October 2, 2026 — Pegasus Airlines (PC) has closed its purchase of Czech Airlines and the Smartwings Group, creating a combined operation of more than 175 aircraft.
What happened
The Turkish low-cost carrier said the deal completed on October 2 after all regulatory approvals came through. The price was not disclosed. FlightGlobal notes Pegasus first surfaced as a bidder about 10 months ago.
ADVERTISEMENT
Pegasus keeps its own brand and low-cost model. Smartwings and Czech Airlines will keep flying under their existing names. Pegasus chief executive Güliz Öztürk and Smartwings co-founder Jiří Šimáně both issued statements marking the close.
The combined group
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Combined fleet | More than 175 aircraft |
| Firm orders | 140 aircraft |
| Pegasus network | 161 destinations in 57 countries |
| Smartwings network | 80 destinations in 20 countries |
| Brands | Pegasus, Smartwings and Czech Airlines all continue |
| Network or schedule integration | TBA |
What it means for non-revs
- Nothing changes at the gate today. The three brands keep operating separately, so existing ZED and ID agreements with each carrier stay as they are until told otherwise.
- Staff travel across the group is TBA. Neither airline has said whether Pegasus and Smartwings employees will get reciprocal pass privileges. Staff at both should watch internal notices.
- New connections are possible, but not yet scheduled. Pegasus says it wants to pair its network with Smartwings’ leisure base in Central and Eastern Europe. Any new connecting options would widen standby choices, but no schedule has been published.
