GlobeAir – Europe’s largest Cessna Citation Mustang operator – has appointed Formula One racing driver Nico Hülkenberg as its brand ambassador.
This selection of the Le Mans 24h-race winner is designed to raise the profile of the Austrian charter company across the continent, expand its customer base and eventually enable GlobeAir to fulfil its long-held ambition to provide a point-to-point, low-cost, pan European air taxi service.
“Hülkenberg was already a GlobeAir customer,” says company founder and chief executive Berhard Fragner. “So it was a natural step to appoint him to promote our brand and our service to other travellers who are looking for convenient and flexible transportation around Europe.”
GlobeAir
GlobeAir operates a dozen Mustangs and is scheduled to take delivery of another of the entry-level jets before the end of September. “That will be the third Mustang this year,” Fragner says. “We are now looking on the pre-owned market with a view to adding more aircraft to satisfy the growing demand [for small business jet charter],” he adds.
The eight-year-old company is one of the early adopters of commercially-operated Mustangs in Europe and one of three companies on the continent providing charter services with the six-seat twin. UK-based Blink and France’s Wijet complete the line-up.
“I am as convinced today by the point-to-point, pan-European air taxi model as I was when I started,” says Fragner.
GlobeAir planned to launch a service in 2008, but the collapse of the financial market later that year put its expansion on hold.
“These entry-level jets offer so much convenience and flexibility for travellers at a cost that is comparable with a business class airline ticket.” Fragner explains. “We have already proven that there is demand out there for this type of service, it is just a matter now of spreading the word and building our customer base.”
Fragner says a mimimum of 20 aircraft is needed to make this service viable. To expedite this goal, GlobeAir is hoping to form a strategic partnership with Blink – owner of nine Mustangs and a strong advocate of the pan-European air taxi model. “Our company cultures and outlooks are very similar. We are talking to each other now to find a way to make this work,” says Fragner.
GlobeAir is also looking to add a larger and longer-range aircraft to the fleet early next year in response to customer demand.
“We have narrowed our choice to the [Embraer] Phenom 300 as it will connect all the most popular city pairs within Europe – such as London to Nice – and can seat more people than the Mustang,” Fragner says.
Source: Flight International
