JUSTIN WASTNAGE / LONDON
Fractional operator says it will have to hire 100 additional flightcrew this year as it moves to double membership
Fractional operator NetJets is accelerating its pilot recruitment drive in Europe as it prepares to double its membership this year. NetJets Europe is close to turning an annual profit for the first time since its launch seven years ago.
The Lisbon, Portugal-based operations department of NetJets Europe plans to hire around 100 pilots this year, up from 60 last year. Chief operations officer David Marcus says this figure only keeps up with the delivery of new aircraft and will have to rise to around 120 additional pilots next year to meet customer demand.
The company says most pilots will be type rated on Cessna Citation Bravos, Excels and Raytheon Hawker 800XPs, as these aircraft are in heaviest demand in Europe.
NetJets Europe flew more than 100 movements a day for much of June and July, and its membership is set to double 2002 levels by the end of the year. If this target is achieved, the company would reach its "critical mass" of customers necessary for profitability (Flight International, 11-18 March).
The company has launched a roadshow of static displays at high- profile events, starting with this week's Frankfurt motor show. NetJets Europe says early heavy promotion is paying off, with members' referrals now accounting for 70% of new business. "It's a tsunami out there at the moment," says NetJets Europe. The company signed up its first Russian fractional owners last month, with five shares in Dassault Falcon 2000s sold within days of each other.
The company, which has also secured its first two customers in Poland over the past month, says it will now hold members-only events in eastern Europe to build on this. UK customers accounted for about half of all members at the beginning of this year, but now represent less than 30%, as sales in France, Italy and Scandinavia rose during the first half of the year, says the company. Germany is now the prime focus, it adds.
Marcus says the company receives around 100 applications for every pilot position. Successful pilots typically come from either a military or airline background, although the company has a screening process to ensure that pilots have customer service skills. "It can be difficult for some airline pilots, who are used to having a sealed door between them and the passengers, to have to serve drinks to clients," says Marcus.
Source: Flight International
