To be the global leader in business aviation

Safety and Security

• Operating to the highest existing standards in the aviation industry worldwide

Customer Service

• Striving to exceed customer and passenger expectations, both on the ground and in the air

Business Objectives

• To be the first choice among all business aviation companies, the industry standard that all others seek to emulate
• To command a premium pricing structure that reflects the quality of the products we offer, whilst ensuring our customers receive exceptional value for money

Management Objectives

• To be the most sought-after business aviation employer, by offering our personnel a rewarding and stimulating work environment
• To provide a consistently improving return to our shareholders

Geneva has been the home base for PrivatAir since 1977, when the company was launched using the aircraft fleet owned by the Latsis Group. Over 34 years, PrivatAir has grown through the acquisition and operation of large cabin aircraft, developing partnerships along the way to open and operate routes for leading commercial airlines. The dedication to provide exceptional standards of safety and service has earned the company its solid reputation in the business aviation industry. Today, the three key divisions of PrivatAir - Business Aviation, Scheduled Services and PrivatTraining - offer a full range of services to individuals, corporations and commercial airlines.

The story of PrivatAir’s growth:

• 1979, the company acquires its first Boeing 737 and in 1989, its first Boeing 757 and Gulfstream IV.
• June 1995, PrivatAir receives its Swiss Air Operator Certificate from the Federal Office of Civil Aviation.
• June 1998, PrivatAir is the first commercial operator to order two Boeing Business Jets (BBJ).
• December 1998, PrivatAir becomes Europe's first airline with a quality system that fulfils the IS09002 certification standards for all its services.
• December 1999, PrivatAir acquires a third BBJ, becoming at the time the only commercial operator of three of the new generation of Boeing ultra-long-range executive aircraft (BBJ).
• May 2000, the first BBJ is brought into operation, quickly followed by two more.
• March 2001 sees the creation of the PrivatAir Group.
• March 2001, the PrivatAir Group gains ETOPS 180 minutes and FAA 129 Foreign Carrier approval as a designated carrier under the US-Switzerland bilateral "open skies" agreement, allowing the company to offer the most direct routes across the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans as well as unlimited operations to the US. At the time, PrivatAir is the only ad hoc commercial charter operator in the world with these approvals.
• February 2002, PrivatAir completes the construction of its private terminal in Geneva where its headquarters are now based. The new "C3" terminal is a joint venture between PrivatAir and Geneva International Airport and offers a full range of VIP passenger services to PrivatAir's customers.
• June 17th 2002, PrivatAir launches a six-days-a-week business-class-only service for Lufthansa between Düsseldorf and New York's Newark Airport. Under this arrangement, which includes maintenance, insurance and crew, PrivatAir operates a 48-seat Boeing 737-700 Business Jet.
• October 2002, Airbus appoints PrivatAir to operate a corporate shuttle to transport staff between the group's production sites in Toulouse (France), Hamburg (Germany) and Filton (United Kingdom). PrivatAir acquires two new Airbus A319 aircraft. Commencing service in May 2003, each aircraft is configured with 126 identical leather seats with an all-business-class service offered on board. The Airbus corporate shuttle service operates until April 2008.
• February 2003, PrivatAir appoints Greg Thomas as Chief Executive Officer, succeeding David Hurley who becomes Vice Chairman of the Board.
• March 2003, PrivatAir and Lufthansa announce the introduction of two further transatlantic routes (Dusseldorf-Chicago and Munich-Newark), commencing service in May-June 2003. PrivatAir operates two brand-new 48-seat Airbus A319LR aircraft on these routes.
• May 2003, PrivatAir and Swissport announce the creation of a joint company, PrivatPort, to play a substantial role in the exclusive executive jet handling business at Geneva airport.
• October 2003, PrivatAir gains JAR – 145 approval from the German civil aviation authority, giving the company more autonomy and flexibility within the framework of its operations on behalf of Lufthansa and Airbus. Furthermore, the approval opens up the possibility of offering line maintenance services to third parties in Dusseldorf.
• January 6th 2005, PrivatAir begins operating a six-days-a-week, all-business-class service on behalf of Swiss International Airlines on the route of Zurich-Newark, aboard a 56-seat Boeing Business Jet 2.
• October 2005, PrivatAir begins operating a six-days-a-week, business-class-only service between Amsterdam and Houston on behalf of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, using a 44-seat Boeing Business Jet.
• October 2007, the BBJ operating the Munich to New York route is redeployed to Frankfurt in order to serve Frankfurt to New York on behalf of Lufthansa.
• 2008, the two Dusseldorf-based Airbus A319LR aircraft and the Frankfurt-based BBJ are redeployed to operate alternative all-business-class services on behalf of Lufthansa. PrivatAir adds new routes to the Middle East and Asia.
• 2009, PrivatAir acquires three Boeing Business Jets 2 to replace its Airbus A319LR aircraft, operating on behalf of Lufthansa. The company also introduces dual-class services to a number of new destinations.
• March 2011, PrivatAir begins operating a 7 days / week dual-class BBJ service on behalf of Gulf Air on the Geneva - Manama (Kingdom of Bahrain) - Muscat (Oman) and Milan - Manama – Muscat routes.
• September 2011, PrivatAir begins operating a 7 days / week (3 times per day) dual-class Boeing 737-300 service on behalf of ECAir on a Boeing 737-300 on the Brazzaville – Pointe Noir (Republic of the Congo) route.

