US membership-based Beechcraft King Air 350i operator Wheels Up plans to launch a European programme in 2016 and expects to have its first twin-engined turboprop "on the ground" early next year.
Speaking to Flightglobal at last week's National Business Aviation Association convention, Wheels Up founder and chief executive Kenny Dichter said the company is already evaluating possible bases for the aircraft.
"If you look at a map of western Europe there are over 55 key cities that the 350i can connect non-stop from three possible base locations," he says. These could include London City airport and Paris Le Bourget, which Dichter describes as the continent's "most heavily travelled city pair" for business aircraft users.
New York-headquartered Wheels Up began operations in August 2013 on the back of a record order for up to 105 350is. To date, 35 of the bespoke eight-passenger turboprops are in operation, supporting Wheels Up’s 2,000 members, along with 15 pre-owned Cessna Citation XLS superlight business jets. Another five King Airs are scheduled for delivery by year-end.
"Since our launch, we have helped to revolutionise the private aviation space in the US by lowering the price barrier to entry," says Dichter. "We want to do the same in Europe."
He likens the business aircraft market to a pyramid containing around 60,000 users. At its apex are the "tiny percentage" of high-end business jet customers, Dichter says. "With Wheels up, we are opening up the pyramid to a lot more people and believe we can grow it to a million users."
To help fund its European expansion, Wheels Up in September raised $115 million from a handful of private investors. It has also appointed UK business aviation services provider Gama Aviation to operate the 350is on its behalf – an extension of the partnership already in place between the membership programme and Gama’s US subsidiary Gama Charters.
"The company is already a long-established King Air maintenance provider and operator, so it is well placed to support our fleet in Europe," says Dichter.
Source: Flight International
