Singapore charter start-up OJets has snapped-up Slovenian business aircraft management company and operating partner Elit’Avia, as it seeks to broaden its service offering and global reach.
The acquisition was completed in late March, ahead of OJets' launch on 5 April. The company owns and operates three high-end Bombardier business jets – two Global 6000s (9H-OJS and -OJT) and a Challenger 650 (9H-OJJ) – previously owned by defunct Singapore-US charter company Zetta Jet.
OJets offers traditional ad hoc charter and a bespoke block-hour programme, with all aircraft operating on Elit’Avia’s Maltese air operator certificate (AOC).
OJets
The ten-year-old company, headquartered in Ljubljana, also holds Slovenian and San Marino AOCs. It manages a fleet of 21 midsize, large-cabin and long-range business jets – including Dassault Falcon 7Xs, Gulfstream G550, G650s and Global 6000/XRSs – for its mainly European and Russian owners.
“We now plan to expand the two businesses,” says Nick Houseman, co-owner of Elit’Avia and chief executive of the newly formed OJets Group, which oversees both ventures.
“We will introduce the Elit’Avia management offering to the Asia-Pacific market, and bring OJets’ ad hoc and bespoke charter service to Europe,” he adds. “There is so much opportunity for these ventures across both regions.”
OJets plans to add a further five business jets by the end of the second quarter. These will consist of a mix of ex-Zetta Jet aircraft and other "privately- sourced" types, says Houseman, although he does not disclose which parts of Zetta’s fleet the company is eyeing. Flight Fleets Analyzer records 15 aircraft in the defunct operator’s inventory – nine Global 5000/6000s and six G450/GIVs and GVs.
Houseman is a former Bombardier executive who also founded business aviation services provider Zenith Jet.
Source: Flight International
