VistaJet goes for the treble chance VistaJet goes for the treble chance

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6 JUNE 2008 EUROPEAN BUSINESS AIR NEWS Lufthansa launches ‘phone and fly’ point-to-point private jet service to dovetail with intercontinental first class Lufthansa pledges that booking its private jets could not be made any easier. “It is very simple, just a ‘phone call,” says Dr. Gerald Wissel, global head, Lufthansa Private Jet (LPJ) which was officially launched on 1 June this year. “The credit card generates an electronic ticket. This ticket is the contract between Lufthansa and client and this contract is completely valid under European law. In fact, as a passenger, you have many more rights with this “airline’ ticket than with a charter contract.” Wissel also pledges that there will be one price for each pointto-point travel within Europe. Lufthansa showcased a private jet service aircraft, a CJ3, at EBACE but it will be one of nine aircraft entering LPJ service in the coming months. The airline will also utilise the aircraft of private charter partners who will include DC Aviation. Cabin size and luggage capacity were among the selection priorities. LPJ says seven Citations will fly point-to-point in Europe and Russia will be served by two Canadair CRJ200s converted to Challenger 850 configuration. “The clients are essentially corporate customers who want a one-stop shop for their requirements,” Wissel adds. “They want point-to-point travel coordinated with first-class scheduled travel. We will provide everything they need including limousine transfer as necessary.” Lufthansa intends that the private jet service mentality is found in First Class as well. Wolfgang Mayrhuber, chairman of Lufthansa’s executive board, says: “First Class guests who spend many days of the month aboard an aircraft and at airports expect to be able to decide for themselves how they spent their time. We would like to create an environment similar to that of a journey by private jet.” He adds: “Passengers arriving on long haul flights in Frankfurt, Munich and Zurich can conveniently take a private jet to fly on to their final destination, connecting to more than LPJ clients will be ushered through the formalities and can take a limousine across the tarmac to their private jet. 1,000 airports throughout greater Europe. The private jet service can also be used for point-to-point flights between European airports.” Mayrhuber claims: “LPJ complements Lufthansa’s worldwide network by adding up to 1,000 individualised flight options.” He says that all clients will be looked after by their own personal assistant. “In the background an events manager coordinates the journey before and during the flight and also takes care of any of the clients’ individual requests.” At Frankfurt, Munich and Zurich, passengers arriving aboard Lufthansa long haul flights are taken through formalities by the personal assistant and can be directly limousinechauffeured across the tarmac to the LPJ aircraft. Seamless transit of MAZ Aviation chairman Mohammed Al-Zeer (centre) finalises the XWB deal with Airbus evp Eduoard Ullmo (left) and svp Christian Robach. Saudi Arabian clients confirm the first Prestige orders Saudi Arabian private customers have ordered six A350 XWB Prestiges through MAZ Aviation. “The kind of private customer that buys a vip widebody wants the very best,” says MAZ Aviation chairman Mohammed Al Zeer. “The A350 XWB offers more cabin space, more range and a more modern design.” All six XWBs will feature vip cabins and be powered by Rolls- Royce Trent XWB engines but the choice of cabin outfitters has yet to be announced. Al Zeer says it is the first agreement signed for this type of aircraft in the Middle East. Selling points included the XWB’s range enabling it to fly non-stop to the world as well as the wide cabin and extra floor space. Other pluses included the advanced and efficient aerodynamic design with more than 50 per cent of the airframe is made up of weight-saving carbon fibre composites. Airbus coo customers, John Leahy says: “The deal is the largest single deal ever for Airbus corporate jetliners, and comprises one A350- 800 and five A350-900s.” Wolfgang Mayrhuber: 1,000 bespoke flight options. baggage is part of the deal. Lufthansa actually began ferrying first-class passengers from airline hubs to their final destination but it says feedback confirms they want a point-to-point service. This was a different concept to the service that was provided by NetJets and DC Aviation will expand its Airbus Corporate Jet fleet to four as it simultaneously builds its already sizeable all-round fleet. The Stuttgart operator, the first confirmed selected partner for Lufthansa Private Jet, will become the largest operator of ACJs in the German business aviation market, according to ceo Dieter Heinen. “Our goal is to become the largest