Smartwings Boosts Winter Travel Across Europe with New Routes from Czech Republic to Italy and Beyond, Get the Details Here

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June 26, 2026 16:03 GMT+5:30

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Smartwings plans to add more flights in the winter season from Prague in the year 2026/2027. This will include several new flights that will connect Prague to other key European cities directly. These cities include Italian cities, Norwegian cities, Portuguese cities, Spanish cities, and French cities among others.

This move is part of the growing winter schedules for airlines in Europe due to increased demand for domestic European trips especially as part of city break vacations.

New direct Prague to Venice route strengthens Italy tourism access

One of the key additions to the winter schedule is a direct route between Prague and Venice. The service is set to operate multiple times per week, enhancing connectivity between the Czech Republic and one of Italy’s most visited cultural destinations.

Venice remains a globally significant tourism centre known for its historic architecture, canals, and cultural heritage. The introduction of a direct winter connection supports increased accessibility during a period when European city-break travel continues to grow. The route also strengthens Italy’s inbound tourism links from Central Europe, particularly for short-duration leisure travel.

Bergen route connects Prague to Norway’s fjord gateway

Another major addition is the introduction of flights between Prague and Bergen. Bergen is widely recognised as a gateway to Norway’s fjord region and an important destination for nature-based tourism in Northern Europe.

The new route enhances access between Central Europe and Scandinavia, supporting both tourism and cultural exchange. Bergen’s location on Norway’s western coast makes it a key entry point for visitors exploring fjords, coastal landscapes, and outdoor adventure tourism experiences. The connection is expected to support increased winter travel demand to Nordic destinations.

Expansion of Southern and Western Europe winter destinations

Alongside the new routes, Smartwings is also expanding services from Prague to several established European destinations. These include increased connectivity to Lisbon, Porto, Bilbao, Toulouse, and Nice.

Lisbon and Porto continue to attract strong tourism flows due to their cultural heritage, coastal landscapes, and growing reputation as year-round city-break destinations. Increased flight frequencies to these Portuguese cities support stronger connectivity between Central Europe and the Iberian Peninsula.

Bilbao remains an important cultural destination in northern Spain, known for its modern architecture, culinary tourism, and urban regeneration. Toulouse in France serves as both a cultural and business hub in the Occitanie region, while Nice continues to be a key Mediterranean destination on the French Riviera, particularly for leisure travel during winter months.

Strengthening Prague’s role as a Central European aviation hub

The expanded network reinforces the strategic position of Prague as a growing hub for European short-haul travel. Increased route diversity allows for stronger passenger flow across multiple markets, supporting both inbound tourism to the Czech Republic and outbound leisure travel to Southern, Western, and Northern Europe.

The development also reflects broader aviation industry trends where airlines are optimising winter schedules to include a mix of established leisure destinations and emerging travel routes. This approach supports year-round aircraft utilisation and responds to increasing demand for flexible European travel options.

Winter travel demand supports broader European route growth

The 2026/2027 winter season is expected to see continued growth in intra-European tourism, particularly for short city breaks and cultural travel experiences. Destinations such as Venice, Lisbon, and Nice remain strong seasonal draws, while Nordic cities like Bergen are gaining popularity due to interest in nature-based tourism and outdoor experiences.

The expansion of routes from Prague aligns with this demand pattern, enabling easier access to a diverse set of European destinations within short flight durations. This supports both tourism development and regional connectivity across multiple European markets.

Fleet and network expansion across Central Europe

Smartwings continues to expand its operational network across Central Europe, with services extending beyond the Czech Republic into neighbouring countries including Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary. The airline’s growing route portfolio reflects a broader strategy focused on increasing regional connectivity and improving access to key European tourism markets.

The fleet and operational structure support a multi-destination network model, allowing flexible scheduling and expanded coverage across both established and emerging travel corridors. This enhances the airline’s ability to respond to seasonal demand shifts across Europe.

Outlook for European winter aviation connectivity

Further development of routes from Prague in the winter season indicates the ongoing process of revival and development of the short-haul aviation of Europe. Higher level of integration of Central Europe with Italy, Norway, Portugal, Spain, and France will lead to an increase in the number of tourists.

Destinations like Venice, Bergen, and Lisbon will face higher levels of demand from both holiday and cultural travelers as the network in Europe continues to develop.