Czech Ministry of Public Works organizes this rival to the established state carrier in the spring of 1927 in order to offer flights to Western Europe. A joint stock company, shareholding is also held by the giant Skoda armaments concern.
Smaller than competing CSA Czechoslovak Airlines, CLS is, throughout its 12-year history, equipped with more modern aircraft, beginning with 4 Fokker F-VIIb/3ms and 5 Avia BH-25s. Working in cooperation with Deutsche Lufthansa, A. G. (DLH), subsidized services are started from Prague via Leipzig and Essen to Amsterdam; from Prague via Munich and Zurich to Basel; and from Berlin to Vienna via Prague.
Enplanements total about 3,500 in 1930 and the fleet includes 2 Fokker F-VIIAs and 7 F-VIIb/3ms. In 1931, a fleet of 5 Avia BH-25s is acquired and placed into service on the company’s Prague to Berlin and Rotterdam frequencies.
The fleet is enhanced further as the decade develops. Among the newer types received are the 2 former KLM (Royal Dutch Airlines, N. V.) Fokker F-XVIIIs Rijstvogeland Kwartel, purchased in 1935-1936; they enter service on routes from Prague to Berlin and Vienna.
An unidentified Fokker en route to Amsterdam from Prague crashes at Bruelon, Germany, on April 7 of the former year (seven dead). The first of 3 Douglas DC-2s is delivered on November 5.
In 1937, in cooperation with KLM (Royal Dutch Airlines, N. V.), the carrier launches a weekday Blue Danube Air Express from Rotterdam via Prague and Vienna to Budapest. The fleet is now enlarged by the addition of 2 more Douglas DC-2s (on July 12 and November 29) and 4 of the first DC-3s employed in Europe.
The Rotterdam end of the Vienna route is extended to London (Croydon) in 1938. On August 14, a DC-2 crashes at Kehl, Germany (17 dead). Late in the year, flights are offered from Prague to Marseilles via Munich, Zurich, and Geneva and from Prague to Berlin via Vienna in cooperation with Austroflug, A. G.
Following the German invasion in the spring of 1939, CLS ceases flying and its resources are acquired by Deutsche Lufthansa, A. G. (DLH), beginning with 3 DC-3s on August 24 and the remaining DC-2s and DC-3s in July-August 1940. In March 1941, the DC-2s are transferred to the Finnish line Aero O/Y and christened Voima and Sisu.
World History
