European charters ready to launch: AINonline 18/01/2010 12:30

January 16, 2010 Aviation International News | Contact Us

European charters ready to launch

QUICK SEARCH: By: Charles Alcock
September 1, 2009
Go
Charter
Sponsored by: AirBP
Until around this time last year, European business aviation had been enjoying a
Advanced Search
boom period, and executive charter in particular had seen some truly explosive
growth. It was in the heady years from 2005 to the first half of 2008 that a new
generation of air-taxi operator was laying down business plans predicated almost
entirely on the quantum leap downward in operating costs offered by the new
wave of very light jets (VLJs).

Given that most of the world’s financial gurus were blindsided by the intensity and
pace of the global economic collapse, it is understandable these ambitious
pioneers apparently failed to envision that their new ventures might end up being
launched at the worst possible time in the business cycle. But that is effectively
what has happened and there have already been several casualties in Europe’s
emerging VLJ air-taxi sector, most notably Bikkair of the Netherlands. Other
operators, such as One Air Taxi in the UK, AccelJet in Iceland and Taxijet in Spain,
had their plans rudely interrupted by the implosion of Eclipse Aviation and the
much-vaunted Eclipse 500 jet.

But other operators are soldiering on in the face of adversity. For instance, JetBird
is poised to begin operations this month. At press time, it was set to take delivery
of the first four of 59 Embraer Phenom 100s for which the Ireland-based group
has placed firm orders.

The first four aircraft will be based at Cologne-Bonn Airport in Germany’s Rhine-
Ruhr region as the first step in JetBird’s plan to establish a network throughout
western and central Europe. Six more Phenom 100s are scheduled for delivery
before year-end. JetBird has options on a further 41 Phenom 100s, and can switch
any number of these for the larger Phenom 300 model. Its business plan calls for
a 100-strong fleet of aircraft within five years.

SUBSCRIBE NOW...
SPECIAL REPORTS
BIZAV WEB DIRECTORY
Visit our directory of
manufacturers, suppliers
and service providers
In early July, JetBird started testing the online booking system that it expects to
be the backbone of its sales operation. The Web site (www.flyjetbird.com) will
present real-time aircraft availability and confirmed prices for any given flight,
including any taxes, landing fees and airport or handling charges that may apply.
The company claims to be the first European executive charter operator to offer
direct online booking, although its established rival Blink is about to add this
feature to its Web site. The JetBird system is based on Coastal Aviation Software’s
Chopen software, which has been integrated with the operator’s fleet and crew
management system in a bid to maximize the cost-effective use of its VLJs.

ISSUE ARCHIVES JetBird CEO Stefan Vilner told AIN that the company chose Germany as the first
Search through years of operating base because the country appears to have been less adversely affected
AIN past issues by the financial crisis than neighbors such as the UK, where other new-generation
air-taxi operators have focused their efforts. JetBird claims it will sell flights for
CALENDAR OF EVENTS about half the price of charter services offered by operators with larger light
Search through the latest business jets.
events and conferences
Blink has been operating commercially for almost 15 months and now has a fleet
Market Update of five Cessna Citation Mustangs. The UK-based company is due to take delivery
of two more of the type before the end of this month, and has firm orders for 23
15-Jan-10 Close more, with options on a further 15.
B/E Aerospace 24.77
Boeing 60.82
The company is about to receive its own aircraft operator’s certificate, having
Bombardier 'B' 5.44 depended on Tag Aviation’s UK AOC since it began operations in June last year.
Embraer-Emp. 22.26
Blink’s fleet is currently based at the London-area Farnborough Airport (owned by
General Dyn. 70.61 Tag), but also makes extensive use of nearby Blackbushe Airport, where landing
General Electric 16.44 and handling fees are substantially lower. According to a spokesman, it is about to
Goodrich Corp 66.22 open two other European bases at as yet undisclosed locations and will split its
Honeywell Intl 42.63 Mustangs among these three bases.
L-3 Comm. 89.45
Lockheed Martin 76.76 According to Blink managing director Peter Leiman, the VLJ pioneer has managed
Northrop Grum. 58.62

http://www.ainonline.com/news/single-news-page/article/european-charters-ready-to-launch/ Page 1 of 3
European charters ready to launch: AINonline 18/01/2010 12:30

Northrop Grum. 58.62

at least to meet its revenue projections in tough economic conditions, and has
Raytheon 53.98 kept its operating costs under a budget set when it raised its $30 million in launch
Rockwell Collins 56.70 capital in 2007 when Europe’s executive charter market was well and truly in
Textron Inc 21.88 growth mode. However, he acknowledged that the company is reviewing the rate
United Tech. 71.99 at which it takes delivery of its first 30 aircraft, explaining that the Mustangs are
being paid for
delayed 30+ minutes, source: with hard-to-secure asset financing rather than the initial equity capital.
DTN
© theFinancials.com
Blink is looking to launch corporate-shuttle services between established company
locations as part of a plan to raise aircraft utilization rates to as much as 800 to
REPRINTS 1,000 flight hours per year. According to Leiman, individual aircraft are logging up
to 11 revenue flight hours on busier days. By comparison, each of the six
RSS FEED Mustangs operated by well established UK charter operator London Executive
Aviation has been flying an average of between 320 and 350 hours annually.

“The economic downturn provides us the perfect landscape to increase our fleet
given the unique value proposition of a Blink air taxi,” contends Leiman. “Blink is
the right product at the right time for companies looking to reduce total travel
spending and increase their employees’ productivity. With more capacity we will
save more companies more money.”

