Whoever has not heard of Prague has never thought of traveling the world. And who ever has though of going to Prague, knows about the czech airlines, the national airline based at Prague. Due to frequent tourist activity in the area, the airline is a part of the OK Plus flyer, the frequent flyer program , offering endless benefits to its frequent travelers, starting with regular to gold, and topping it with platinum.
The czech airlines also came into being right after the end of world war I, when all the nations were bent on stabilizing their economics.
The flights took off slowly, but later the czech airlines started doing well as an industry. The nation was about to stand back on its feet when the inevitable happened. Germany occupied Czechoslovakia, and with that, whatever flights of the czech airlines were air-borne, were called down. The airlines locked up, the czech airlines went to dust and bits.
As long as the World War II continued, people waited in hope and despair, waiting for their nation to survive the ordeal, to stand back, and rise again. People hoped for revival of their industries, their employment options and of course, the czech airlines. Post World War II, hope came in the form of communist party, that took over the german control of the country. The part re-established the industries, including the czech airlines as well. The new government realized the importance of trans-atlantic routes as compared to others and hence temporarily suspended some of the western european as well as middle-east routes. Although these decisions were never a part of the future plans of the czech airlines but were indeed taken in the interest of the nation and the airlines. The airlines would have prospered today, but the need of the hour then was to cut off quite a few routes. This initially resulted in loss, as a number of air craft stood in their sheds. Many rotted over time. More than half of the Fleet needed extensive repair as some had been used in the war by the german troops. The industry had been destroyed and therefore the repair was to be international and therefore costly. US had still not come up with reforms allowing the needy countries to make use of aids in such national crisis time. Therefore czech airlines suffered to no ends. The only good thing that came out of the war was the opening of air space and the world’s acceptance to growing economy. There was another plus point this time with initiation of the czech airlines, that people wanted employment opportunities and whole-heartedly welcomed the effort, encouraging those behind the wheels to continue their work. This was indeed the face of new dawn.
The new czech airlines was the first airline to carry the delivery of jet airlines. Over the years with a relatively slow pace, the czech airlines prospered and proliferated, to a total fleet size of 51 today and 9 more in order. The destinations then were 7 only, but today there are 69 destinations. The growth has been slow but it has been there at least.
The czech airlines were also the first ones to offer chartered airlines in affiliation with a travel touring company. This happened in 2007, when czech airlines made a 3 year bond with Exim Travels, and will be offering chartered flights to all of its clients to destinations within Czechoslovakia, Latin America, and other classis holiday destinations that include India, Egypt and Greece.
Over the time czech airlines has learned that nothing is here to stay for ever, from its hibernation mode after the German invasion upto the Communist up taking. And hence has continued working without being a part of the race.
