Eurowings, Germany’s top leisure airline, is amplifying its partnership with leading Czech airline Smartwings to fortify its pan-European footprint from Prague. This intensified collaboration comes via a bilateral codeshare agreement, allowing travelers to book Smartwings-operated flights from Prague under Eurowings flight codes.
The inaugurated partnership will initially feature flights to top destinations, including Tel Aviv, Valencia, Split, and Nice. Both airlines have hinted at broadening their shared route portfolio in the future.
This collaboration guarantees Eurowings patrons an enriched array of direct flights from the Czech capital. Concurrently, Smartwings will offer Eurowings’ Prague routes under their flight codes, advertising them through smartwings.com and various other platforms. It’s worth noting that the first stage of this codeshare treaty began as early as March 2022.
Eurowings CEO, Jens Bischof, emphasized the alliance’s significance, stating, “Our synergy with Smartwings, a powerhouse in the Czech market, magnifies our pan-European growth blueprint. This partnership not only fortifies our European base in Prague but also presents an augmented travel palette for our customers from the Czech Republic.”
Echoing this sentiment, Roman Vik, CEO of Smartwings, expressed enthusiasm about the burgeoning partnership with Eurowings. “This codeshare accord ensures a more cohesive network between our airlines, amplifying the flight options for our clientele,” Vik remarked.
Eurowings has reported a surge in travel activity for the first half of summer 2023, registering approximately 300,000 passengers commuting to and from Prague. This translates to an impressive 30% YoY growth for 2023. Furthermore, the airline is set to introduce thrice-weekly flights to Agadir, Morocco, starting 1st November, becoming the pioneer in scheduled flights between the Czech Republic and Morocco.
Jens Bischof reflected on the airline’s commendable progress in the Czech domain, commenting, “Our Prague hub has been a roaring success over the past couple of years, and we’re on track for further enlargement.”
With three Airbus A320s anchored in Prague, accompanied by local staff, Eurowings has undoubtedly cemented its presence in the region. Operated by Eurowings Europe, these flights represent the airline’s pan-European operational vision.
Finally, amidst the travel sector’s roaring resurgence, Eurowings is on a hiring spree. The airline is poised to cross the 5,000-employee mark by year-end, with projections to eclipse this number next year. Recruitment drives for pilots and cabin crew are also underway at their European bases, including Prague.