premium operator of private jets in Europe. With the purchase of the first Airbus 319 CJ, We are giving the green light for further corporate jets on this scale”, Heinen adds. The company’s first Airbus 319 CJ was previously in operation for the Daimler corporation but is now being offered exclusively by DC Aviation for executive charter market. Three more Airbus of type 319 CJ fitted to take up to 22 vips will be added to the fleet over the next 12 months and will most likely be operated in Europe and the Middle East. Heinen says: “Apart from comfortable business seating for 48 passengers and generous seat pitch of 152 cm, the ACJ excels especially when it comes to long haul flights with its maximum cruising range of Lufthansa decided to offer its own operation. DC Aviation, which was used to meet some of the demand, and will be among the few selected partners as Lufthansa responds to what it says is growing demand. Lufthansa reports that the number of private jet flights operated in 2007 rose by 26 per cent. “Customer demand strongly outstripped capacity over the year by an average of around 25 per cent and in peak months by as much as 60 per cent,” says Wissel. Demand for aircraft, especially mid to large accommodating seven to 12 people, rose disproportionately in the past year, Wissel adds. “It was strongest among customers from Germany, Scandinavia, France and Italy, who used the LPJ service primarily for point-to-point flights.” up to 4,320 n.m. Four additional tanks make it possible for the Execuliner to fly nonstop in 9 hours, for instance from London to Chicago or from Munich to Bangalore.” He adds: “Our many years of transatlantic operational experience with the A319 CJ and the great demand for this type of aircraft, is the key reason for our further expansion in this market.” But Heinen says the expansion of the fleet is not restricted to the A319. “We are building up our capacities from the Learjet to the Airbus. In 2008 alone we expect a total of 12 new additions of the types G550, G450, G150, Challenger 850, Legacy 600, Citation XLS and Learjet 40.” Stefan Buschle, md, says: “With our extremely young modern fleet structure and our unique concept for service and safety, we are winning new partners all over the world.” DC Aviation, a member of the Cirrus Group, was formed by the merger of Cirrus Aviation and the former DaimlerChrysler Aviation. The company is concentrating on aircraft management, charter and maintenance of business jets. It employs more than 380 and its fleet includes the A319 CJ, two Global LPJ service is in for the long haul An LPJ flight from Munich to Lugano will costs €4,550 or €5,650, depending on aircraft type, and Dublin to Bilund will be €9,530. Flights can be booked a few hours before departure or up to 365 days in advance. However, LPJ says it recommends that passengers book two to three days in advance. LPJ says that almost any connection is possible. “Passengers can choose from more than 1,000 destinations in Europe and the Russian Federation,” says Dr. Gerald Wissel, global head, LPJ. “Overseas customers used the service mainly in combination Lufthansa says that First Class will also offer service at private jet level. with long haul flights operated by Lufthansa and Swiss through the Frankfurt, Munich and Zurich hubs.” In the future Lufthansa and Swiss passengers will be able to choose four different aircraft types. These are: Three CJ+ (light, seating four passengers); two CJ3 (small, six passengers); two XLS (mid, seven passengers) and two converted CRJ 200s similar to the Challenger 850 (large, 12 passengers). Lufthansa envisages a maximum of three private jet partners that might be called on to supply aircraft. DC Aviation orders ACJs and Learjets as it builds huge modern charter fleet 550s, two Global Express, a Global 5000, a Falcon 900 DX, two Challenger 604s, five Legacy 600s, a Challenger 300, a Gulfstream 150, a Citation X, five Citation XLS, two Learjet 60s and four Learjet 40s. Detailed fleet expansion plans include upgrading the DC Aviation fleet of Citation XLS to seven with the immediate addition of two more aircraft. Marc Ambrosius, cfo, says: “This will make DC Aviation the largest operator of the Citation XLS in Europe.” The company’s plans to operates more than 30 modern private jets of various sizes with an average age that is less than 2.5 years are well on the way to fruition. “We place great value on our young dynamic fleet structure, which is maintained by experienced experts in our own state of the art maintenance facility. Thanks to the two new additions we will be able to offer our customers one of the safest and most modern fleets in Europe”, asserts director of sales and marketing Jonas Kraft. He says businessmen particularly appreciate the advantages of the XLS including its non-stop cruising range of 1,944 n.m, and maximum speed of almost 800 km/h.
