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64-415: ČSA is the fifth oldest airline in the world, after Dutch KLM (1919), Colombian Avianca (1919), Australian Qantas (1920), and Soviet/Russian Aeroflot (1923). It was the first airline in the world to fly regular jet-only routes (between Prague and Moscow ). The airline ran a frequent flyer programme called "OK Plus" about the airline's International Air Transport Association designation, as well as

128-705: A film based on the book was released, having been made the previous year around Klecany military airfield north of Prague. In 1969 Hodder & Stoughton published an English translation of the book as Riders in the Sky . In 1999 the Air Café commemorating No. 311 Squadron RAF opened in Brno , South Moravia. It is in the early 17th-century Dietrichstein Palace, which also houses the Moravian Museum. The café exhibits

192-551: A contract with Dxim Tours, the largest Czech travel agency, extending their contract for another three years. In May 2010, ČSA withdrew its last Airbus A310 used for these services. Czech Airlines had codeshares with the following airlines: As of November 2024, the Czech Airlines-branded fleet consists of the following aircraft: The entire fleet of Airbus aircraft with the Czech Airlines brand

256-419: A flight to Ruzyně Airport, Prague . All 23 people aboard were killed: five crew, 17 passengers and one stowaway. The passengers included nine women and five young children, the latter ranging from 18 months to three years old. In 1964, 311 Squadron veteran Richard Husmann, writing as Filip Jánský, published his novel Nebeští jezdci , portraying the lives of Czech and Polish airmen in the wartime RAF. In 1968

320-645: A loss rate of more than 40 per cent. Unlike crews drawn from Britain or the Commonwealth nations , there were no Czechoslovakian replacement crews arriving to fill the ranks of the lost. To keep the squadron functional, it would have to be put to a different use. At the end of April 1942 the squadron was transferred from Bomber Command to Coastal Command to undertake maritime patrols. It moved to RAF Aldergrove in Northern Ireland on 28 April and began maritime patrol training on 1 May. The squadron

384-710: A maintenance provider ordered the seizure of two Czech Airlines' ATR 72-500 in Prague over unpaid debts. Before the incident, near the end of the moratorium, majority owner Smartwings announced that Czech Airlines faced insolvency should it not receive state financial aid , but the aid raised controversy. That same month, the airline notified the Czech Employment Office that it might lay off its entire workforce of some 430 people. In March 2021, it added that it had no means to meet its financial obligations and filed for bankruptcy. In March 2021, ČSA announced

448-488: A minority share to Air France was a fiasco, and the French airline withdrew. Subsequently, Antonín Jakubše and Miroslav Kůla stabilized the company and enlarged its fleet. In September 2003, Miroslav Kůla was fired. New CEO and ex-minister Jaroslav Tvrdík agreed with the unions to increase wages by a third and announced an "unprecedented" enlargement of the fleet. In 2005, the financial situation sharply deteriorated. Although

512-593: A new ownership structure. Prague City Air, founded under the aid of Smartwings shareholders Jiří Šimáně and Roman Vik, was created to own 70% of ČSA while current majority shareholder Smartwings retained 30%. As of late 2022, the airline also planned to rebuild its fleet and route network using Airbus A320 and newly acquired Airbus A220 aircraft. On 20 February 2024, Prague City Air s.r.o. purchased 49.92% shares in Smartwings a.s. from Rainbow Wisdom Investment Limited. Smartwings spokeswoman Vladimíra Dufková announced that

576-605: A subsidiary of the original Czechoslovakian Airlines. The division of Czechoslovakian Airlines ownership in 1991 between the governing bodies of the Czech and Slovak parts of Czechoslovakia had no connection to the split of Czechoslovakia two years later, in January 1993. The post-split Czechoslovakian Airlines became privatized in 1992. Air France and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development owned 19.1% of shares of

640-404: Is operated by Smartwings , an airline owned by Czech Airlines. Czech or Czechoslovak Airlines operated these aircraft types in the past: [REDACTED] Media related to Czech Airlines at Wikimedia Commons List of airlines by foundation date This is a list of airlines by foundation date , founded before December 31, 1930. The date of the first airline service may differ from

