100 Years Ago Today: The First-Ever Flight of Czechoslovak Air Carrier ČSA

The first-ever flight of Czechoslovak air carrier ČSA took off on October 29, 1923.

On board the first-ever flight of Czechoslovak State Airlines – which was from Prague to Bratislava – were pilot Karel Brabenec and the editor of the Brno-based daily Lidové noviny Václav König.

In the early 1990’s, it was operating five daily flights between the two cities, before the country split in 1993.

Facing, among other challenges, the development of high-speed railways, the air route was eventually closed in 2011 for two years but reopened in 2013, along with the opening of a direct route between Bratislava and Kosice.

The early years of Czech Airlines were marked by significant growth, with the airline quickly expanding its routes and fleet. During World War II, Czech Airlines was nationalized and temporarily ceased operations, but resumed services after the war.

In the post-war period, Czech Airlines continued to expand its route network, adding destinations in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. The airline also modernized its fleet, introducing jet aircraft in the 1960s and 1970s.

By the 1980s, Czech Airlines had become one of the largest airlines in Eastern Europe, serving over 50 destinations and carrying millions of passengers annually.

Following the Velvet Revolution in 1989, which brought an end to Communist rule in Czechoslovakia, Czech Airlines underwent significant changes. The airline was privatized in 1992, and began a period of restructuring and modernization.

However, in the early 2000s, Czech Airlines faced challenges due to increased competition from low-cost airlines and the global economic recession. The airline was sold to a private investor in 2009 and restructured to reduce costs and improve efficiency. In 2010, the airline joined the SkyTeam alliance, which has helped to increase its global reach and improve customer service.

Today, Czech Airlines operates a fleet of modern aircraft, including Airbus A319, A320, and A321, and serves over 50 destinations in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.