Charter operator aims to draw on US sister company's experience as it looks for growth
Switzerland's PrivatAir is expanding its business aviation services portfolio with a move into aircraft management. The Geneva-based company will take delivery of its first managed aircraft, a Bombardier Global Express, in January.
"This will kick start our first serious venture into management," says PrivatAir chief operating officer Europe and Middle East Dave Kinson. "We plan to build on the expertise of our US sister company, which has maintained a management business for years."
The new offering will provide a fresh and potentially lucrative revenue stream for PrivatAir and allow the company to tap the growing demand for aircraft charter in Europe. "We want to grow our charter business as well," Kinson says. The two businesses "will feed each other", but will not entail a huge financial risk for PrivatAir, which specialises in widebody business jet transport with a VIP charter fleet of two Boeing Business Jets (BBJ) and a single 757. Two Airbus A319s that are operated as corporate shuttles under a five-year deal with Airbus, have limited availability, Kinson says. The company also operates two A319LRs and a BBJ on business class transatlantic shuttles under a wet-lease agreement with German flag carrier Lufthansa. Last month PrivatAir took delivery of a BBJ2 that it will operate from 16 January under a similar agreement for national carrier Swiss. Kinson says PrivatAir is also seeking a range of business jet types from mid-size cabins upwards to span the demands of European travellers. "We want a fleet that can cater for the short European hops as well as long-range trips," he says.
KATE SARSFIELD / LONDON
Source: Flight International