704-790: The Tribal -class destroyers HMS  Eskimo and HMCS  Haida , attacked and sank U-971 just west of the English Channel . On 7 August 1944 the squadron transferred to RAF Tain in Scotland and its area of operations changed from the Bay of Biscay and Western Approaches to the North Sea . In September its rôle was changed from day to night anti-submarine patrols. On 27 October Fleet Air Arm aircraft from HMS  Implacable damaged U-1060 , forcing her to run aground on

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768-612: The Airbus A319 and ATR 72 to be retired. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic , Czech Airlines announced in April 2020 the end of its already suspended sole long-haul route to Seoul . Thus its sole Airbus A330 was to be returned to lessor Korean Air by October 2020. Towards the end of January 2020, the airline announced a plan to expand and modernize the fleet, with the planned addition of four new Airbus A320s. However, due to

832-886: The Boeing 737 , Airbus A310 and Airbus A320 . ČSA became a full member of the SkyTeam alliance on 18 October 2000. As of March 2007, the airline, with 5,440 employees, was owned by the Czech Ministry of Finance (56.92%), the Czech Consolidation Agency (34.59%), and other Czech institutions. On 1 January 2010, the whole non-office ground staff of ČSA was transferred to the ČSA Support subsidiary, now named Czech Airlines Handling S.R.O. In February 2010, ČSA sold off its duty-free shops to another entity. EU competition regulators began an investigation into Czech Airlines on 23 February 2011, stating that it doubted

896-844: The Czechoslovak Air Force , escaped to France , served in the French Air Force in the Battle of France and then been evacuated to Britain. Others were soldiers who had served in Czechoslovak Army units in the Battle of France, been evacuated and then volunteered to transfer to the RAF Volunteer Reserve to serve in 311 Squadron. The squadron was equipped initially with Vickers Wellington Mark I medium bombers , which were soon succeeded by

960-728: The term of approval ; OK also featured prominently in its previous livery , and was the prefix of Czech aircraft registrations. It was a member of the SkyTeam alliance. Its hub was Václav Havel Airport Prague . When, in 2018, 97.74% of Czech Airlines was bought by the privately owned Smartwings , ČSA became a part of the Smartwings Group. The remaining 2.26% of ČSA was owned by insurance company Česká Pojišťovna. ČSA filed for bankruptcy in March 2021 and went through an extensive business restructuring, exiting in June 2022. As of 2022, ČSA

1024-616: The "heavier" part of Slov-Air and taking its Let L-410A Turbolet turboprop commuters into its fleet in the early 1970s, ČSA partner airliner Slov-Air became the world's first to have a captain, Ján Mičica, slain at the controls by a hijacker, during a hijacking to West Germany. The aircraft involved, OK-ADN, is currently displayed in an open-air aircraft museum in Martin, Slovakia . On 1 January 1991, Czechoslovakian Airlines split into two companies: Czechoslovakian Airlines, which would become Czech Airlines, and Slov Air, which had previously been

1088-669: The APC Building, on the grounds of Václav Havel Airport Prague in Ruzyně , 6th district, Prague. On 30 December 2009, ČSA announced it would sell its head office to the airport for CZK 607 million. Before the insolvency application, in February 2021, Czech Airlines moved its headquarters to the Smartwings building at Prague airport. Since its transformation to a joint-stock company in August 1992, ČSA has never paid dividends. The sale of

1152-577: The Avia-14. In 1950, ČSA became the world's first victim of a mass hijacking. Three Czechoslovak Douglas DC-3 airliners flown to an American air base in Erding , near Munich, stirred the world on both sides of the "burnt through" Iron Curtain and the case intensified the Cold War between East and West overnight. On the morning of 24 March, the three aircraft landed near Munich instead of at Prague;

