About EchoJet
We are an experienced team of aviation specialists who understand your requirements and expectations. But we aim to go further. We believe we will impress you with a fresh approach, and by combining the professionalism you rightly expect with unmatched personal service, keen pricing and exceptional value. Our business model keeps our overheads low, without cutting any corners or compromising on service or expecting our aircraft operators and other partners to do so. We pass those savings on to you, our client, in our pricing.
Safety is so vital. Hence why we have our very own in-house legal team which checks every operator and the relevant regulatory requirements to do everything we can to ensure safety, efficiency and legal compliance no matter where in the world.
Nina Smith
Managing Director
Managing Director
Nina is an energetic and dynamic entrepreneur dedicated to aviation. EchoJet has been founded on her astute observation of the private aircraft charter market and her determination to innovate, modernise and improve the private charter broker offering.
Nina started her career in aviation at one of the big five brokerages and benefited from some of the best training in the industry. In the years since, Nina has organised flying for ministers, royal families, government officials, celebrities, corporates, senior executives and other VIPs and individuals worldwide. She has also organised group charters on the largest commercial jets. As a highly experienced professional charter broker Nina has always worked hard to provide a second-to-none personal service that her clients acknowledge and really appreciate. These concepts of professionalism, market knowledge and personal service are instilled in the DNA of the company.
Nina has attracted a highly experienced team of senior professionals with world-wide industry, management, business, legal, regulatory and IT skills to work with her.
Nina started her career in aviation at one of the big five brokerages and benefited from some of the best training in the industry. In the years since, Nina has organised flying for ministers, royal families, government officials, celebrities, corporates, senior executives and other VIPs and individuals worldwide. She has also organised group charters on the largest commercial jets. As a highly experienced professional charter broker Nina has always worked hard to provide a second-to-none personal service that her clients acknowledge and really appreciate. These concepts of professionalism, market knowledge and personal service are instilled in the DNA of the company.
Nina has attracted a highly experienced team of senior professionals with world-wide industry, management, business, legal, regulatory and IT skills to work with her.
Hugh O'Donovan FRAeS
Chairman
Chairman
For over thirty years Hugh has enjoyed an international reputation for his focus on the regulation of aviation and his industry knowledge. During his career he has headed the aviation regulatory and commercial practices of three international law firms. He has advised airports, airlines, private jet owners and operators, charter brokers, maintenance providers, tour operators and travel agents.
A number of Hugh's clients have been leaders in innovation. Since being the legal architect of easyJet, a prime market innovator and disruptor, he has been a close observer of the 'low cost' and 'value' airline models and interested in the potential application of these principles in other businesses. Hugh has experience as a director and shareholder of businesses in a diverse range of sectors including IT, hospitality, education, food manufacture and retailing, marketing and information services. His interest in some of these has been sparked by their innovatory approach to products and services. Hugh is based in the UK and Mallorca, and travels on business to the commercial centres of the world. He is a co-founder of EchoJet, recognising the potential for innovation in the private jet charter and group charter market, and brings to the business a wealth of expert knowledge on safety, regulation, service and value.
A number of Hugh's clients have been leaders in innovation. Since being the legal architect of easyJet, a prime market innovator and disruptor, he has been a close observer of the 'low cost' and 'value' airline models and interested in the potential application of these principles in other businesses. Hugh has experience as a director and shareholder of businesses in a diverse range of sectors including IT, hospitality, education, food manufacture and retailing, marketing and information services. His interest in some of these has been sparked by their innovatory approach to products and services. Hugh is based in the UK and Mallorca, and travels on business to the commercial centres of the world. He is a co-founder of EchoJet, recognising the potential for innovation in the private jet charter and group charter market, and brings to the business a wealth of expert knowledge on safety, regulation, service and value.
Greg Thomas
Associate Director
Associate Director
Greg is a former owner, Chairman and CEO of two European airlines and has run private charter, business jet and commercial aircraft operations on all seven continents (including Antarctica).
As CEO of the PrivatAir Group based in Geneva he was responsible for building a management team from scratch and transforming a business, launching an innovative hybrid business model bridging business and commercial aviation, operating Boeing Business Jets and Airbus Business Jets on behalf of six major airlines. In addition, he is a qualified English solicitor with over 25 years of aircraft financing transaction experience.
Greg is a former Chairman of Wing’s Club Europe and a Board member of Wing’s Club New York, the European Business Aviation Association and Aéroport International de Genève. He lives in Switzerland, near Geneva.
As CEO of the PrivatAir Group based in Geneva he was responsible for building a management team from scratch and transforming a business, launching an innovative hybrid business model bridging business and commercial aviation, operating Boeing Business Jets and Airbus Business Jets on behalf of six major airlines. In addition, he is a qualified English solicitor with over 25 years of aircraft financing transaction experience.
Greg is a former Chairman of Wing’s Club Europe and a Board member of Wing’s Club New York, the European Business Aviation Association and Aéroport International de Genève. He lives in Switzerland, near Geneva.
