Czech antitrust regulator conditionally OKs Turkish takeover of ČSA and Smartwings
The Czech competition authority approved Turkish investors' acquisition of ČSA and Smartwings, but only if Pegasus transfers specific airport slots to a third party.
ÚOHS gave provisional consent for Turkish firms to buy the national carrier ČSA and low-cost airline Smartwings, pending the expiry of the appeal window. The approval hinges on Pegasus’s pledge to hand over Prague-Antalya slots to another carrier, a step meant to keep competition alive on that route. Deputy chairman Kamil Nejezchleb said the slot transfer will let other potential rivals quickly secure suitable flight times. The regulator has been reviewing the case since May, noting that without the concession competitive pressure would fall sharply.
Why it matters
The decision shapes competition in Central European aviation and determines how Turkish investors can control major Czech airlines.
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