Korean Air (KE, Seoul Incheon) has completed its acquisition of a 44% stake in CSA Czech Airlines (Prague Václav Havel), with options to buy the rest, following an official signing ceremony held in the Czech capital, Prague, on Wednesday. Speaking on the occasion, Cho Yangho, Chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO of Korean Air, said he considered CSA "a trustworthy partner with whom we wish to expand into Central and Eastern Europe", given the Czech national carrier's strong potential for growth. The first tangible benefits of the tie-up include the lease of a Korean Air A330-200 to CSA, which will be deployed on its new Prague Václav Havel-Seoul Incheon route in cooperation with Korean Air from this summer, as already previously announced.