LOT Airlines Set to Acquire Czech Airline Smartwings, Reports Say
Poland’s national airline, LOT, is reportedly close to acquiring Smartwings, the leading airline in the Czech Republic, according to reports from Polish media.
Interest in the Czech airline has been circulating for some time, with discussions surfacing multiple times throughout 2025. However, recent developments indicate that negotiations are intensifying, particularly with claims from a Polish financial outlet that LOT’s CEO, Michał Fijoł, visited Prague towards the end of October to discuss acquisition terms.
Smartwings primarily operates in the leisure travel market and draws the attention of other airlines with similar business models, including Eurowings and SunExpress.
Previously, the airline’s owner, Czech entrepreneur Jiří Šimáně, was close to finalizing a deal with Israeli airline Israir, but that agreement ultimately fell through. Šimáně and his associates gained full ownership of Smartwings in 2024, following the buyout of Chinese shareholders. Before this ownership change, Smartwings had taken over most assets from the former Czech flag carrier, CSA, which had declared bankruptcy.
Smartwings began as part of Travel Service, the largest tour operator in the Czech Republic, with subsidiaries extending to Poland, Hungary, and Slovakia. According to ch-aviation, as of November 2025, the airline operates a fleet of 41 aircraft, which includes a combination of Airbus A220 and A320s, along with several Boeing 737 models.
While the exact plans for Smartwings following the acquisition remain unclear, this is not LOT’s first foray into expanding within Central European markets. In 2018 and 2019, LOT considered establishing a base in Budapest and even initiated non-stop flights to the US from the Hungarian capital.
LOT also collaborates with the Polish tour operator ITAKA, which launched its own charter airline earlier in 2025, utilizing A320 aircraft wet-leased from the Bulgarian ACMI carrier Electra Airways.
What are your thoughts on LOT’s potential acquisition of Smartwings?
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