The first decade

ABS Jets is founded in 2004 as a company with 30 employees and 2 aircraft. More aircraft were gradually added to the fleet – there is no better testament to the quality of our work and the services we provide than the constant growth of our fleet.

Our flying hours increased during the first decade, with no accidents, injuries or other incidents. Quality and safety have been our main priorities since the company was founded.

As the number of aircraft increases, so does our workforce, leading to the need to expand our premises. From Czech Airlines, we purchased hangar C at Ruzyně Airport, which was built in 1937. There, amongst other things, we also began to carry out maintenance of Embraer aircraft and were certified as an authorised Embraer service centre.

Progress continues, as we obtain more international certifications and awards and further expand the range of services we offer to third parties, too. We are now able to cater to clients literally from all over the world.

The second decade

In our second decade we bring in the first helicopter in the history of ABS Jets - an Airbus H145 - as well as other mid-size, heavy jet, and ultra long-range aircraft made by various manufacturers, such as the Gulfstream G650, G550, and G500, the Dassault Falcon 7X, the Bombardier Challenger 605, the Cessna Citation XLS+, and the Boeing Business Jet (BBJ).

In line with our strategy, we also regularly obtained new certificates for the maintenance of other types of aircraft, which called for significant investment in training for our mechanics, as well as for tools, hangar equipment and processes.

Last but not least, we obtained the prestigious IS-BAH and IS-BAO stage III certificates for our base in Prague and IS-BAH stage II for our second base in Bratislava. Our air traffic controllers were also awarded the prized certification from the FAA.

The last few years have seen some highly dynamic changes for the world as a whole, mainly due to two fundamental factors, the global pandemic and the war in Ukraine, which affected essentially the whole world, society and individuals, as well as business as such. These events also had an impact on our activities and left an indelible mark on the history of ABS Jets. During these setbacks, as so many times before, we demonstrated our professionalism, solidarity and unrelenting emphasis on quality and safety. And these were further reasons that enabled us to get through everything unscathed.

We can even describe the last two years as being hugely successful for our company, as we have managed to obtain a number of new clients, have added 7 aircraft to our fleet, taking the total figure to 19, and have recruited over 60 new colleagues. ABS Jets has experienced a sharp upswing, joining the ranks of the European elite. Our vision of the company's growth is not only being fulfilled, but, to our great delight, is actually far surpassing our initial expectations.

The story of ABS Jets

„20 years in the air, with our feet firmly on the ground“

When ABS Jets was founded back in June 2004, we had only two aircraft, 30 employees, and a common feeling of enthusiasm. Now there are more than 300 of us. We run 19 aircraft and are among the most prominent private business aviation companies on the market.

There are many reasons for our success in taking the experience of a private flight to perfection:

• We provide all the services associated with private flights in-house, our carefully selected and thoroughly trained employees taking care of it all.

• We draw on the wishes and needs of clients that know no compromise when it comes to quality, whether it be the brand of Champagne served on board or making sure time is used to the maximum efficiency.

• We have created a service that is truly exceptional, witnessed in the prestigious awards presented to us by international aviation organisations that firmly place the emphasis on quality and safety.

We are currently one of the biggest private air transport operators in Central and Eastern Europe and the leading company on the Czech and Slovak markets.

20 years through the eyes of the CEO

Twenty years is a long time in human life. It is almost remarkable just how quickly it flies by when the whole time you are dedicated to something as dynamic as the aviation industry, and in particular business aviation, something you enjoy and that brings you personal satisfaction.

I am proud of the fact that I can be part of the team that was there at the very inception of business aviation in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. I see in us the ambition to keep getting stronger, better in everything we do every day. I value the fact that in spite of the successes that have lined our way, we have never lost our humility or our ability to recognise our own mistakes, and as a result keep moving forward.

Again, I am proud that our clients see us as partners they can rely on, and that stick with us. I would like to thank all of our employees and partners, all of whom have made ABS Jets an business aviation company that has come to set the standard in European civil aviation in the twenty years since our very first flight. Here’s to the air!