EUROPEAN BUSINESS AIR NEWS Charter operators tune in to Europe’s big event music, football and racing extravaganzas Europe’s big charter operators, including DC Aviation, are investing in large private jets as the growing market in big music and sporting events complements buoyant corporate demand. DC Aviation, together with its charter brokerage partner, Premier Aviation, flew Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band aboard DC Aviation’s Airbus 319 CJ from the U.S. to Europe for their current tour. Premier Aviation and its partner Airworks Inc., charter brokerage partner companies specialising in music business clients, arranged the band’s full tour on an A319CJ throughout Europe during June and July. “In the future DC Aviation and Premier Aviation are planning to strengthen their partnership for further engagement,” Jonas Kraft, DC Aviation’s vp sales and marketing, says. The aircraft’s 48 seat configuration is ideal for bands and sport teams, he says. “The ACJ is perfectly designed for flights during the European Football Championship this summer or for road shows and concert tours. We are in the tender process and discussing for some flights for the European Championship. Due to the play-off format in the preliminary round, there will be also an additional short-notice demand for flights to the quarter-finals, semi-finals and of course the final.” A convertible Boeing 757 ‘Combi’, created by independent UK-based airline Astraeus, has completed its world tour with the rock group Iron Maiden, whose lead singer Bruce Dickinson is a pilot for the airline (EBAN March 2008). For the Iron Maiden tour it featured 20 business class seats, 54 premium economy seats and a cargo area where the last ten rows of seats would have been in the rear compartment of the aircraft. Capt. Bruce says: “It cut days off the turnaround time between concerts on the tour, because the band, crew and essential equipment – up to 12 tons of it – all travelled together, meaning a two day road or Austrian police wanted new helicopters in time for the policing of the European football championship. sea trip was despatched in hours or even minutes.” The tour visited India, the Far East, Australasia, the Americas and Europe in February and March 2008. “But the conversion is not something that’s going to be Iron Maiden-only. It is designed such that we can convert the aircraft one way or the other from Combi to 100 per cent passenger aircraft in three days,” says Shaun Monnery of Astraeus. “That opens up a whole new area of opportunity for other touring bands, as well as orchestras, for product launches, company events and conferences.” However, big events also bring in business for smaller aircraft including helicopters. Paris and French Rivierabased Aviaxess has built up a raft of private aviation services dedicated to the international circuit of Formula 1. “Over the years Aviaxess has successfully developed solutions to meet the exacting demands of the Formula 1 business world,” says Steve Comlux Aviation expands its network and adds two XRS Comlux Aviation has ordered two Global Express XRS. The deal was finalised at EBACE (above). Ettore Rodaro, coo and head of the vip charter division says: “The aircraft will increase Comlux Aviation’s young and modern fleet to a total of nine Bombardier business jets.” The current fleet also includes two widebody Challenger 605, two Challenger 850 and a Global 5000. “The new XRS is the definitive business jet offering superior comfort, advanced technology and efficient layout of the new flight deck,” says Rodaro. “There has also been particular attention to detail. These new aircraft are part of our strategic development plan to reinforce our position as a leading long haul charter services provider in Europe, central Asia and the Middle East and will complement our Airbus corporate jet fleet.” Comlux is establishing Comlux KZ, a new operation in Almaty, Kazakhstan, to complement existing offices in Zurich, Monaco, Moscow and Malta. It has also set up a new division, Comlux Creatives to offer aircraft design covering activities such as exterior and interior design and decoration, art concepts, completion management and supervision. It will be able to call on the newly-established Bahrain Comlux Creatives. Comlux Creatives, it says, will be led by Isabelle Bevilacqua. Whittell, organiser of the Motor Sports Business Forum in Monte Carlo. “Aviaxess looks after all the details that drivers, team principals, sponsors and VIP guests are so sensitive about. Aviaxess removes the stress of travel where time is at an absolute premium.” Aviaxess is working with the organisers of the Motor Sport Business Forum to offer its services to the executives and vips attending this year’s event in December in Monaco. Formula 1 