Turkish Pegasus Airlines to Acquire Smartwings Group, Impact on Israel Flights Unclear

Turkish airline Pegasus is set to acquire the Smartwings group, including Czech Airlines, following approval from the Czech Competition Authority. The deal, valued at approximately 154 million euros, was signed in December 2025 and involves Pegasus taking full control of Czech Airlines and the Smartwings group.

For Israeli travelers who fly with Smartwings, the primary concern is what changes, if any, will occur regarding flights and the brand. Currently, there is no announcement of immediate operational changes for Smartwings' flights to and from Israel. The acquisition does not automatically mean flights will be rebranded as Pegasus, aircraft will be replaced, or routes will be canceled.

Initially, Smartwings and Pegasus are expected to continue operating as separate brands even after the deal is finalized. Smartwings operates scheduled and charter flights from several Central European countries and is known to Israeli passengers through its routes from Israel. While the ownership change itself doesn't signal immediate disruption, future management decisions by Pegasus could influence aircraft allocation, route networks, and overall operations in various markets.

The acquisition significantly expands Pegasus's presence in Central Europe, providing it with an established base in Prague and Smartwings' existing operational network. This move broadens Pegasus's activities well beyond its Turkish market, encompassing dozens of European destinations through both scheduled and charter services.

For Israeli passengers, the immediate outlook is that Smartwings is unlikely to disappear following the purchase, and no immediate changes to its flights from Israel have been announced. The long-term impact will depend on Pegasus's strategic decisions regarding the combined operations, potentially affecting the number of routes, flight frequencies, or the collaborative operation of the two airlines.