SmartWings : airline

SmartWings is a major Czechairline headquartered in Prague. Previously, this airline was a subsidiary of the Czech group “Travel Service”. SmartWings (formerly Travel Service) was founded in 2004. SmartWings offers low-cost, low-fare flights. This airline, which has carried millions of passengers, is now on board. We tell you all about its history, its actions and its fleet of aircraft.

The history of SmartWings airline

The beginnings of SmartWings

The national airline of the Czech Republic, SmartWings, was created in 2004. Its head office is based in the country’s capital, Prague. This airline was a subsidiary of the Travel Service aeronautical group. The Czech airline specialised in passenger transport, offering a wide range of routes and destinations, all with the guarantee of a cheap flight. The Travel Service aeronautical group operated in Europe under the brand name SmartWings (a name that the company adopted definitively in 2018). In 2005, the airline carried no fewer than 1.8 million passengers. At that time, SmartWings flew to its home territory, the Czech Republic, but also to neighbouring countries such as Hungary and Slovakia. At that time, the airline operated its flights with aircraft of the next model, the Boeing 737-500.

In 2012, SmartWing added a new model from the same aircraft manufacturer, a Boeing 737-800, to its fleet. The following year, in 2013, the airline continued to expand its fleet. In the end, however, it was not a Boeing 787 Dreamliner that the company originally wanted, but Boeing 737 Max-8s that were ordered by the Czech carrier.

The evolution of SmartWings, the low-cost airline

The airline’s reputation and success are based on its competitive, low fares. This low-cost airline also does not charge for excess baggage weight, although to a lesser extent of course. For hand baggage, passengers can exceed 5 kilos at no extra cost. For hold baggage, passengers can exceed the regulatory weight by 15 kilos.

In 2017, Travel Service (formerly SmartWings) acquired CSA Czech Airlines. Also a Czech airline, the Travel Service group held a 34% stake in this company before buying it outright. The company also acquired other shares in airlines such as Korean Air and Prisko.

In 2018, the Travel Service aviation group was officially renamed SmartWings. The company has several subsidiaries, including SmartWings Poland, SmartWings Hungary and Smartwings Slovakia.

To date, SmartWings serves over a hundred destinations with these airlines.

The activities of the SmartWings airline

The airline transports passengers. It has regular low-cost routes throughout Europe. In addition to this activity, the airline also offers air freight, cargo aircraft and business aircraft rental.

SmartWings cargo flights

SmartWings carries out air freight with the airline it owns, CSA Czech Airlines. Thanks to cargo aircraft, SmartWings can deliver goods to various continents. So you can transport goods such as medical supplies or postal items. The company also offers several formulas for different air convoys. Depending on whether the cargo is heavy, medical or needs to be refrigerated.

SmartWings business flights

SmartWings is equipped with a large number of Boeing aircraft for long- and medium-haul passenger transport. These can be booked for group flights, or for businesses, for example. The airline has also extended its range by offering a business jet, the Citation Sovereign, for hire. This enables the company to offer tailor-made flights. They are both flexible, because they do not have the time constraints that all commercial flights can have. They are also an efficient, fast and confidential means of transport. Finally, unlike the destinations offered by SmartWings in commercial aviation, with their business aviation offer, passengers can choose a completely different itinerary and access airports that are inaccessible with commercial aircraft.

Destinations served by SmartWings

The Czech airline serves numerous destinations in Europe, Russia, Africa and the Middle East. There are no fewer than 80 destinations that the airline reaches with its scheduled services. Most of SmartWings’ destinations depart from Prague international airport.

In Europe, for example, the airline offers flights to Nice in France, Thessaloniki, Kos and Corfu in Greece, as well as Cagliari, Olbia and Catania in Italy. SmartWings also offers destinations in Spain, Portugal, Cyprus and England.

On the Russian mainland, SmartWings flies to St Petersburg, Samara and Kazan.

In the Middle East and North Africa, the Czech airline serves cities such as Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, Tel Aviv in Israel, Antalya in Turkey and cities in Egypt.

Useful information for travelling with SmartWings airline

Like all airlines, it’s important to find out about best practices for your flight. We give you information on booking tickets, check-in and baggage handling.

How to book with SmartWings

To book a ticket with the airline SmartWings, you can visit their dedicated website. Choose your destination and routes, then book and pay for your ticket online. Flights are available in economy class as well as business class, which entitles you to extra benefits. When booking an economy class ticket, you can choose between 3 booking packs: the Lite pack, the Plus pack or the Flex pack. These offer you more or less advantages, such as lower costs if you change flights, or baggage included in the booking.