I joined the company in 2003, so I’ve been flying for them for more than 20 years now. Back then for ABA Air, the predecessor of ABS Jets. To begin with, I was flying a Cessna Citation Bravo. The year 2004 was a very important one for us: it was then that I brought in the very first Embraer Legacy, straight from the manufacturer in Brazil. The plane fitted into our operation right away, and since them I have imported another six. Most of my work at the company has been in the position of FOM (Flight Operations Manager), Crew Training Manager, and chief pilot of the Embraer.

I see our greatest successes as having been able to build a good company and not having had any extraordinary incidents during those 20 years of operating at full pelt. I too have had to learn so much over the years of development at the company, and I am essentially still learning to this day. Above all, I still love flying, and even though I am unable to fly myself any more after reaching the age of 65, I get a lot of personal satisfaction from passing on my experience to colleagues.

And I am naturally proud of where ABS Jets has propelled itself, from its beginnings to where it is now, and my wish for the company is that it will provide many more flights without the slightest problem into the future.

I joined ABS Jets in 2007, almost right after secondary school. I thought it would be really interesting to work at an airport, a job with plenty of prospects, so I decided to go for it, in spite of the long commute from where I was living. I signed up as a junior accountant, advancing to a more senior position over time. And when our chief accountant at the time left the company - I think it was in 2011 - I took up the role myself. As you can see, my growth at the company was fairly rapid.

It might seem like a bit of a paradox, but even after all my years in aviation, I have never fully rid myself of the fear of flying, even though I see every day how precise and professional aviation is, and how strong the emphasis on safety. I still find my work at ABS Jets extremely interesting and varied, and even though I work in the accounting office, I’m certainly not bored there. I enjoy seeing how ABS Jets has grown, and is still growing, and take satisfaction from the fact that I’ve been there to witness it from almost the very beginning. It’s also great seeing how the people here are so enthusiastic about their work and how the atmosphere is so friendly and informal. Last, but not least, I have a great view from the window of the office out to where the planes take off and land.

Working at ABS Jets has allowed me to grow professionally, and I am delighted that the company made it possible for me to gradually advance to my current position. I am also glad to have an insight into the aviation industry and am pleased that there’s always the chance to learn something interesting. It’s also great to see just how wide a range of services ABS Jets now has to offer.

My wish is for our company to keep successfully expanding and for all of us to deal responsibly with the growth.

My journey to the company began in the spring of 2003, when I joined what was then ABA Air (the predecessor of ABS Jets) as a technician. At that time, ABA Air was running two cargo versions of the Fokker F-27, one Beechcraft C-90 for charter flights, and one C550 Bravo, which later became the cornerstone of the ABS Jets fleet, together with the Embraer Legacy. After ABA Air was reborn as ABS Jets, I continued as one of two technicians, the other one being our colleague and the current head of Line Maintenance at our Slovak base.

The ABS Jets fleet grew over time, meaning there was a need to split the technical division into heavy and light maintenance. I remained in light maintenance, and eventually earned my B1 licence, an important commercial type licence required to carry out maintenance work on Cessna Citation Bravo, Embraer Legacy, and Phenom 100 aircraft. Most of our work still revolved around the Embraer Legacy. I continued to boost my training and earn the certificates needed to work on the maintenance of new types of aircraft, earning a commercial type licence for the Gulfstream G650 and the Bombardier Challenger CL605. The rapid growth of the fleet in recent years led to my appointment as Deputy Head of the Light Maintenance Department.

Every year is pretty much an original, and we essentially have to learn something new all the time. I do enjoy it, although it is demanding. It really is fantastic that we have such a great group of people here, both from the professional side of things and the human perspective. Something I also enjoy greatly, and something I take great personal satisfaction from, is earning all the other commercial type licences for new models of aircraft, and the professional development that goes with it. Last, but not least, I like the fact that we have the chance to travel to interesting places in the world, such as South Africa, Brazil, and the USA, either as part of our training or to service our clients’ aircraft after they report a fault abroad, meaning we need to get over there and sort the problem.

ABS Jets has moved forward so much in 20 years, and my wish for the company would be for its employees to keep on enjoying and looking forward to their work.