Swiss business aircraft "airline" PrivatAir plans to expand its charter operations to the USA and Middle East. The move is part of the company's wider strategy to broaden its core business to include aircraft management, focusing on Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) size and above.
PrivatAir commercial director James Hay says: "Our business is divided equally between these two areas and Europe, so it makes sense to set up bases there."
The Geneva-based operator, with Boeing, has begun a tour of Europe and the Middle East with the first of its three BBJs, to try to raise the two companies' profiles.
PrivatAir owns a Gulfstream IV-SP, a Boeing 737-300, a 757 and a BBJ - two more aircraft are to join the fleet in May. It believes there is a market for up to 15 aircraft each in the Middle East and the USA, but cultural and operational hurdles must be overcome before start dates can be set, it says.
With a significant part of PrivatAir business stemming from government and heads of state transportation, the company is talking to a government "customer" with a view to selling a pre-ordained number of flight hours. "We are not interested in fractional ownership, but this approach could be very popular with governments that are regular users of business aircraft. If this takes off, we could be interested in adding another 757," says Hay.
Meanwhile, Boeing has signed a launch customer for the $45 million BBJ2. The unnamed Middle Eastern recipient will take delivery of a 737-800, following approval in the second quarter of next year.
Source: Flight International
