Jetalliance is adding 20 Cessnas to its fleet of 37 aircraft as it plans a major expansion into eastern Europe and the Middle East.
The Vienna, Austria–based aircraft management and charter company says it also expects to order more long- and ultra-long-range aircraft to add to its Gulfstream G550 and GIV. “Subject to our shareholders, we plan to order two or three long-range and two ultra-long-range aircraft in the first half of 2006,” says Jetalliance president Lukas Lichtner-Hoyer.
The Cessnas were ordered in a $200 million deal announced at this month’s National Business Aviation Association show in Orlando. Deliveries of the two Citation Xs, seven Sovereigns, four XLs, five CJ2+s and two CJ3s are to begin in 2006.
Jetalliance already has an office in Moscow and is about to open another in Khazakstan. “The demand from east European countries is growing,” says Lichtner-Hoyer. He adds that the expansion is not based around charter alone. “We’re offering a true turnkey operation to customers in which they can charter an aircraft for a trip, and if they like it they can purchase it,” he adds.
JULIAN MOXON/LONDON
Source: Flight International
