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May 02, 2024 (newstodate): The Czech low-cost carrier and wet-lease provider SmartWings, the country's largest airline, has reportedly opened a sale process.
   According to the Hungarian media Hospodarske Noviny, the company's majority owner, Jiri Simane, confirms intentions to sell the airline, while not disclosing further details.
   -The process is expected to take several months, with "early favorites emerging", the media says.
   In September 2015, Smartwings had a new co-owner,  as Chinese capital from CEFC, China Energy Company Ltd. took 50 percent of the shares in the Czech Travel Service that operates scheduled flights under the brand name of SmartWings.
   The Chinese investor pulled out again, however, earlier this year, returning SmartWings to Czech hands.
   Already in 2022, the Israeli airline Israir indicated interest in taking a stake in SmartWings, but pulled out again earlier in 2024 due to the geopolitical situation in the Middle East and problems with the Chinese co-ownership.
   While sources expect Israir to return as a potential buyer of parts of or the entire carrier, other airlines that have shown interest include the German low-cost airline Eurowings, the Polish airline LOT or the Turkish holiday airline SunExpress, according to the Czech media.
   In the fleet of SmartWings are today 36 Boeing 737 aircraft, including 12 Boeing 737 MAX.