By Kate Sarsfield in London
Swiss business aviation holding company Sparfell Aviation Technology is restructuring its three European business units in an effort to raise awareness of its Masterjet brand and strengthen the company’s identity.
Simultaneously, Sparfell plans to double its business jet fleet over the next 12 months and establish charter operations in the booming Latin American and Middle Eastern markets.
Sparfell owns Geneva, Switzerland-based business aircraft management company Corporate Jet Management, and has a 70% stake in Farnborough, UK-based aircraft broker Euro Aircraft Trading. In January the company acquired a 55% stake in Masterjet, formerly Air Luxor Corporate Jets, following the sale of the Lisbon/Paris-based business aircraft operator by its parent company Air Luxor and Mirpuri Holdings. The remaining share is privately held.
“The restructuring process should be complete by the end of September, when each of these companies will assume the Masterjet brand followed by the country or city in which they are based,” says Sparfell chief executive Philip Queffelec.
Masterjet is to double its managed business jet fleet during the year, with the acquisition of three more Cessna Citations, two Airbus Corporate Jetliners and two Dassault Falcon 900EXs. “Masterjet does not own any aircraft,” Queffelec says. “We are, however, in negotiations with Embraer to acquire a Lineage 1000, a corporate version of the E-190 regional jet, under development. This is an ideal aircraft for Masterjet and will give us the opportunity to exploit the growing and demanding market for large-cabin aircraft,” he adds.
Meanwhile Sparfell, is seeking to form new charter operations in Brazil and Saudi Arabia in September and November through partnerships with established companies in the regions.
Source: Flight International