1216-459: The Boeing 737 Max model found in early 2019, management decided that Czech Airlines would operate the ongoing Airbus Fleet while Smartwings would operate a Boeing fleet. In April 2019, the fleet experienced a reduction of three out of the four operating Airbus 319s. However, one of these was later reintroduced.  In March 2019, Smartwings announced that ČSA would undergo a fleet transition, with

1280-479: The COVID-19 pandemic, these plans were abandoned. In the early stages of the pandemic, the company's workforce declined from 700 to 300 employees, and by the end of the year, the active fleet declined from five planes to two, both of which were under lease, flying to only five European destinations. During the COVID-19 pandemic, ČSA fell into insolvency , applying for a moratorium in August 2020. In February 2021,

1344-508: The COVID-19 pandemic. The airline operated a fleet of eighteen planes over the summer of 2017 to a total of fifty different destinations, including twenty-five distinct European and Asian countries, the most extensive coverage since the global financial crisis. From the fall of 2018 through the winter of 2019, Smartwings Group management eliminated many airline routes, including the Prague-Bratislava and Prague-Ostrava routes that

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1408-446: The Czech shareholders now own 100% of the shares in both Smartwings and CSA Czech Airlines. In October 2024, Czech Airlines was restructured into a holding company, with Smartwings taking over all flight operations under both brand names. The Czech Airlines brand remains active, with two Airbus A320 aircraft in its livery currently in operation. Additionally, four Airbus A220 aircraft in Czech Airlines colors are scheduled for delivery in

1472-813: The Czechoslovak Air Force, eventually convinced the British Air Ministry to re-equip the squadron with B-24 Liberator 4-engined heavy bombers , as these had radar and a longer range, both of which made them more suitable for maritime patrols. Conversion training began on 25 May and continued until August. On 26 May 1943 the squadron moved to RAF Beaulieu in Hampshire . On 4 August it celebrated its third anniversary. Guests again included President Beneš and Foreign Minister Masaryk. They included also General Sergej Ingr , who had succeeded General Hasal-Nižborský as Defence Minister, and

1536-518: The German blockade runner Alsterufer in the Bay of Biscay. Doležal's crew set the cargo ship on fire with five RPs and a 500 lb (230 kg) bomb and she sank the next day. In February 1944 the squadron was re-equipped with nine Liberator C Mk VI aircraft. On 23 February it moved to RAF Predannack in Cornwall . On 24 June Liberator FL961/O led by Flying Officer Jan Vella, along with

1600-702: The Il-18D, aircraft in ČSA's fleet included the short-range Tupolev Tu-134 , medium-range Tupolev Tu-154 , and long-range Ilyushin Il-62 . As with several other airlines, the Il-62 was the first long-range jet airliner to be put into operation by ČSA (also the first foreign customer to buy Il-62s from the USSR). ČSA operated a fleet of 21 Il-62s between 1969 and 1997, including six Il-62Ms. A ČSA-registered Il-62 and three Il-62Ms were used as official Czechoslovak and Czech government transports between 1974 and 1996. After absorbing

1664-427: The Prague government vigorously requested extradition – in vain. The pilot from Brno was Josef Klesnil, a former Royal Air Force pilot with 311 squadron , who flew from Brno to Erding with a pistol pointed at his head. In 1957, ČSA became the third airline to fly jet services, taking delivery of and putting into service the very first Tupolev Tu-104A that year. ČSA was the only airline other than Aeroflot to operate

1728-536: The Tu-104. The Tu-104A service that began in 1957 between Prague and Moscow was the first jet-only connection (other airlines used both jets and piston/turboprop aircraft). The airline's first transatlantic services started on 3 February 1962 with a flight to Havana using a Bristol Britannia turboprop leased from Cubana de Aviación . ČSA's transatlantic flights were code-shared with Cubana's services to Prague, and Cubana's crews provided initial training and assistance in

