Pegasus Airlines wins Czech approval to buy Smartwings

The Czech antitrust office UOHS said Friday it had allowed Turkey's Pegasus Airlines to buy Czech airline Smartwings, subject to competition conditions.

Pegasus announced the 154-million-euro, or $179 million, deal last December as part of its expansion plans and said Smartwings would keep its name.

UOHS said its approval was conditional on commitments proposed by Pegasus to “preserve effective competition”. The office said the commitments mainly concern transferring part of the summer-season slots on the scheduled Prague-Antalya route to another air carrier.

Smartwings operates a fleet of 49 aircraft offering regular flights to 80 destinations. It has operated as a low-cost carrier for two decades, after beginning as a charter company called Travel Service.

Smartwings acquired control of troubled flag carrier Czech Airlines in 2018. The final flight under Czech Airlines livery took place in 2024, with Smartwings taking over operations.

Pegasus Airlines, established in 1990, operated 158 international routes to 55 countries at the end of 2025, according to its website. It operates from its main hub at Istanbul's Sabiha Gokcen airport.