A Portuguese charter start-up is hoping to begin services in the first half of next year with the first of three Embraer Phenom 100 very light jets.
"We are now gathering the finance to buy the aircraft and building the necessary infrastructure to support the operation," says Paulo Jorge Estriga founder and chief executive of Lisbon-based FlyJet Executive Aviation.
The company will target customers in Europe initially - notably in Portugal and Spain - and will widen its net as new aircraft are added to the fleet. "We plan to add one aircraft a year for the first three years. We will then assess the market and if the economic conditions have improved considerably we may consider adding a new Legacy 500 [midsize business jet] to the fleet," says Estriga.
"We will also look to expand into emerging markets such as Angola," he adds. Angola's wealth of natural resources - including oil and natural gas - has spawned a large number of high-net-worth individuals.
FlyJet is targeting corporate clients in Europe who are unhappy with the decision of some regional carriers - notably British Airways and TAP Portugal - to drop the business class offering from their European routes. "There is demand from travellers for affordable luxury and we hope to fill this gap in the market," says Estriga.
Meanwhile, UK air taxi start-up Ambeo is scheduled to receive this month its aircraft operator's certificate from the Civil Aviation Authority. This will pave the way for the Cambridge airport-based operator to begin services with its first of five Cessna Citation Mustangs.
Source: Flight International