1792-638: The aircraft and its crew were captured. The Luftwaffe repainted it in German markings and transferred it to its Erprobungsstelle (experimental and test facility) at Rechlin–Lärz Airfield in Mecklenburg . On 20 June 1941 the squadron gave a dinner for the President of the Czechoslovak government-in-exile , Edvard Beneš . Other guests included Foreign Minister Jan Masaryk and Defence Minister, General Antonín Hasal-Nižborský . The squadron

1856-494: The airline has been flying since its inception. Soon after, profitable routes into select Russian cities were eliminated and immediately replaced by new routes operated by Smartwings.  Under the leadership of the Smartwings Group, the Czech Airline's fleet was planned to be transformed into a fully integrated Boeing 737 fleet, the same model that the Smartwings fleet used. However, due to technical and safety issues in

1920-445: The airline sold its Airbus 320s, as it had become unprofitable to fly them due to low load factor and high maintenance costs. In the summer of 2015, the fleet consisted of seventeen planes: seven Turboprops, nine Airbus A319s, and one long-haul Airbus A330 that was leased to the airline by Korean Air. In 2016, the airline transported 2.26 million passengers, a 13% increase from 2015. The average load factor increased from 10% to 75%, and

1984-471: The airline, over which Korean Air had an option. In 2016, the airline returned to profit for the first time in several years. On 6 October 2017, Korean Air announced the sale of its 44 percent stake in Czech Airlines, which it had held for four years, to Travel Service. Travel Service by then owned 78.9 percent of ČSA. Czech state company Prisko owned 20 percent of ČSA. Travel Service later also acquired Prisko's stake, increasing its stake to 97.74%. In 2014,

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2048-490: The coast of German-occupied Norway . Two days later two 311 Squadron Liberators, FL949 /KX-Y led by Flying Officer Josef Pavelka and BZ723/KX-H led by Squadron leader Alois Šedivý, damaged the grounded submarine with salvos of RPs. Later two Handley Page Halifax heavy bombers of 502 Squadron finished off U-1060 with depth charges . In February 1945 the squadron was re-equipped, this time with Liberator C Mk VI aircraft that carried anti-submarine Leigh Lights . In March

2112-698: The country into three parts, the airline was dissolved. Following a coup in February 1948 , the Czechoslovak Communist Party suspended some of ČSA's western European and Middle Eastern routes and also gradually replaced much of the fleet with Soviet -built airliners, due to the embargo imposed by the West on the western-built aircraft spares and other equipment. The Ilyushin Il-14 was updated and built under licence in Czechoslovakia as

2176-461: The end of the war, 311 Squadron was disbanded as an RAF unit and became the 6 letecká divize ("6th Air Division") of the reformed Czechoslovak Air Force . The squadron was formed at RAF Honington in Suffolk on 29 July 1940, RAF records give the official date as 2 August. It was crewed mostly by Czechoslovaks who had escaped from German-occupied Europe . Some were airmen who had trained with

2240-653: The first from Brno , at 08:20, the second from Moravská Ostrava at 08:40, and the third from Bratislava at 09:20. Two-thirds of the people on board were unwilling participants and later returned to Czechoslovakia. The Czechoslovak Communist government commissioned a 'flight to freedom' book, stage play, and film (all bearing the name Kidnap to Erding ) which celebrated the kidnapped returnees as heroes who had not allowed themselves to be swayed by promises of capitalist opulence. Those who remained and requested political asylum in West Germany were proclaimed criminals for whom

2304-499: The following tier levels: OK Plus membership, OK Plus Silver, OK Plus Gold, and OK Plus Platinum. The higher the card level, the greater the number of benefits passengers receive. CSA terminated its OK Plus program in October 2024, without implementing a replacement scheme. As of February 2021, Czech Airlines served four scheduled year-round and seasonal destinations including their home base at Václav Havel Airport Prague . This figure

2368-453: The foundation date. Bold names and a light-green background indicate that the airline is still in operation, while light-yellow indicates a disputed claim. Avianca Still in operation Los Angeles-San Diego Air Line started service in 1925 with Ryan modified Davis-Douglas Cloudster. For airlines founded after 1930 see Category: Airlines by year of establishment No. 311 Squadron RAF No. 311 (Czechoslovak) Squadron RAF

