da Czech Business Weekly
Smart Wings opening new base in Budapest
By: Martina Mareèková, 02. 05. 2006
Czech budget airline Smart Wings, operated by Travel Service, will start competing on new routes with both low-cost and national air carriers.
The Prague-based carrier announced its plan April 27 to open regular flights from Budapest, Hungary, to four European cities as of the winter timetable, which starts at the end of October, said company spokeswoman Vladimíra Dufková.
Smart Wings, the only Czech low-cost airline, will connect Budapest with Prague, a route currently served by national air carriers Czech Airlines (ÈSA) and Hungary’s Malév. In addition to that, Smart Wings will operate from Budapest to Paris, France, and Milan and Rome in Italy. Smart Wings has so far operated charter flights for travel agencies from Budapest.
According to Dufková, Smart Wings’ decision to open a second base in Budapest was supported by an analysis suggesting that there’s still potential for another low-cost carrier to operate flights on the planned routes.</u> But Budapest already has other low-cost carriers. Passengers can travel to Paris and Rome with local no-frills airline Wizzair and Slovak low-cost airline SkyEurope, which also flies between Budapest and Milan. “Budapest, where several established airlines already operate, represents one of the most competitive markets in Central Europe,” said SkyEurope spokeswoman Gabriela Horváthová. “It will be extremely difficult for each new player to establish itself there.”</u>
Smart Wings said tickets will go on sale this week, with the lowest one-way ticket for a flight from Budapest starting at Kè 190, airport tax excluded. Smart Wings also recently announced that it would start offering free refreshments on board. SkyEurope doesn’t plan to follow Smart Wings’ move because passengers can purchase on-board refreshments, Horváthová said.
Smart Wings flies regularly from Prague to Paris, Rome, Milan, Amsterdam, and Madrid. As of June, the air carrier will add Venice, Italy; Barcelona, Malaga and Gerona, Spain; Copenhagen, Denmark, and Brussels, Belgium.
SkyEurope, which opened a base in Prague two months ago, began flying in April from Prague to seven European cities, five of which are also served by Smart Wings.