Rising activity in the used aircraft market is a sign that recovery is on the way. Following a "big pick-up" in demand for larger jets in the past eight months, Swiss business aviation services specialist ExecuJet (stand 242) says this is now feeding through into the sub-$20 million segment, which was worst hit by the downturn.
"Things are still tough but the used aircraft market is extremely busy, and that now seems to include smaller aircraft," says Andrew Hoy, managing director of ExecuJet's aircraft trading business.
Among its recent successes, the company has just delivered the first Bombardier Challenger 604 to China.
ExecuJet - which last year mutually terminated its distributor agreement with Bombardier outside North America - now presents itself as an "independent, impartial company", says Cedric Migeon, managing director ExecuJet Europe.
Although 50-70% of its managed fleet of 150 aircraft are Bombardiers, this figure is reducing as the company looks to attract more owners of rival brands. A tie-up with Ruag will mean the company can offer heavy maintenance and completions on Cessna, Dassault, Embraer and Hawker Beechcraft types at the Swiss aerospace manufacturer's facilities in Zurich and Oberpfaffenhofen in Germany.
This complements its LBAS joint venture with Bombardier and Lufthansa Technik in Berlin, which carries out maintenance on the Canadian manufacturer's aircraft.
"It means we now have a complete offering in Europe," says Migeon.
Source: Flight Daily News
