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CLS (Ceskoslovenska Letecka
Spolecnost) 1927 - 1939. The Czech Ministry of Public Works organises
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 tha the competing CSA (Czechoslovak Airlines),
CLS is throughout it's 12 year history equipped with more modern
aircraft. Beginning with four 'Fokker F-VIIb/3ms' and five 'Avia
BH-25's'. Working in co-operation with Deutsche Lufthansa, subsidised
services are started from Prague via Liepzig and Essen to Amsterdam,
from Prague via Munich and Zurich to Basel, and from Berlin to
Vienna via Prague. Passengers total about 3,500 in 1930 and the
fleet then includes two 'Fokker F-IIAs and seven F-VIIbs. In
1931 a fleet of 'Avia BH-25s' is aquired and placed in to service
on the Prague-Berlin-Rotterdam routes. The fleet is enhanced
further as the decade develops.Among the newer types received
are two former KLM 'Fokker -XVIIs', purchased in 1935-36. They
entered routes from Prague-Berlin-Vienna. The first of three
'Douglas DC2's' is delivered on the 5th of November. In 1937
in co-operation with KLM the carrier launched a weekly Blue Danube
Express from R$otterdam via Prague-Vienna-Budapest. The fleet
is now enlarged by the addition of two more 'DC2's' on the 12th
of July and the 29th of November. And four of the first 'Douglas
DC3's' employed in Europe. The Rotterdam and Vienna route is
extended to Croydon in 1938. Following the German invasion in
the spring of 1939 CLS ceases flying and it's resources are aquired
by Deutsche Lufthansa, beginning with three 'DC3's' on the 24th
of August and the remaing 'DC2's' and 'DC3's' in July-August
1940. In March 1941 the 'DC2's' are transferred the finnish airline
'Aero O/Y' and christened 'Voima' and 'Sisu'. |
