ORLEN Aviation is expanding internationally after securing a licence to provide aircraft refuelling services at Václav Havel Airport Prague, the Czech Republic’s largest airport. The agreement marks the company’s first operational contract outside Poland and represents a significant step in the ORLEN Group’s regional growth strategy.
Until now, ORLEN’s activities at Prague airport had focused on supplying aviation fuel to airlines. Direct aircraft refuelling operations are expected to begin in the second quarter of 2026.
According to Ireneusz Fąfara, the move strengthens ORLEN’s position in one of its key international markets. He noted that the group has been investing in and developing ORLEN Unipetrol for more than two decades and has supplied aviation fuel to Prague airport for the past eight years. He also highlighted the company’s efforts to eliminate the processing of Russian crude oil in the Czech Republic and described the Prague airport contract as part of ORLEN’s broader international expansion strategy.
ORLEN Aviation secured one of three available licences to provide into-plane refuelling services at the airport through a competitive tender process. The operational licence was issued by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Czech Republic in June 2025.
The company said its entry into ground handling operations at Prague airport will enhance operational efficiency and strengthen the aviation fuel supply chain, covering everything from refinery production and logistics to direct aircraft servicing.
Maciej Smolarek described the expansion as a milestone for the business, noting that it would be the company’s first operational activity outside Poland. He added that preparations are underway to ensure full operational readiness by the second quarter of 2026.
Together with two other operators, ORLEN Aviation will provide refuelling services to 76 airlines serving 180 destinations from Prague airport. The airport handles nearly 18 million passengers annually, making it one of the largest aviation hubs in Central and Eastern Europe.
ORLEN Aviation specialises in aircraft refuelling and aviation fuel storage and is currently the largest into-plane operator at Polish airports, with operations at 11 major locations including Warsaw, Kraków, Gdańsk, Katowice and Poznań.
The company is also a member of the Joint Inspection Group (JIG), which sets international aviation fuel quality standards, and holds an Airport Handling Agent Certificate authorising it to provide operational aircraft services.
ORLEN has maintained a presence in the Czech market for more than 20 years, expanding across fuel retail, wholesale and energy sectors. The Prague airport project is seen as a further extension of the group’s strategy to strengthen its position in Central and Eastern Europe’s aviation and energy markets.
For more information visit www.orlen.pl
