Silesia Air caters to other operators' needs as well as its own. The Prague operator's gourmet cuisine is often on the menus that are on offer to other companies' corporate and charter clients.

"The idea to found our own catering company was born out of the simple fact that we could not obtain our clients' required standard of catering from current vendors in Prague," says Silesia Air's Tomas Karhanek. "This was because they generally serve the airlines and do not cater specially to the exacting requirements of business aviation."

He adds: "Silesia Air's clientele expects the highest possible standard of service. So our catering is, and must be, extremely appetising and we felt that, if it is good enough for our clients, then it could well be acceptable to the clients of other operators visiting Prague. Our assumption was correct and we now serve many visiting business aviation clients at our home base. The chefs are professionals and the system is based on demand."

Silesia Air, he says, was "innovatively instrumental" in the transition from propeller to jet aircraft in eastern Europe. Its Cessna fleet includes a 560XL, a Citation V and a 525. "These executive aircraft are all solely owned and operated by Silesia, which allows total operational control and continuous availability for charter."

Business is growing moderately, at a comfortable pace consistent with Silesia Air's capabilities. "We can look after our customers in the manner to which they are accustomed," says Karhanek. Operations span western, central and eastern Europe, including Russia, and extend to the Middle East and North Africa. Launched in 2002, Silesia Air attracts business from international brokers and high end customers in corporate sectors ranging from automobile to energy and from entertainment to financial.

Karhanek says Silesia Air's attention to detail in flight planning, safety and training, as well as catering, has earned the respect and trust of discerning clients over the years. "We will continue to strive for operational excellence," he adds.