 61 aircraft, including 41 Airbus A320 Family aircraft and 20 Bombardier Q400s.

During the summer of 2017, Lufthansa wet leased 20 aircraft operated for Eurowings under the existing wet lease agreement with Airberlin; 15 by acquisition and five more leased with a purchasing option.

The Eurowings Group is expected to require up to 3,000 additional jobs in the cockpit and cabin operations, due to the hiring and intended acquisition of companies of the Air Berlin Group. Job advertisements and staffing have already started.

Carsten Spohr, Chairman of the Executive Board of Deutsche Lufthansa AG: “We now have the great opportunity to take a decisive step forward with Eurowings in Europe. The Supervisory Board and the Executive Board agree that we are determined to seize this opportunity. With the approval of an additional investment framework for the acquisition of aircraft, the necessary preconditions have now been met. For Eurowings, it will be a major challenge to cope with the rapid growth. I am particularly pleased that this will enable us to offer up to 3,000 new employees a secure perspective in the Eurowings Group.”

Adria Airways Airbus A319-132 S5-AAR (msn 4301) ZRH (Rolf Wallner). Image: 912192.

Above Copyright Photo: Adria Airways Airbus A319-132 S5-AAR (msn 4301) ZRH (Rolf Wallner). Image: 912192.

The airline is growing so fast, it is leasing in aircraft from other airlines to meet the expansion in the first quarter of 2018 following the failure of Airberlin. Adria Airways (above) will operate Airbus A319s from the Cologne/Bonn hub for Eurowings. Czech Airlines will operate its Airbus A319s for Eurowings from Hamburg (below).

Czech Airlines-CSA Airbus A319-112 OK-MEK (msn 3043) LHR (SPA). Image: 940351.

Above Copyright Photo: Czech Airlines-CSA Airbus A319-112 OK-MEK (msn 3043) LHR (SPA). Image: 940351.

Air Europa will operate its Boeing 737-800s from Munich and Stuttgart for Eurowings (below).

Celebrating 30 years of flying

Above Copyright Photo: Air Europa Boeing 737-85P WL EC-MKL (msn 60585) (30 Anos) ZRH (Andi Hiltl). Image: 940226.

The carrier has already launched a significant amount of new routes in the fourth quarter of 2017 and will continue in early 2018.

Here is the full list of new routes by country: CLICK HERE

Top Copyright Photo (all others by Eurowings): Eurowings (Airberlin) Airbus A320-214 D-ABNI (msn 1717) BSL (Paul Bannwarth). Image: 937576.

Eurowings aircraft slide show:

Eurowings destination Europe:

Czech Airlines to expand operations in western Europe, delays new Russian routes due to soft demand

Czech Airlines-CSA (Prague) is once again expanding. The airline is planning to add up to 19 new destinations for the upcoming summer season. The airline continued with this announcement:

In addition to the new flights from Prague to Billund, Bilbao, Bologna, Cork and Oslo announced last fall, Czech Airlines is also planning to operate flights to Athens, Bordeaux, Liverpool, Porto and Stavanger, and to launch regular connections to Venice, Kristiansand, Växjö, Linköping, Poznan, Gdansk, Stuttgart and several additional routes from Stuttgart to the southwest of Europe.

“Expanding our transport network will allow us to use the fleet more efficiently, primarily our ATR aircraft which will be used to service more than half of the new routes,” explained Jozef Sinčák, Chairman of the Czech Airlines Board of Directors, adding:

“Concurrently, we have been relocating the capacity freed in the Russian market which has been experiencing a significant drop in demand for travel to the Czech Republic and Europe.”

For this reason, the carrier has also reconsidered its planned launch of operations on two new routes to Russia, to Kazan and Kaliningrad, originally planned for this summer season. The launch, together with renewal of the seasonal flights to Perm and Ufa, was postponed by Czech Airlines until the 2016 summer season.

Czech Airlines plans to use its Airbus A319 aircraft to fly the following, year-round-operated routes: Liverpool (twice weekly from May 18) and Oslo (up to four times a week from March 30), while Billund (four times a week from March 30), Bologna (four times a week from March 29), Poznan, Gdansk (both four times a week from May 25) and Stuttgart (three times a week from May 26) will be serviced by ATR aircraft.

The carrier will also operate the following seasonal routes:

Flights to Bilbao (twice weekly from June 1), Bordeaux (twice weekly from June 4), Cork (twice weekly from May 14) and Porto (twice weekly from May 18) will only be offered in the summer season and operated by Airbus A319 aircraft, as are flights to Athens (up to four times a week from May 3) and Stavanger (twice weekly from May 21).

Copyright Photo: Ton Jochems/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A319-112 OK-NEN (msn 3436) taxies to the gate at Frankfurt.