2432-608: The head of Coastal Command, Air Marshal John Slessor . On 21 August 1943 the squadron began maritime patrols with Liberator GR Mk V aircraft and continued anti-submarine work but now over the Bay of Biscay . On 10 November Liberator BZ774/D, led by Flight Sergeant Otto Žanta, attacked U-966 with RP-3 rocket projectiles off the Galician coast. The submarine ran aground and her crew abandoned her. On 27 December 1943 Liberator BZ796/H, led by Pilot Officer Oldřich Doležal, attacked

2496-423: The immediate retirement of all ATR 72-500 aircraft, considerably shrinking its remaining fleet. At the end of August 2021, ČSA was operating just one Airbus A320 aircraft; the second was inoperable. As of summer 2022, Czech Airlines had reduced its network to just three scheduled routes. In 2023, the only route operated by Czech Airlines was from Prague-Paris. In June 2022, ČSA exited business restructuring under

2560-540: The improved Wellington Marks IA and IC. From 16 September 1940 the squadron was based at RAF East Wretham in Norfolk as part of 3 Group of Bomber Command . The group's commanding officer was Air Vice-Marshal John Baldwin who said that 311 Squadron "put up a wonderful show" and had "the finest navigators in Bomber Command". On 18 January 1941 HM King George VI and his consort Queen Elizabeth visited

2624-465: The loss-making concern could return to viability and comply with European Union state aid regulations. In late 2012, ČSA Czech Airlines announced expansion plans and the resumption of long-haul flights in summer 2013 with Airbus A330 aircraft between Prague and Seoul. Starting in March 2013, it operated direct flights from Prague to Perm , Nice , Munich, Zurich , Seoul, and Florence . After stock sales to Korean Air on 10 April 2013, ČSA Czech Airlines

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2688-760: The new company, while the Fund of National Ownership of the Czech Republic owned 49.3%. Czech Insurance Company owned 4.5%, the city of Prague owned 3.5%, and the last 2.3% was split evenly between three Slovakian cities: Bratislava, Kosice, and Poprad. After the breakup of the Czechoslovak Federation, the airline in May 1995 adopted its present name. By the late 1990s, most of its Soviet aircraft had either been sold to other airlines or retired (a number were preserved), replaced with Western models such as

2752-719: The operating loss would have been twice as large. The gross margin did not even cover personnel expenses. In 2016, the airline handled 2.7 million passengers and announced a net profit of 241 million crowns. A new look for Czech Airlines was revealed in September 2007. The new logo was created by Michal Kotyza, who works for the airline. Czech Airlines offered buy on board service on some flights in addition to free service. The OK Plus frequent flyer programme gived passengers "OK Plus Miles" for flights with Czech Airlines, SkyTeam member airlines, other partner airlines or non-airline partners. OK Plus membership cards were available with

2816-491: The operation of the Britannia. From the late 1960s, ČSA used a range of Soviet-built aircraft and modified versions for its extensive European and intercontinental services, totalling some 50 international and 15 domestic destinations. The Britannia was replaced with long-range Ilyushin Il-18D turboprops at this time, and transatlantic routes were established to Montreal and New York City in addition to Havana. Along with

2880-529: The sale of two ATR aircraft improved operating results by CZK 198 million, the operating loss was almost half a billion Czech crowns and the Government of Jiří Paroubek replaced Jaroslav Tvrdík with Radomír Lašák. The airline generated further operating losses, despite revenues of CZK 2.1 bn from the sale of almost all real estate and CZK 1.2 bn from aircraft sales. In 2005–2010, ČSA generated an operating loss of CZK 3.4 bn; without long-term asset sale revenues,

2944-503: The squadron at East Wretham. On 6 February 1941 six of the squadron's Wellington Mk IC aircraft took part in a raid on Boulogne-sur-Mer in German-occupied France . On the return flight one aircraft, serial L7842, code KX-T, suffered navigation problems. Then it ran low on fuel, its commander Pilot Officer František Cigoš mistakenly judged that they were over England and he landed at Flers in northern France. Both

