Romanian aviation consultancy Euro Avia is seeking to set up a dedicated business jet charter company to exploit the booming demand for private aircraft travel in the former Eastern Bloc country.
Plans call for the acquisition of a Dassault Falcon 2000EX large-cabin business jet, rising to two aircraft as demand grows. Euro Avia president Dumitru Serban says the 2000EX is an ideal fit for this underdeveloped charter market, offering "a combination of value, comfort and range". He adds: "There are only a handful of business jets in Romania, including an older-model Gulfstream G200 and a Cessna Citation, but the demand is huge."
Romanian interest in business aircraft travel began about two years before the country's entry into the European Union in January, says Serban. "The situation has now exploded. Romania's reconstruction is under way and businesses are flocking here to be part of it." There is also soaring demand for business aircraft from Romania's expanding wealthy elite, he adds.
A similar situation is emerging in nearby Bulgaria, which joined the EU at the same time as Romania, and Bucharest-based Euro Avia hopes to exploit this market too.
Privately owned Euro Avia hopes to establish a partnership with a company or operator that will purchase or provide investment for the Falcon 2000EX, which will be put on the Romanian aircraft register. In return, Euro Avia will provide technical support and flightcrews and will market the product.
"The demand for this aircraft will be very high and we will need to have a second aircraft in our fleet," says Serban. "I can guarantee demand for 600h a year alone for the aircraft from government agencies and more than 300h a year from ad-hoc charter."
A contributor to the growth of business aviation in Romania is the country's undeveloped road and rail network, he says. "It can take a day to travel from the north to the south of the country by train."
Euro Avia is also looking to establish a fixed-base operation at Bucharest's Baneasa airport.
Source: Flight International
