Euro Jet Welcomes New Regional General Manager for Central and Eastern Europe
Euro Jet is pleased to welcome Ondrej Zich as our new Regional General Manager for Central and Eastern Europe. In this role, Ondrej will work with Euro Jet’s Country Managers across the region, helping to connect local teams, support their work, and ensure consistent high-quality service standards throughout our Central and Eastern European network.
Ondrej brings valuable aviation experience to his new role after having worked in various positions and departments connected to operations at Prague Airport. This provided him with a complete understanding of how the airport environment works, as well as how aircraft and passenger handling processes are managed. His experience with international teams and sharing best practices across borders also makes him well suited to a role that depends on communication, coordination, and trust.
As Regional General Manager for Central and Eastern Europe, Ondrej will serve as an important link between Euro Jet’s Country Managers in the region and the Prague head office. He works with 14 Country Managers and oversees the organizational side of Euro Jet’s operations in 17 countries, stretching from the Baltic States in the north to Albania in the south. In addition to this regional scope, he is also in close contact with Euro Jet’s Ground Service Coordinator in Jordan.
Throughout such a vast geographical area, each country has its own challenges, working style, and culture. Ondrej will work to ensure our customers receive the same exceptional standard of service across all locations, in line with what Euro Jet stands for. To get to know Ondrej better and hear more about his approach to the role, we asked him a few questions.
You have spent more than three decades in aviation. What first brought you to the industry, and what has kept you here?
I did not plan a career in aviation – it happened more by chance. A friend of mine was working at the airport and recommended a job to me. Once I stepped into that environment, it completely drew me in. I quickly realized it was not just a job, and I knew I wanted to stay in the industry. What started almost by accident has become a rewarding 32-year journey and counting, during which I have developed a deep respect for aviation.
It is incredible to look back and see how much the industry has changed over the decades. Airline fleets have modernized, airports and their infrastructure have expanded, and safety and operational procedures have improved significantly. For me, the best part is being involved in this evolution and knowing that I can still actively contribute to it.
Now that you have taken on this new role at Euro Jet, what is your main focus when working with Country Managers, and what do you value most in cooperation with colleagues?
My main focus is to listen. Every country faces different challenges, and there is no one-size-fits-all solution. That is why I try to truly understand the specific needs of each Country Manager. My day-to-day work is about listening to them, helping solve ongoing issues, and making sure they have the support they need. At the same time, by coordinating regional projects and priorities, I help maintain a unified approach across our network.
When it comes to cooperation, I value open and constructive communication, together with professional yet friendly relationships. I believe it is important to create an environment where people are not afraid to speak up, share ideas, or admit when something goes wrong. We are all on the same team, and my role is to help find solutions rather than look for blame. Building our cooperation on trust is one of my priorities.
What would you like to achieve in your first year in this position, and what is your longer-term vision for Euro Jet’s network in Central and Eastern Europe?
In my first year, I would like to pay close attention to alignment and quality. Together with our Country Managers, I want to look at how we can make our procedures simpler and more consistent across different countries, while ensuring they meet industry standards and client expectations. This is not about controlling every detail. It is about creating a predictable, well-structured environment where our teams can work safely and efficiently.
Looking further ahead, my long-term vision is sustainable growth. With clear processes and strong regional teams, we will be in a good position to capture new market opportunities and strengthen our relationships with key vendors. For me, long-term success means that Euro Jet is not only growing commercially, but that the teams across our network are stable, resilient, and proud to be part of what we are building together.
Since stepping into your new role, what has made the strongest positive impression on you? And where do you see the biggest opportunities for further development across our core region?
What has made the strongest positive impression on me is definitely the people. Their enthusiasm, passion, and real dedication to what they do have been truly inspiring. In aviation, you can easily tell who is simply doing a job and who is a genuine aviation enthusiast. At Euro Jet, I felt that deep connection to the industry from day one. Seeing how much the team cares about our customers and the company has given me a huge boost of positive energy.
When it comes to further development, I see a great opportunity in how we work with the large amount of data we have. Euro Jet has built an incredible database over the years, and from my point of view, there is strong potential in data automation – perhaps also by using AI tools – which I believe will enable us to focus even more on our clients. For me, innovation is not about replacing the human touch. It is about using technology to give our people more time for that human connection.
To end on a personal note, how do you like to spend your time when you are not in the office or at the airport?
When I am not working, I try to switch off and recharge. I enjoy spending time with my family and our dog. I am also a big fan of the mountains, so I like heading out for trips, whether it is hiking on foot or riding a mountain bike. To clear my head, I also enjoy working in the garden, and I have a rather specific hobby: taking care of my cactus collection. It requires attention to detail and patience, which for me creates a nice balance to the fast-paced world of aviation.
Images: Euro Jet Archive
