Czech company Aviation Service has recently set up an FBO at Prague International Airport.

“The FBO is a new building here at the airport,” said handling manager Libor Matousek. “We have rented a location from the Czech Authority and we have built a new hangar and a new building with offices. However, it was originally planned that we would only use the hangar for installation and modification of the aircraft, but then the owners decided that they would move into handling as well.

“I worked in the handling department of the Czech Airport Authority for 11 years,” he continued.

“Therefore, I was able to contact the owners of Aviation Service, as to whether they planned to start handling here. They decided that they would, so they asked me to come back to the airport after two years. In July of last year, we started preparing the handling department. I started organisation and communication with the officials at the Ministry of Transport and we haven’t looked

back since.”

This is a new activity for the company and it faces strong competition at Prague Airport with handling, because it is the fourth handling company to be based there.

“I think we have an advantage. We have our own hangar here and our own parking ramp and apron, so when we find time, we will be able to expand further,” he said. “The other companies here don’t have the

same facilities.

“It’s always a risk to start a new venture like this. We have some fixed-based customers in the hangar, so we receive some money each year,” he said. “If we only did the handling, it would be virtually impossible for us to manage aircraft as well, because of all the competition here. At the moment, we have two people on the handling side of operations, but from May we will have a third colleague and then we will see how it all goes.”

The new facilities include a

1,200 square metre heated hangar, able to house up to a Falcon 2000 sized-aircraft, with a door height of 7.5 metres.

“We’ll be opening a new luxury lounge for the pilots and also for the clients. This is due to open on May 15,” Matousek said. “We also provide standard handling for private and executive aircraft with all services, like passenger and crew transport between the aircraft and terminal, transport to and from the city, limousine transport, catering, refuelling, de-icing, aircraft cleaning and collection of all airport fees.

“The biggest client for the hangar and the handling service we provide is Silesia Air. They have a Citation V and there are other ad hoc customers, of course,” he continued. “I think that business will build up slowly, knowing the airport as I do, but we are laying solid foundations now.”

Matousek believes that the aviation market in Prague is constantly growing. “We are joining the EU and there is a lot of investment from abroad at this time,” he said. “So, people are both setting up new businesses and bringing business

to Prague.

“I think it will be much better once we have joined the EU. It will improve life in general and there will be much greater opportunities to create

new ventures.”