Warsaw, Poland-headquartered operator AMC Aviation has added three new aircraft to its AOC in the past year: a Challenger 300, a Gulfstream G280 and a Pilatus PC-24. According to marketing director and charter sales manager Patrycja Kwiatkowska, the demand for charter is not declining and is comparable to previous years, despite the pandemic. “All our aircraft under AOC are used for commercial flights all year round,” she says. “In the winter season, the main destinations are places further afield such as Dubai and the Maldives. In the summer season, most flights are carried out in Europe.”

AMC is the largest G280 operator in Europe. The first aircraft of this type joined its fleet in 2016, the second in June 2018 and the third in 2020. “We are also the most experienced G280 service centre in Europe,” Kwiatkowska continues. “We have our own facilities and provide full technical service for aircraft owners. This is conducive to acquiring new customers who have the same type of aircraft or a different type that we can handle.”

The company provides management, consulting, maintenance and charter. It offers comprehensive services for business and private aviation sectors. “We will take you on a business trip, on holiday, individually, with the whole family, children, whenever you need it,” Kwiatkowska explains. “We will advise you with regard to buying an aircraft and will perform a full technical inspection.

“Recently, we performed a flight to one of the countries in Central Asia, which required obtaining permits through diplomatic channels. We waited for approval and the flight was postponed for several days. In the end, we managed to get all the necessary approvals and the client reached his destination. We always try to help our clients, not only with standard flights, but also with more complicated ones. In emergency situations, we look for solutions that satisfy both parties. As a result, we built lasting relationships with brokers and clients around the world.”

CFO Jaroslaw Pierzchala says that coronavirus has savaged the aviation sector, and AMC took its share of impact, with aircraft grounded and flying prohibited. “It was a terrible time for the company, and with huge fixed costs we were very worried,” he reveals. “In July and August 2020, the number of requests we were receiving was more than in the same period the previous year, and this included new customers who have not flown with us before. The coronavirus outbreak coincided with some major inspections, our mechanics were very busy, and maintenance did exceptionally well, generating significant income.

“We felt this would turn sooner than later, simply because of the sheer nature of the business. It’s a product that’s delivered to business people, and the wealthy, those with an established way of life. And we knew they will not be resigning from travelling on holidays, to their residences, or on business – and many of our clients have multiple companies in different countries. In the past we didn’t sell any flights from Geneva to London for example, because people could travel very comfortably in business class practically every one or two hours.

“Now with the COVID-19 impact, those schedules will not be returning with the same frequency or the same destinations. And with those who used business class wanting to use private jets, this will boost our charter market. So early on we were quite optimistic on the future outlook, and this has turned out to be true.”

AMC will continue its mission of reliability and safety. In the near future, it would also like to market outside Poland, winning charter and maintenance clients from Western Europe.