3008-481: The squadron took part in the "Chilli-II" and "Chilli-III" raids on German submarine training areas in the Baltic . Number 311 Squadron was with Coastal Command for 38 months, in which time it flew 2,111 sorties. By the end of the war 247 of its men had been killed, either in combat or in accidents. Thirty-three of its members were released from German prisoner-of-war camps. One prisoner, Pilot Officer Arnošt Valenta ,

3072-515: The squadron was based from 3 August. On 21 August the squadron moved to Ruzynĕ. The squadron first transferred military equipment and personnel from Britain to Czechoslovakia and then repatriated Czechoslovak civilians. Czechoslovak runways were found to be unsuitable for Liberators and in December 1945 all those of 311 squadron were returned to Britain landing at RAF Valley in Wales. The squadron

3136-469: The total number of flights increased by 9%. In the same year, the airline ordered six A320 Neo models, which was later reduced to three in 2019, and then converted into three orders for the Airbus A321XLR model instead at the beginning of 2020, with plans to launch North American Routes. Manufacturer Airbus planned to deliver the planes in 2023 and 2024. However, the airline cancelled the order due to

3200-509: The unit began flights to Ruzyně Airport, Prague . By October the Letecká dopravní skupina had also acquired a number of Siebel Si 204D aircraft seized from Germany as war reparations . On 25 June 1945 the remainder of 311 Squadron was transferred to 301 Wing, RAF Transport Command . It too flew transport flights to Ruzyně Airport, the first being on 30 July from RAF Manston in Kent , where

3264-497: The upcoming months. On October 26, the last flight of ČSA took place, as it took off in the evening from Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris to Prague Václav Havel Airport . This was the last flight under what has become to be known as its iconic "OK" flight call. In 2016, Czech Airlines head office moved to Evropská Street in 6th district , Prague, Vokovice district to lower overhead . Czech Airlines formerly had its head office,

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3328-425: Was en route to a debriefing and was carrying nine passengers as well as its usual crew of six. Everyone aboard was killed, along with four children and two mothers on the ground. On 8 October 1945 a Liberator GR.VI aircraft of 311 Squadron suffered an engine fire, crashed and burst into flames in a field at Elvetham, near Hartley Wintney , Hampshire. Five minutes earlier it had taken off from RAF Blackbushe on

3392-740: Was murdered by the Gestapo in March 1944 for taking part in the Great Escape from Stalag Luft III . After the End of World War II in Europe , on 26 May 1945 the Czechoslovak government-in-exile formed the Letecká dopravní skupina ("Air Transport Group"), and recruited most of its personnel from 311 Squadron. Its initial aircraft were two Avro Anson C XII aircraft bought from the RAF. On 12 June 1945

3456-654: Was a Czechoslovak-manned bomber squadron of the Royal Air Force in the Second World War . It was the RAF's only Czechoslovak-manned medium and heavy bomber squadron. It suffered the worst losses of any Czechoslovak formation in the RAF. In the Second World War 511 Czechoslovaks serving in Allied air forces were killed. Of these 273 (53 per cent) died while serving with 311 Squadron. After

3520-628: Was divided into Letecký pluk 24 and Letecký pluk 25 ("24th and 25th Air Regiments"). Letecký pluk 24 was given the name Biskajsky ("Biscay") and initially equipped with de Havilland Mosquito FB Mk VI fighter-bombers . Letecký pluk 25 was given the name Atlantický ("Atlantic") and equipped with Petlyakov Pe-2FT aircraft. This squadron displayed the squadron code letters "KX" and later "PP" on its Wellingtons and "PP" on its Liberators. On 18 October 1942 Wellington 1C aircraft of 311 Squadron crashed and burst into flames at South Ruislip , Middlesex, on approach to RAF Northolt . The aircraft