Czech Airlines aircraft slide show: AG Airline Slide Show

AG Staff Photographers

 

Czech Airlines to add seven new destinations next summer after years of cutbacks

Czech Airlines-CSA (Prague) has announced it will add seven destinations for the 2015 summer season.

In stages, Czech Airlines will launch operations on its regular scheduled connections to Oslo (OSL), Billund (BLL), Cork (ORK), Bilbao (BIO) and Bologna (BLQ). The carrier also plans to launch two new connections with Russia – flying to Kaliningrad (KGD) and Kazan (KZN). Additionally, Czech Airlines will launch a connection between Billund and Oslo, and Copenhagen and Stockholm.

The airline continued;

“After a year of cutbacks, we plan to expand the existing Czech Airlines’ network starting the 2015 summer season. We feel that there is a significant business potential in our new destinations which we would like to use fully. At the same time, we would like to capitalize on Czech Airlines great reputation in the Russian market and, effective April 2015, service a total of nine destinations in Russia,” said Jozef Sinčák, Chairman of Czech Airlines Board of Directors, and added: “We have set the new destinations timetables in a way to best use the market potential and at the same time appeal to both local and transfer passengers as the connections were designed with the customers’ priorities in mind. We will operate all new destinations using the existing free capacity of Czech Airlines and thus improve the fleet use.”

New Czech Airlines’ Routes in North Europe

Czech Airlines will launch operations on its Prague – Oslo route on March 30, 2015. At the beginning of the summer season, the carrier will service the route twice weekly. Effective May 30, 2015, two more return connections will be added on this route, which will then be operated with four weekly frequencies until the end of the summer season. Czech Airlines will use Airbus A319 aircraft exclusively to service the route. The new Oslo service was designed for local – i.e. point-to-point passengers from the Czech Republic and Norway and also for transfer passengers travelling from Norway to Mediterranean cities – destinations offered by Czech Airlines for the second year during the summer season on a code-share basis with Travel Service. For now, Czech Airlines plans to operate the Oslo connection on a seasonal basis.

New Czech Airlines’ flights to Billund, Denmark are scheduled to first take off on March 29, 2015. The route will be operated by the carrier four times a week, year round, by ATR 42 aircraft with the option of using a larger ATR 72 aircraft if necessary. Business travellers and tourists from both countries – i.e. the Czech Republic and Denmark, form the target group of this new flight.

On work days, i.e. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, these Czech Airlines’ flights will continue from Billund to Oslo. The carrier wants to apply its successful model of the Prague – Bratislava – Košice and Prague – Hamburg – Gothenburg routes.

Czech Airlines’ News in West and South Europe

A new Cork connection will be serviced from May 14, 2015 until the end of the summer season with two return flights a week. The timetable was tailored to the priorities of the main target group, i.e. tourists from the South-West part of Ireland travelling to Prague for a long weekend, complemented by Czech tourists headed to explore the South of Ireland.

Czech Airlines will service its new connection to Bilbao during the main operational season, i.e. between  June 1 and September 30, 2015, offering two return frequencies a week. The Bilbao connection, just as the other new connections, was designed predominantly for tourists. Czech Airlines will service both the Cork and the Bilbao route by Airbus A319 aircraft. Both connections will be operated on a seasonal basis, i.e. with services break during the winter seasons.

Czech Airlines will be returning to the Prague – Bologna route after a four-year pause. The carrier will operate it year round four times a week with ATR 72 aircraft from March 29, 2015. This connection was designed for business travellers and tourists alike.

Czech Airlines’ Plans in Russian Market during 2015 Summer Season

Despite this year’s year-on-year drop in passenger demand for travels between Russia and the Czech Republic, Russian market has been of great significance for Czech Airlines with high potential for further development thanks to the option of launching operations to new destinations located there. That is why Czech Airlines plans to launch two new connections within the market at the beginning of the 2015 summer season – to Kaliningrad and to Kazan.

Connections between Prague and Kazan will be operated by Czech Airlines twice weekly, using Airbus A319 aircraft. The timetable for the new Prague – Kaliningrad route is designed in the same way as the Prague – Kazan connection, using the same attractive combination of weekdays of operations for weekend and mid-week stays in Prague. Czech Airlines will operate the service using ATR 72 turbo propeller aircraft. Both connections will be operated year round.

Effective 2015 summer season, Czech Airlines will service a total of nine destinations and operate eleven regular scheduled connections between the Czech Republic and Russia. Alongside the mentioned Kazan and Kaliningrad services, there will be Czech Airlines’ services from Prague to Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Samara, Rostov upon Done, Ufa and Perm, alongside two connections from Karlovy Vary to Moscow and St. Petersburg.