also provides business for airports. A Dassault Falcon 7X owned and operated by the Formula 1 Management Team, touched down at London Ashford (Lydd). The aircraft’s pilot and crew carried out ‘touch and go’ flight training, completing six circuits before returning the aircraft to its base at Biggin Hill. Meanwhile Eurocopter has fulfilled its pledge to deliver EC135s in time for the UEFA European Football Championship (Euro 2008). Austria’s minister of the interior, Gunther Platter inaugurated the first three of four new EC135 helicopters destined for the country's air police at the flight operations base in Innsbruck on 5 May. The new EC135s were also publicly presented in Salzburg, Vienna and Klagenfurt: each city is an important venue for Euro 2008. The sheer volume of vip and official travel needs will ensure heavy business for charter operators. Around 120,000 guests including vips and sponsors will 08 09 HANDbook of business aviation in Europe EUROPEAN BUSINESS AIR NEWS 08 09 HANDbook of business aviation in ASIA PACIFIC global business jet YEARBOOK be welcomed, fed and entertained by the hospitality team. And every day about 2,700 journalists and photographers will be reporting via TV, Internet, radio, e-mail and telephone. Some 5,000 Euro 2008 volunteers have already attended events in the host cities. Almost two-thirds come from Austria and Switzerland, while over 75 nations are represented in all, with many from Germany, some from Italy and France and a few from as far away as Costa Rica, Togo, Uganda, Indonesia and Nepal. Air Charter Service (ACS) organised a ‘fleet’ of private aircraft to fly to Moscow for the Champions League final between Manchester United and Chelsea. To save on hotel accommodation, Chelsea fans chartered a 148 seat B737-300 from ACS to fly to Moscow, wait at the airport and return post match. Four Chelsea and eight Manchester United fans together chartered a 14 seater G4 to get to the match. But ACS reported: “The Russian location made this event a logistical nightmare. Landing and parking permissions as well as traffic rights were difficult to obtain, aircraft parking slots at Moscow airport were restricted and the actions of the authorities and local hoteliers were seen by some as ‘an excuse to make money’.” The volume of calls received by ACS for quotes to fly to Moscow was extremely high for over three weeks. Charters operators and brokers reported that the Heineken Cup in Cardiff brought so many enquiries and bookings in for all aircraft types that Cardiff and Bristol airports were virtually full. But the UEFA Cup Final in Manchester had a lesser impact because of Glasgow’s proximity to Manchester although scheduled travel options sold out fast and private charter operators benefited. Music and sport events, says analysts, will continue to be big business for small as well as large private aircraft operators. Essential reading wherever you are Handbook of Business Aviation in Europe The reference book for fixed wing and rotary business aircraft owners and operators in Europe and the Middle East. 2008/09 edition available now! www.handbook.aero Handbook of Business Aviation in Asia Pacific The reference book for fixed wing and rotary business aircraft owners and operators in the Asia Pacific region. Available June 2008. www.handbook.aero Global Business Jet Yearbook The reference book for long range business jet owners and operators worldwide. www.gbjyearbook.com JUNE 2008 7 Double boost for Multiflight operations Multiflight, based at Leeds Bradford International Airport, has added an AS355 F2 single pilot IFR, to its fleet and is awaiting the arrival of a second nine-seater Dauphin AS365 helicopter. The new charter aircraft join Multiflight’s existing fleet, which includes an AS365, AS350 and an R44. Steve Borrowdale, md, says: “The investment in the fleet goes in tandem with the investment in facilities. Multi-million pound investment has totally transformed the south side of the airport. It offers a one-stop shop for flying enthusiasts, professionals and charter customers, with its own FTC and specialist engineering, charter, aircraft management and sales and executive aircraft handling departments.” Multiflight's fleet is expanding. Multiflight says facilities cater for all sizes of aircraft, and features a dedicated taxiway from the apron and hangar space totalling 10,000 sq. m., including two barrel-vaulted hangars able to house four Boeing 737-800 sized aircraft. EBAN JULY 2008 The July EBAN will enjoy bonus distribution at the Farnborough Airshow. In-depth focuses will include a fleet review of the Netherlands.
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VistaJet goes for the treble chance VistaJet goes for the treble chance

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