ExecuJet Aviation is expanding its presence at Berlin Schönefeld airport in Germany following the decision by German authorities to close downtown Tempelhof airport in October.
ExecuJet's general manager for Germany Andreas Cordes expects around 90% of the German capital's private jet and general aviation traffic will move from Tempelhof to Schönefeld following the shutdown.
"Schönefeld's daily business aircraft movements are in single digits," Cordes says "but we expect the Tempelhof traffic to bring a further 12 to 15 flights a day."
Further growth at the airport is also expected, Cordes says, boosted by Berlin's growing reputation as a strong commercial and leisure destination and as a gateway to the booming economies of eastern Europe.
ExecuJet has started work on a major upgrade of its fixed-base operation and plans to have up to six managed business jets based at the site by year-end.
"Berlin Schönefeld is being developed as the new Berlin Brandenburg International airport, the new single site airport serving the capital of Germany. Our activity in Germany will be pivotal to the 55-strong aircraft we support in Europe, with 20 more managed aircraft set to be added by the end of the year," says ExecuJet Europe managing director Peter Hartmann.
ExecuJet has had a presence in Berlin Schönefeld since 2005, when it bought into Lufthansa Bombardier Aviation Services - a joint venture with Lufthansa Technik and Bombardier.
In mid-2006 it established an FBO at the airport and the company was awarded its German air operator's certificate in May last year.
It has two business jets on management contracts based out of Schönefeld. ExecuJet offers a wide range of business aviation services in Germany, including aircraft sales, aircraft management, aircraft completion management, charter, VIP handling and aircraft maintenance.
Source: Flight International
