Flight Options, the fourth largest fractional ownership provider in the USA, has expanded its programme to Europe, linking with Chauffair, the UK's largest business aircraft charter and management company.
Flight Options is the third major US fractional company to enter the European business aircraft operations market, heating up competition among current providers. Executive Jet (EJI) and Bombardier introduced versions of their respective NetJets and Flexjet programmes to Europe in 1996 and 1998. Raytheon Travel Air has yet to commit to Europe but is "continuing to evaluate the market".
Flight Options chief executive Ken Ricci admits: "We have been looking at Europe for some time, trying to establish how we should tackle the market. Fractional ownership is very much a US concept, ill- suited to Europe with its regulatory and tax minefields."
Flight Options Europe will initially be offered to US customers wishing to fly within the continent. A reciprocal programme is available, allowing Chauffair Share customers access to Flight Options aircraft in the USA.
Flight Options Europe will use Farnborough-based Chauffair's Cessna Citation Excels, nine of which are on order for delivery beginning in August next year. In the meantime, Flight Options will provide eight Raytheon Hawker 800s. All aircraft, including the Excels, will be painted in its livery. Chauffair chief executive Nick Probett says: "I hope to have all the Excels in service within 24 months and am considering an additional order for 15 more."
Probert has secured finance for the original Excel order through a Scottish bank. Cleveland, Ohio-based Flight Options is not contributing to the Excel's acquisition cost, but will guarantee Chauffair 1,000h a year use of its fleet.
Flight Options Europe has adapted the UK company's own charter programme, dubbed Chauffair Share. Aircraft will be available in 10h, 25h or 50h increments, and any unused hours can be added to the US entitlement. There are no acquisition costs and customers are charged monthly management and occupied flight hour fees. For example, an Excel customer requesting 25h a year in the European programme will be charged $8,850 a month and $2,500 per hour. A response time of 8h is guaranteed.
Customers will receive a 10h European share if purchasing shares in Flight Options' US-based Bombardier Challenger 601 and Gulfstream IV programmes. The latter is scheduled to begin in December.
• Galaxy Aerospace says it will enter the fractional ownership market "within 60 days" with its Galaxy super mid-size business jet. Chief executive Brian Barents says: "After we enter the fractional market [with a third party] we hope to increase Galaxy production from 24 to 30 aircraft a year."
Source: Flight International
