On October 1, Pegasus Airlines announced the completion of its acquisition of Czech Airlines and the Smartwings group, after securing the necessary regulatory approvals. The deal, originally valued at 154 million euros when first presented in December 2025, strengthens Pegasus’s presence in Central Europe. Some reports suggest the deal was finalized in October 2026, while others note the official announcement was made on October 1, 2026. The merger combines Pegasus’s low-cost airline network, which is primarily based at Istanbul-Sabiha Gökçen airport, with Smartwings’ focus on leisure travel and partnerships with travel agencies. Together, the two groups operate more than 175 aircraft and have a backlog of 140 additional planes. Smartwings’ fleet included 41 aircraft as of July 2026, mostly Boeing 737 models, including 19 of the 737-800, 14 of the 737 MAX 8, and two of the 737-900ER. It also operated two Airbus A320-200 and four A220-300 planes. Pegasus serves 161 destinations across 57 countries, while Smartwings operates flights to 80 destinations in 20 countries. Smartwings also has operations in the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary. At the time of the acquisition, no changes to routes or flight schedules were announced. Smartwings will continue to operate under its own brand, according to one report, while another mentions it will continue using both the Smartwings and Czech Airlines brand names. The change in ownership does not currently imply a full commercial merger. Pegasus states that Smartwings will keep its brand, maintain its daily operations, and continue its relationships with customers and service offerings. For passengers, the main change is related to the group’s ownership structure, rather than an immediate shift in services. Czech Airlines (CSA) was legally acquired by Pegasus along with its subsidiary Smartwings. Since a reorganization in October 2024, Czech Airlines has operated as a holding company, while its air operations have been handled by Smartwings. The airline’s name remains as a brand, and the announcement should not be seen as the revival of an independent carrier. The acquisition required a review by the Czech competition authority, ÚOHS. On September 11, ÚOHS stated it had identified a risk of market concentration on direct flights between Prague and Antalya during the summer season. It required Pegasus to transfer a number of flight time slots to another carrier to allow competition on that route. At the time, the decision was not yet final, but Pegasus now confirms that all required approvals and conditions have been met.