Independent Swiss regional carrier Darwin Airline has expanded its flight offering in the Czech Republic after deepening an existing business partnership with Czech Airlines. The two carriers began to collaborate in autumn last year when Darwin started flying the Geneva – Prague route in partnership with the SkyTeam alliance member but from this summer have increased this to three routes.

Alongside the Geneva – Prague flight, which will be boosted to seven flights per week, Darwin Airline is linking the Czech Republic’s capital with both Florence and Zurich with four flights to each destination every week. These are being served with 50-seat Saab 2000 turboprops and to support the network growth Darwin has added a seventh example to its fleet this month.

“We are pleased that our collaboration with Czech Airlines is being further strengthened and that our companies will extend their successful partnership.  Darwin Airline is continuing to become the company of reference for the Mediterranean area by implementing its strategy of expanding its business and leisure traffic through alliances with other European airlines.”

Maurizio Merlo
Chief Executive Officer, Darwin Airline

"We are pleased that our collaboration with Czech Airlines is being further strengthened and that our companies will extend their successful partnership,” said Maurizio Merlo, Chief Executive Officer, Darwin Airline. “Darwin Airline is continuing to become the company of reference for the Mediterranean area by implementing its strategy of expanding its business and leisure traffic through alliances with other European airlines.”

The Prague – Zurich route will put Darwin Airline in direct competition with Swiss International Air Lines, but it will be the sole carrier providing schedule links between the Czech capital and Florence, a route that was previously operated by Meridianafly up until early 2009. In 2012, an estimated 116,000 bi-directional O&D passengers travelled between Prague and Zurich, while approximately 7,000 O&D passengers flew between Prague and Florence despite the availability of direct flights the same year, down from around 23,000 a year when non-stop flights were last offered.