Smartwings adds seven new European destinations from Prague this autumn

Prague-based airline Smartwings will add seven new routes from late October, one of its most significant expansions in recent years. The move comes as Prague Airport continues to strengthen its network of direct connections to major European cities.

Starting Oct. 23, Smartwings will begin flights to Barcelona (four weekly), Porto (two weekly), and Rome (four weekly). Later that week, Bilbao (Spain) and Toulouse (France) will be added with two flights each.

From Oct. 26, Brussels will see a major increase with 12 weekly flights, while Bucharest will be served seven times per week.

Alongside the new destinations, Smartwings will increase frequencies on several existing routes. Paris will rise to three daily flights starting Oct. 27, while Málaga will reach up to 12 weekly flights.

Smartwings is also adding flights to popular destinations. Paris flights will increase to three daily departures starting Oct. 27. Málaga in Spain will have up to 12 weekly flights from late October, providing more flexibility for travelers.

The expansion reflects rising demand for direct connections from Prague. Other airlines have also added capacity this year: Etihad Airways launched Prague–Abu Dhabi in June, Asiana Airlines added flights to Seoul in April, and German carrier Condor began twice-daily flights to Frankfurt in May.

One notable perk for travelers, Smartwings still includes a full-size cabin bag (up to 8 kg) in its cheapest “Lite” fare. While many low-cost airlines such as Ryanair, Wizz Air, and easyJet now charge extra for anything larger than a small underseat bag, this policy puts it closer to full-service carriers like British Airways, rather than its budget competitors.

With the EU is now pushing airlines to scrap confusing fees and standardize hand-luggage rules, baggage policies are becoming an increasingly important factor in how passengers choose where to book.