SkyTeam member CSA Czech Airlines has revealed that for the coming winter season it will axe a number of routes across its network. Most notably, however was the decision to discontinue its UK routes. It currently operates services to London Heathrow and Manchester, with a total of 18 weekly flights, four of which are to Manchester in North-West England.
UK DECLINE
In 2003, CSA actually operated 47 weekly flights from Prague, not just to London Heathrow and Manchester but it also operated scheduled frequencies to Birmingham, Edinburgh and Stansted. CSA has no doubt been put under pressure over a number of years by the emergence of the low-cost sector. Even on its two remaining routes there is intense low-cost competition.
The Manchester route is operated by UK low-costs Jet2.com and bmibaby, whilst easyJet serves Prague from London Gatwick 13 times weekly and Stansted daily, with Wizz Air offering a six-times weekly service to London Luton.
CHANGE IN STRATEGY
The impact on yields has made market conditions in the UK difficult for CSA, however CSA network planning team has for a number of years had its focus away from the UK and targeting other central European markets. Czech Airlines focus on eastern markets which is driven by the SkyTeam alliance strategy for CSA to be the hub for central Europe and the CIS.
With KLM and Air France able to provide codeshare connectivity to CSA passengers, the carrier has been encouraged by the larger members of the alliance to focus east. Given the geographical presence of Prague it provides a perfect location to feed markets for Air France and KLM in the CIS.
A look at the CSA network is illustrative of this. Whilst announcing the UK cuts and dropping its Cologne service, in June it launched twice weekly service to Astana, interestingly not served by KLM or Air France. Its focus for the SkyTeam alliance is illustrated by the fact that Czech Airlines serves several eastbound markets not served by either KLM or Air France. Notably these markets include, Bratislava, Dubrovnik, Minsk, Odessa, Riga, Skopje, Tbilisi and Tallinn.
Whilst Wizz has moved quickly to ramp up capacity on its Prague to London sector to a nine-times weekly and will also a open a London Luton-Brno flight, it is clear is that the valuable London Heathrow slots will go back into the SkyTeam pool.
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