You can also book your ticket by telephone or directly at the airport.

If you wish to cancel your ticket, you should be aware that the terms and conditions vary depending on the package you have chosen. For example, if you have opted for tickets with the Lite or Plus pack, these are non-refundable. If you have opted for the Flex pack, the ticket can be refunded under certain conditions.

Finally, if you wish to change your flight, you can do so, but the change will incur more costs if you have opted for the first 2 packs. With the Flex pack, you will only have to pay the difference in the new ticket price.

As far as checking in before your flight is concerned, if you have an electronic ticket, you can check in online up to 30 hours before your flight. However, if you wish to check in at the airport and you have baggage, please note that check-in counters are open between 2 hours and 40 minutes before the flight. If you have baggage, it is essential to check it in at least 1 hour before the scheduled flight time.

Baggage handling at SmartWings

Depending on the package you purchased when you bought your flight ticket, the baggage handling arrangements will vary. However, it should be noted that at SmartWings, hold baggage cannot exceed 32 kilos. The maximum total dimensions are 250 cm (height + length + width, including wheels and handles).

Similarly, hand baggage (cabin suitcase, for example) must not exceed 8 kg, with maximum dimensions of 55x45x25 cm. Finally, you can also bring a small object or accessory weighing no more than 3 kg and measuring 40x30x15 cm.

As mentioned above, SmartWings offers various packages when you book your flight. These offer various advantages in terms of baggage capacity.

If you have opted for the Economy Class Lite Pack, no hold baggage or small accessories are included in this package. You can only travel with cabin baggage weighing a maximum of 8 kg and measuring no more than 55 x 45 x 25 cm.

If you have chosen the Pack Plus or Flex, you can have a checked baggage item weighing 23 kilos, as well as a cabin baggage item weighing 8 kilos and a small accessory weighing 3 kilos.

Finally, business class passengers can travel with 2 checked bags weighing 32 kilos, 2 cabin bags weighing 8 kilos and an accessory weighing 3 kilos.

It should be noted that it is also possible to travel with pets or non-standard baggage. SmartWings has a price scale for each case.

The SmartWings airline fleet

SmartWings has an aircraft fleet of around thirty Boeing aircraft. The company also has a Citation Sovereign for its business trips.

SmartWings’ Boeing aircraft

The Czech company has 4 different models of Boeing aircraft, ideal for medium and long-haul routes. These are Boeing 737s in various versions. The airline’s fleet includes Boeing 737-700s, Boeing 737-800s, Boeing 737-900 ERs and Boeing 737 MAX 8s.

The first 3 aircraft models are the “next generation” models, the third generation of the Boeing 737. The previous generation was made up of the Boeing 737-200 / 300 / 400 models.

• Technical characteristics of the Boeing 737-700: this model can carry up to 148 passengers. It has a range of 6,371 km, enabling it to cover medium and long distances.

• Technical characteristics of the Boeing 737-800 : this aircraft can carry up to 189 passengers, including 18 in business class. It has a range of 5,769 km.

• Technical characteristics of the Boeing 737-MAX-8: this is an upgraded version of the 737-800. It shares the same features, such as the number of passengers it can seat. However, it has a greater range than the 737-800. It can cover distances of up to 6,584 km.

• Technical characteristics of the Boeing 737-900 ER: this aircraft has the largest seating capacity in the SmartWings fleet. It can accommodate up to 212 passengers in the cabin. It has a range of 4,587 km.

The SmartWings business jet

The Czech carrier has a business jet that it rents out for private trips. This private jet is a Citation Sovereign from aircraft manufacturer Cessna. This business jet belongs to the category of intermediate private jets. It is ideal for medium-distance flights of between 3 and 6 hours. It has a range of 4,600 km. It seats up to 9 passengers in a stylish, comfortable cabin. The cabins of private jets are not like those of commercial aircraft. The interiors are specifically designed and fitted out to ensure that business travellers have a pleasant flight. Private jets have areas where you can work and also relax. The latter are generally equipped with wifi and entertainment. For the record, the Citation Sovereign is one of the private jets used by footballer Neymar.

If you’re on a mode of transport other than commercial airlines, you should know that the price of a private jet can be more attractive than a trip on a commercial aircraft, in many respects.

Example of fares with a Citation Sovereign:

Paris to Geneva: from €18,000

London to Nice: from €20,000

At AEROAFFAIRES, our team is at your service on +33 (0) 1 44 09 91 82, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and will respond as quickly as possible to your online quote. We will find you the business flight that best meets your expectations.