Poland’s national carrier LOT Polish Airlines is reportedly preparing a bid to acquire Smartwings, the Czech Republic’s largest airline, according to Czech business daily Hospodá?ské noviny.
The publication says LOT, Eurowings (Germany), and SunExpress (Turkey) are the final contenders for a potential takeover, with Smartwings’ billionaire owner Ji?í Šimán? exploring a partial or full sale amid the ongoing recovery of the aviation sector.
Šimán?, 75, previously bought out a 49.9% stake held by Chinese investors, which had long complicated sale efforts. While he may seek to bring in a strategic partner, local analysts doubt he intends to leave the aviation industry entirely.
“Šimán? has always made it clear that aviation is a long-term investment for him and that he wishes to remain involved,” the paper wrote.
Smartwings—known for both scheduled and charter services—is the Czech Republic’s leading airline and a key player in the Central European leisure travel market.
For LOT, the acquisition would mark its first major expansion since its aborted 2020 bid for Germany’s Condor Airlines, a deal scrapped due to the onset of the COVID-19 crisis.
LOT’s main shareholder is Poland’s State Treasury, with a minority stake held by Polska Grupa Lotnicza.
If successful, the move could significantly strengthen LOT’s position in Central Europe, especially in the tourism and short-haul leisure sectors where Smartwings has a strong footprint.