Swiss aircraft services provider Vertis Aviation and German charter operator K5 Aviation have launched a new international aircraft brokerage at MEBA targeting buyers and sellers of top-end business jets.
The venture is called 28 East – a reference to the line of longitude that divides Asia and Europe, says Vertis co-founder Luca Madone which "emphasises our international credentials”.
Vertis has been selling aircraft on informal, low-key basis for select customers for a while, Madone says. “Demand increased so we decided to make it a formal business."
Based in Zug, Switzerland, the brokerage will help clients both buy and sell new and pre-owned aircraft.
The company will offer a ”top-to-tail” service, including everything from pre-buy inspections and aircraft selection to assistance with choosing a suitable completions house or aircraft management company. 28 East says it will only list aircraft with a value of over $10 million.
Its portfolio currently consists of a 2007-built Airbus ACJ319 and a 14-year-old Bombardier Global Express. “More ultra-long-range aircraft will be added in the near future,” it says.
Vertis has simultaneously rolled out its boutique charter brokerage at the show, in the hope of wooing the Middle East’s large community of high-end business jet owners and operators.
The London-headquartered company currently handles nine high-end business jets for five owners based in Europe and South Africa. The line-up ranges from a large-cabin Gulfstream G450 to a Boeing Business Jet VIP airliner.
“We have an exclusive contract with each of these owners and operators to locate customers and sell charter hours on their aircraft,” says Madone.
He believes this is the right approach to chartering – particularly for top-end aircraft.
“Our owners have a single point of contact who has specialist knowledge of the market and access to a large number of potential customers.
“As we are a small company, we develop a close relationship with our owners, which enables us to better match their aircraft with the right customer,” he says.
Vertis markets the nine-strong business jet line-up from its bases in Europe, South Africa and Dubai.
It is now intent on expanding its owner/operator partnerships across the Middle East. “We have a brokerage here so now we want to find local partners across the region and build up our fleet,” says Madone.
Source: Flight Daily News