Our aim is to continue on our path of growth, providing tailor-made solutions for ever-changing customer needs.

At PrivatAir, we operate under the most stringent safety standards, far exceeding industry requirements. In 2004, we became the first business aviation company awarded the prestigious IOSA (IATA Operational Safety Audit) certification, the first internationally recognizsed audit standards for safety. We also received the Platinum Safety of Flight award in 2008, 2009 and 2011.

What do these stringent safety standards mean in real terms for our passengers?

When you board a PrivatAir flight, you can be assured that all of the following procedures have been followed:

• All of our flight personnel are trained annually in cabin safety, medical treatment, dangerous goods handling, security and people skills.
• All crew sign non-disclosure agreements and pass background checks.
• All pilots are ATP-rated and type-rated in their specific aircraft, and must pass a comprehensive series of technical and psychological tests.
• Before take-off, destinations, routes and passenger lists are carefully screened and approved by our Director of Security. Manifests, locations and follow-on legs are checked and verified.
• Pre-boarding aircraft searches are regularly conducted.
• Each aircraft is assigned its own dedicated flight engineer.
• Complete fastidious training records are kept for all maintenance staff.

In addition, upon request, we can go much further to ensure your complete security:

• We can assign an on-board security representative.
• Your aircraft can be equipped with state of the art intrusion alarms and motion detector systems.
• An extensive security brief can be prepared on the destination locale, and stringent security can accompany you to your final destination.

Award winning, registered maintenance 



PrivatAir manages aircraft to JAR 145 maintenance and inspection programmes. Our maintenance professionals, type-rated in specific aircraft models, are beyond compare. PrivatAir is ISO9001-2000 registered, with standards that integrate fully with our quality and safety procedures. All operations, maintenance and safety manuals and programmes comply with the FAA’s CSET and ATOS standards. Not only do we keep complete fastidious training records on our maintenance staff, but we also carefully monitor and manage OEM and vendor maintenance personnel, including mandatory drug and alcohol testing. 




A strict training regimen 



A key determinant of PrivatAir’s sterling safety record is our emphasis on continual training. PrivatAir mandates ground school training both in the classroom and online. All flight personnel are trained annually in cabin safety and medical treatment.
In addition, all pilots undergo indoctrination training and five days per year of FlightSafety and SimuFlight systems training. They also take bi-annual simulator tests under strict supervision.