Eva Piesiak manages ACS Toronto’s Commercial Jets team. She shares her path into aviation, a national athletic competition charter, and her love of the 777.
Charter Chatter with Eva Piesiak
Eva Piesiak has spent her career learning how to keep calm in a storm — sometimes literally, from the bathroom of a restaurant the night before a multi-airline operation. As Manager of the Commercial Jets department at Air Charter Service’s Toronto office, she leads a team built on the kind of quiet competence that clients only truly appreciate when things get complicated.
We sat down with her to talk about an accidental degree, nearly 800 athletes, and why the Boeing 777 is the only aircraft you need at the top of your list.
Eva, please can you tell us about your role at Air Charter Service?
I manage the Commercial Jets department here in Toronto. We’re a team of five – growing to six before the end of the year – and my role covers everything from driving broker performance and supporting complex sales, to mentoring the team and resolving issues with clients and suppliers when they arise.
What I care most about is training brokers who don’t just know how to do the job, but know how to do it well. That means being a pleasure to work with, delivering difficult news calmly and without drama, staying focused on solutions, and providing complete information upfront so nobody has to chase for answers.
Why did you choose an aviation career?
This is a long story – but I love telling it.
I was in the first year of a business degree, specialising in finance, when my roommate walked in one afternoon waving a pamphlet. He was excited about a programme called Commercial Aviation Management, which, it turned out, was the fourth stream of the very degree I was enrolled in.
I couldn’t afford the flight training component that led to a commercial pilot licence, but I could take the non-flight degree with seven aviation-specific courses. The way I looked at it, it was the same business degree, seven far more interesting classes. I learned a great deal, made lifelong friends – including pilots-in-training who’d occasionally take me flying – and landed my first job out of school at a flight school.
I loved everything about aviation, including the smell of jet fuel, and I can’t see myself in any other career. I consider myself lucky for having been given that pamphlet from Cole that afternoon, and to actually be working in the field I studied.
Can you tell us one of the projects/charters you are most proud to have worked on?
A programme for a national athletic competition stands out. We were moving athletes from across Canada to Deer Lake, Newfoundland – just shy of 800 people in a single day, across eight flights, using six airlines. Managing the logistics was complex at the best of times, but we were also dealing with winter weather. The night before the outbound flights, I had to rework the entire schedule to get everyone out ahead of an incoming storm – and I did it from the bathroom of a restaurant. Despite the circumstances, and despite some tears from the client in the moment, I was told afterwards that my composure and dedication under pressure had made all the difference – that one has always stayed with me.
Is there a particular industry that you personally specialize in?
Lately, evacuation charters. High volume, last-minute, constant changes, multiple communication streams running simultaneously – it feels most of the time like my entire career has been training for exactly this.
Why should someone use a charter consultant instead of going directly to an airline?
With a charter consultant, you get genuine attention, care, and commitment that an airline simply can’t offer. There’s a great deal at stake for a consultant to perform well – and that keeps standards high. A consultant will offer a great number of options, presenting multiple aircraft and configurations (and walking you through the merits of each), whereas an airline will only ever show you their own fleet.
What sets Air Charter Service apart from others in the industry?
Our size, our global reach, and the reputation we’ve built in the industry over many years. There’s enormous support behind every charter to ensure clients get the best possible experience. On the supplier side, I’d also say this – being a pleasure to work with and paying on time goes further than people might think. There are a great deal of things that seem small, but aren’t for most businesses.
What would you say to someone chartering for the first time?
I genuinely enjoy working with first-time clients. It’s an opportunity to build trust and create a relationship that lasts. My approach is simply to reassure them that they’re in good hands and that I’ll walk them through every step.
I remember being a client on a commercial jet charter myself once – quite overwhelmed, not knowing what to expect – and the expertise and care I received from the ACS team settled everything immediately. That experience has stayed with me, and it’s how I try to work with every new client.
You recently exhibited at the GBTA Canada Conference in April, could you tell us a little more about how that went?
The team found it to be a really positive event, with a strong audience of business travel buyers. It was a great opportunity to connect with the right people, and we’re hopeful to be back again next year.
Finally, just for fun, what’s your favourite aircraft to charter?
The Boeing B777-300ER. The reason is that when you’re working with that aircraft, you’re working with a large, high-stakes client on a complex programme. There’s a real sense of pride in winning a charter of that scale. The airlines that operate the 777 also tend to match the way I work – clear communication, detailed and organised information, timely responses. I’ve consistently found the highest level of competence among operators of that type.
It’s also my favourite type of aircraft to fly on too – if you’re on a 777, you’re usually going somewhere worth the trip!