Copyright Photo: Karl Cornil/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A319-112 OK-OER (msn 3892) with the special Instaforex markings departs from Brussels.

Czech Airlines aircraft slide show: AG Slide Show

Czech Airlines puts its new Airbus A319 “Wow Prague” logo jet into service

Czech A319-100 OK-NEP (14-Wow Prague-L)(Tko) PRG (Czech)(LR)

Czech Airlines-CSA (Prague) on November 21 put its Airbus A319-112 OK-NEP (msn 3660) painted in this new “Wow Prague” special livery into revenue service.

Czech A319-100 OK-NEP (14-Wow Prague-R)(Grd) PRG (Czech)(LR)

Photos: Czech Airlines. The sub-titles are “Fly to the City of Magic”.

Czech A319-100 OK-NEP (14-Wow Prague-R)(Tail) PRG (Czech)(LR)

Video: Washing Czech’s Airbus A330-300:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPrRKQbY-sk&w=560&h=315%5D

Video: The “Wow Prague” slogan is part of a city-wide unified promotional campaign to bring visitors to the historic city:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8bG9mZEvvw&w=560&h=315%5D

Czech Airlines aircraft slide show:

Korean Air decides to move ahead with its investment in Czech Airlines

Czech Airlines-CSA (Prague) has issued this statement concerning its new investor partner Korean Air (Seoul):

Czech Airlines management engaged in intensive negotiations with all company shareholders regarding their potential investments in the company immediately after the Czech Airlines shareholders unanimously approved a Czech Airlines restructuring plan at the beginning of September.

There has been a significant shift in negotiations with Korean Air. Czech Airlines management has received a letter from Korean Air confirming the company’s decision to become financially involved in the Czech Airlines stabilization process and a proposal of its capital contribution to Czech Airlines.

Czech Airlines management has been reviewing Korean Air’s proposal thoroughly and will present it to Czech Aeroholding management at the earliest date possible. Czech Aeroholding has promised to review Korean Air’s proposal and is also ready to provide Czech Airlines with a capital contribution in the capacity of a private investor.

Czech Airlines appreciates the decision made by Korean Air and views it as a demonstration of strong support by a private shareholder and a positive signal regarding Czech Airlines’ future. Czech Airlines management is convinced that this important move will help stabilize Czech Airlines in the immediate future.

Korean Air has conditioned its capital contribution to Czech Airlines by implicit execution of all measures outlined in the company’s restructuring plan. Czech Airlines management will negotiate additional strategic investments in Czech Airlines with all shareholders upon completion of the entry of Travel Service into Czech Airlines.

Copyright Photo: Rolf Wallner/AirlinersGallery.com. Czech Airlines’ ATR 72-212A (ATR 72-500) F-GRPK (msn 727) with the special 90 Years – 1923-2013 emblem blocks at the gate.

Korean Air: AG Slide Show

Czech Airlines: AG Slide Show

Czech Airlines to lay off a third of its staff due to a drop in demand in eastern Europe

Czech Airlines-CSA (Prague) has been forced to lay off 280 staff members, a third of its workforce, including 70 pilots due to slumping traffic. The company is restructuring to meet the current conditions. As part of this restructuring, the company is grounding or leasing out its six Airbus A320s as it attempts to reduce its fleet according to Reuters. Tragically the airline has put its emphasis on serving destinations in eastern Europe. The current on-going conflict in the eastern Ukraine has translated to a drop in traffic.

The holding company of the flag carrier issued this statement:

The new Czech Aeroholding management reviewed in detail the economic results of all companies incorporated in the Czech Aeroholding Group, including Czech Airlines, upon its appointment at the turn of June and July 2014. The second largest shareholder, Korean Air, was then informed about the situation in Czech Airlines, too. Together, they agreed to draft a restructuring plan with the goal of keeping the current revenue upon decreased costs. This plan was unanimously approved by all shareholders in a General Meeting at the beginning of September. Several restructuring measures, predominantly in the revenue area such as a new one-way tickets concept, flight schedule changes and changes to the company’s transport network (including those in the Russian market), have already brought first results. For the first time in several years, Czech Airlines will record a net operational profit for the entire summer season. Concurrent with the restructuring plan, negotiations among all shareholder regarding investments into Czech Airlines are currently in progress. Upon their closing, Czech Aeroholding and all shareholders will inform the general public of their future steps in regards to Czech Airlines.

Copyright Photo: OSDU/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A320-214 OK-MEI (msn 3060) in the special “Prague Love You – Prague Airport” arrives at Moscow (Sheremetyevo) from Prague.

Czech Airlines-CSA: AG Slide Show