Ambeo Enters the Fray

Meanwhile, start-up Ambeo is preparing to enter the beleaguered UK market. The

Cambridge-based company expected to receive both its AOC and its first aircraft
early this month. The AOC application process through the UK Civil Aviation
Authority will have taken almost a year, as has been the case with Blink.

According to executive chairman Andy Black, the regulatory situation requirements

for “operators” providing commercial flights “remotely” under another company’s
AOC might become less flexible. “Even though it is expensive and time-consuming,
we have always wanted to have our own AOC, to ensure maximum safety and
flexibility, rather than having to use one adapted for someone else,” said Black.

The company already employs a chief pilot and four other pilots holding Mustang
type ratings, as well as a head of maintenance and a head of operations, as
required by the AOC process. It used the expertise of an industrial psychologist to
supervise a five-stage selection process for flight crew that analyzed, among other
factors, their attitude to customer service.

Ambeo has spent the past few months carefully evaluating at least four different
new Citation Mustangs with a view to buying one from a Cessna customer holding
an imminent delivery position. The aircraft in contention are all priced differently
and have different interiors and equipment specifications, but the prospective
operator expects to pay no more than $2.85 million. The company had also
considered using the Eclipse.

The Ambeo business plan calls for a fleet of five aircraft within 12 to 18 months of
service launch, rising to between 25 and 30 jets after five years. “The fundamental
vision and opportunity hasn’t changed much,” said Black, acknowledging that
Ambeo is not starting life against a favorable economic backdrop. “It is still all
about [offering passengers] time, convenience and security.”

“We will attract people new to business aviation, mainly on price, and there is also
clear evidence of downsizing [with existing executive charter clients seeking a less
costly alternative to larger jets],” said Black. At the same time, he acknowledged
that the existing charter market in Europe is currently “obscured” by several
factors, such as the fact that the collapse in demand has obliged operators of
traditional light jets to drop their rates to cost and even below cost.

Ambeo’s intent is to differentiate itself with a distinctly branded level of service,

while the aircraft themselves will not be visibly branded. Among the elements yet
to be defined is the level of catering that will be offered to passengers, and which
elements of the service will be included in the base price and which will be charged
for as extras. For example, flight attendants may be available for clients willing to
pay extra for this service. In-flight snacks and drinks might be provided via a
picnic basket, according to the Ambeo team, which views the lack of catering
provided by other VLJ operators as lazy and unimaginative.

One idea the company is considering is a series of gift packages including the sort
of items offered by boutique hotels, such as champagne, sugar-coated almonds,
sun block and therapeutic face masks. These would be for sale, possibly for
passengers needing a last-minute gift, along with birthday and other greetings
cards.

The cabins of Ambeo aircraft will feature power sockets for equipment such as
laptop computers and cellphones, with adaptors to take into account the needs of
international travelers. Satellite phones will not be on the equipment list because

http://www.ainonline.com/news/single-news-page/article/european-charters-ready-to-launch/ Page 2 of 3
European charters ready to launch: AINonline 18/01/2010 12:30

the necessary hardware is considered to be too much of a weight penalty for

aircraft making short flights, and there will be no provision for in-flight Internet
access.

Ambeo, which is owned by Black, CEO Frank Noppel and an undisclosed wealthy
individual with experience in the aviation sector, expects to achieve utilization rates
of up to 500 flight hours per year for each of its aircraft. It is now fine-tuning its
Web site to be ready to take direct bookings online, as well as allowing clients to
specify service preferences and special needs, such as allergy sensitivity.

EUROPEʼS VLJ OPERATORS CONFRONT THEIR CHALLENGES

The UK’s Oxford Airport will host the third annual VLJ-Europe conference on
September 24 and 25. The agenda directly addresses the challenges facing new
operators of entry-level jets in what organizer MIU Events describes as “an
unprecedented downturn in the business aviation sector.”
Speakers will include executives from start-up operators JetBird and Ambeo, as
well as established operators Grossmann Jet Service and London Executive
Aviation. The conference will also cover topics such as insurance, finance, legal
issues, pilot training, security, partnerships with FBOs and aircraft delivery delays.
A session on air traffic management will include a presentation by Alex Hendricks,
Eurocontrol’s deputy director for network development. The first day will conclude
with an open debate chaired by AIN senior editor Charles Alcock.
Embraer will display a Phenom 100 at Oxford. More information about VLJ-Europe
2009 can be found at www.miuevents.com/vlj-e09.

Back

Share This Article With Others

Related Articles
Still Grounded, JetBird’s Phenoms Find Other Nests
January 14, 2010
JetBird, the Ireland-based would-be air-taxi operator that had hoped to be flying
Embraer Phenoms already, says it is now planning to launch...
[more]

Avinode: Charter Demand Still Rising

January 05, 2010
Demand for charter flights is set to continue rising this month, according to the
latest demand index from online charter portal Avinode. On...
[more]

Air Platinum Club Is Latest Casualty

January 01, 2010
Miami-based Air Platinum Club–which until recently was touting membership
options in its Gulfstream IV-SPs, exotic cars, a beachfront condo and...
[more]

Air Platinum Club Is Latest Charter Casualty

December 17, 2009
When Miami-based Air Platinum Club began operating last summer, CEO Mickael
Cohen proclaimed, “Private air travel is here to stay.” But the club...
[more]

Comprehensive Charter Safety Review Issued by ACSF

December 15, 2009
The Air Charter Safety Foundation (ACSF) late last week released its first
accident and incident review of the Part 135 on-demand air charter...
[more]

About AIN LATEST NEWS © Copyright 2009 AINonline. All rights reserved.
Resource Center Subscribe Contact Us Aviation International Copyright Statement
News

http://www.ainonline.com/news/single-news-page/article/european-charters-ready-to-launch/ Page 3 of 3