JUSTIN WASTNAGE / SOUTHAMPTON
UK aircraft management company and operator Bookajet has completed a move to Southampton as the company continues to expand.
Bookajet, which began operations in June having inherited the assets of defunct Farnborough-based air-taxi operator Chauffair, is looking to expand its fleet and says it may acquire two Raytheon Hawker 800 mid-size jets this year, bringing its charter fleet to seven business jets.
Bookajet completed a move to Southampton this month, taking over the maintenance hangars of BBA Aviation-owned Signature. Bookajet strategic director Christian Rooney says the company needs the large Southampton facilities as it expects to receive its aircraft operators' certificate (AOC) next month. The company will continue to operate under Farnborough-based Aravco's AOC until then.
Bookajet also has plans to maintain its own fleet at the base. Bookajet's Hawker fleet is running close to capacity, the company says, attributing the rapid growth to publicity surrounding its UK soccer player launch customer David Beckham.
Bookajet currently operates the Geneva to Paris Le Bourget route for scheduled business jet members' airline Club Airways and hopes to secure a second and possible third route by the end of the first quarter, says Rooney.
"Part of our business plan is to derive a sizable proportion of our work from scheduled services while trying to grow ad hoc charter by around 30% in the first few years," says Rooney.
Despite celebrity endorsements, Bookajet is targeting "second-tier" travellers, using business-class scheduled services.
The company's operations are currently around 40% leisure-based, Rooney adds.
Source: Flight International
