French business aviation provider AviAxess is to integrate its five helicopters into a block charter programme. The company is working on rotary-wing interchange rates for fixed-wing customers, to replace the present ad hoc bolt-on helicopter chartering.
AviAxess managing director Frédéric Aguettant says the corporate helicopter market in France is underdeveloped, with most movements taking place in single-engined light helicopters, rather than the VIP-configured aircraft common in the UK and USA.
Based at the Paris Porte de Sèvres heliport, AviAxess manages five helicopters, which it will combine with 30 aircraft from other European operators to allow the company to offer 35 Eurocopter Ecureuils, Twin Ecureuils and Dauphins, says Aguettant.
Helicopters will be available in 25h blocks to existing customers at around 10% less than ad hoc hourly rates, he adds.
Aguettant believes there is sufficient demand among its jet block charter customers for a pre-paid helicopter transfer service.
The UK's PremiAir is also racing to offer Europe's first helicopter block charter, through bulk-buy deals with large UK companies.
Source: Flight International
