Spanish ad hoc charter operator Gestair is to open its sixth Spanish base, as it brings two new aircraft into its fleet and opens a US parts subsidiary.
The business aviation services company, which last month introduced Spain's first Raytheon Premier I to its managed fleet at Madrid Torrejon airport, will kick-start services in Pamplona, northern Spain, with a Raytheon Beechjet 400A.
The company, which acquired rival Audeli Air four years ago, has 20 business aircraft in its fleet, operating from its bases in Barcelona, Burgos, Palma de Mallorca, Burgos and Santiago de Compostela and Macarrón, says Gestair operations manager Isabel Macarrón.
Macarr¢n expects business to double over the next 10 years as Gestair strives to increase the awareness and value of corporate aviation within Spain's business community.
Gestair estimates that around 80% of its customers are business travellers, with around half of all flights from Madrid to Spanish regional cities. Gestair also plans to open its first USA-based Europarts spares facility in Miami, Florida.
Meanwhile, Gestair firefighting subsidiary Cegisa has added two Air Tractor 802As to its fleet, which includes Canadair CL-215s, Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules, a PBY-4A Catalina and a Lake LA4 200.
Cegista's Air Tractors are the first float-equipped 802As in the world. Maccarón says the company chose The single-pilot piston-powered Air tractor because of its lower operating and acquisition costs.
Source: Flight International