3584-468: Was down from 33 routes in summer 2019. Flights were operated mainly in Europe, with Beirut being the sole remaining Middle Eastern destination. ČSA offered more than 110 destinations and 45 countries from Prague, but none of the long-haul service via its codeshare partners. As of October 2024, routes to Paris and Madrid are operated by Smartwings under the Czech Airlines brand using two Airbus A320 aircraft in Czech Airlines livery. In June 2007, ČSA signed

3648-460: Was flight OK767 from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport to Václav Havel Airport Prague , operated by an Airbus A320-214 registered OK-IOO. Following the flight's departure, "Featured flight alert" notifications were sent out to users of the ADS-B flight tracker Flightradar24 application for flight OK767, the last flight of Czech Airlines. As of 2024, 2 aircraft fly under the Czech Airlines brand. ČSA

3712-504: Was founded on 6 October 1923 by the Czechoslovak government as ČSA Československé státní aerolinie (Czechoslovak State Airlines). Twenty-three days later, its first transport flight took place, flying between Prague and Bratislava . It only operated domestic services until its first international flight from Prague to Bratislava and on to Zagreb in Yugoslavia in 1930. After the dismemberment of Czechoslovakia in 1939 and splitting

3776-553: Was made part of No. 19 Group RAF , moved to RAF Talbenny in Wales on 12 June and undertook its first anti-submarine patrol on 30 June. Its Wellingtons lacked air to surface vessel (ASV) radar but despite this between June 1942 and April 1943 the squadron achieved the highest success rate of any Coastal Command squadron. Throughout July and August the squadron's Wellingtons remained in night bomber Temperate Land Scheme camouflage, dark green and dark earth above and black below. This

3840-496: Was officially disbanded as an RAF unit at RAF Milltown in Moray , Scotland on 15 February 1946. Most of its personnel had transferred to the Czechoslovak Air Force in August 1945 and in Czechoslovakia the unit was officially disbanded on 15 January 1946 but its personnel were not officially discharged from the RAF until 30 June 1946. On 15 January 1946 311 Squadron became the Czechoslovak 6 letecká divize ("6th Air Division") at Havlíčkův Brod in southeastern Bohemia. In May it

3904-453: Was owned by Czech Aeroholdings a.s. (56%) and Korean Air Lines Co., Ltd. (44%). On May 14, 2013, Czech Airlines Extraordinary General shareholders' meeting elected Cho Won-tae as a new member of its supervisory board. Cho replaced Petr Matousek, who resigned from his position on the supervisory board. This personnel change took effect on 1 June 2013 as a result of Korean Air's equity purchase. In April 2015, Travel Service Group bought 34% of

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3968-421: Was under a new ownership structure with a new parent company called Prague City Air s.r.o. owning 70% of the company, with Smartwings retaining the remaining 30%. On 26 October 2024, Czech Airlines became the parent (holding) company of Smartwings. As part of this transition, Smartwings took over the operational management of flights previously operated by Czech Airlines. The last scheduled flight of Czech Airlines

4032-508: Was unsuitable for maritime patrols, but not until September 1942 were the aircraft repainted in Coastal Command's Temperate Sea Scheme, dark slate grey and extra dark sea grey above, and white below. In April 1943 the squadron was partly re-equipped with five Wellington Mark X aircraft. This could carry two torpedoes or 3,999 lb (1,814 kg) of bombs but it was primarily a Bomber Command variant, not designed for maritime patrol work. Air Vice-Marshal Karel Janoušek , Inspector-General of

4096-515: Was with Bomber Command for 19 months. In that time it flew 1,029 sorties, attacked 77 targets, dropped 2,492,600 lb (1,130,600 kg) of explosive bombs and 95,438 incendiary bombs . It attacked targets in Germany, Italy, and occupied Belgium , France and the Netherlands . Its most frequent targets were Cologne , Hamburg and Kiel in Germany and Dunkirk , Brest and Boulogne in France. The squadron deployed 318 airmen formed into 53 aircrew. 94 were killed on operations and 34 were captured,

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