Swiss venture capitalists have launched a business-class shuttle service from Geneva to London and Paris using four Bombardier Learjet 45 super light business jets. Club Airways' scheduled services will be operated by several charter companies forming part of Bombardier's Flexjet Europe block charter network.
Club Airways is to link Geneva's business aviation terminal with Le Bourget in Paris and Farnborough, about 65km (40 miles) from London, in the new venture, which requires customers to become members to meet the requirements of the private-use air operator's certificate.
Founded by a group of investors headed by Michael Schulhof, former chief executive of Sony Entertainment, Club Airways is understood to have reached a flexible deal with Flexjet Europe based on a minimum purchase of four sets of 500h blocks on the aircraft. Club Airways chief executive Hans Schwab says the airline plans to launch further routes, including to Frankfurt and Zurich, for which Flexjet would find suitable aircraft as part of the agreement.
Flexjet Europe's managing director Daniel Maiden says that Bombardier "recognises that there exists an untapped demand for scheduled airline service using business aircraft". Swiss operators Execujet Switzerland and TAG Aviation are likely to operate most flights, but other Learjet 45 operators could be pulled in when necessary, says Bombardier.
Source: Flight International
