KATE SARSFIELD / LONDON
United BizJet chief says the US downturn will not affect the company's expansion plans
United BizJet hopes to start assessing potential participation in the corporate shuttle market next year and has cited widebody aircraft including the Boeing Business Jet and Bombardier CRJ-sized aircraft as possible programme candidates.
United BizJet launched its fractional ownership division in May and says it will continue to focus on expanding and developing the unit. United BizJet president and chief executive Stuart Oran says: "Although our immediate focus will be on establishing ourselves as key providers of business jet fractional ownership, we believe there is increasing demand for corporate shuttles from US companies seeking to complement or replace their methods of executive transportation."
No timescale for operational start up has been determined although Oran says the downturn in the US economy, while worrying, has not affected United's ambition to expand into business aviation. The Chicago-based company, established earlier this year by parent UAL as a separate, standalone business, is also seeking to establish a dedicated charter division "at some stage". The company is holding talks with several charter operators to provide back-up for its fractional ownership programme. This could provide a vital leg up into the charter market, but Oran declines to reveal the extent of United's planned involvement with potential participants.
United BizJet is hoping to begin marketing its fractional ownership venture as early as next month's National Business Aviation Association convention, where it will make its debut. Over 52 orders, a mixture of Dassault Falcon types and Gulfstreams, and 82 options have been placed to date. Operations are expected to start by next May, when Oran anticipates the first six to eight aircraft will have been delivered.
Up to 22 business jets are slated for delivery by the end of next year and up to 200 aircraft by 2005. Oran adds: "We plan to operate a wide range of jets from the superlight to large cabin aircraft."
Source: Flight International
