Polish low-cost air taxi operator Direct Fly and UK aircraft broker One Charter have introduced the first Diamond Aircraft DA42 Twin Star piston twin on to the UK charter market in an attempt to exploit the growing demand in Europe for low-cost business travel.
The aircraft, which is based at Oxford airport, is aimed at existing business aviation customers that are seeking to downgrade from more expensive models as well as potential business aircraft users.
"The three-passenger DA42 is the most modern and fuel-efficient piston twin on the UK charter market and one of the cheapest aircraft twin-engined aircraft to hire," says One Charter chief executive Mike Ryan.
 |
|---|
© Diamond Aircraft |
"For a one-way trip from London to Paris, for example, the DA42 will cost £1,200 [$1,920]. This compares with £1,700 for a 1983 model Piper PA-34 Seneca piston twin, £3,000 for a Beechcraft King Air 200 twin turboprop and £3,600 for a Premier I light business jet."
Ryan says that while these types can accommodate more passengers than the DA42, a typical short-distance charter flight only carries two to three.
"We hope the DA42 will open up business aviation to a new breed of customers. Our challenge is to educate people who generally think that private aviation is out of their reach," says Ryan.
Source: Flight International
