Air Partner assists Foreign and Commonwealth Office with Algeria evacuations | Press Release

See more information from the Business Air News Handbook

Press Release

Issued by Air Partner.

February 18, 2013

Air Partner assists Foreign and Commonwealth Office with Algeria evacuations

British firm Air Partner, a leading provider of aviation charter services to industry, commerce and governments worldwide, has worked with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) to evacuate UK nationals from In Amenas in Algeria, following the siege at the Tigantourine gas plant.

Air Partner arranged a Boeing 757 aircraft to operate from London Stansted to Hassi Messaoud in Eastern Algeria, approximately 280 miles from In Amenas, transporting a delegation from the FCO and Red Cross to assist with the evacuation of UK nationals. Due to the ongoing military operation, it was not possible to fly directly into In Amenas. Air Partner used its extensive experience within its Emergency Planning Department to quickly identify and enable an alternate safe route via Hassi. The aircraft remained overnight in Hassi until the delegation had collected the hostages from In Amenas and were ready to return them safely to the UK.

Alastair Willson, senior account manager at Air Partner, said, "Government work can be very complex and we are often required to operate under pressurised, go-now conditions, with no room for error. Air Partner's 50 years of experience, strong supplier relationships and global network mean that we have the experience to assist with any mission. When speed and accuracy are key, it is important to work with a partner that you can trust to provide the best solution. Our thoughts are with the friends and families of those who lost loved ones in the siege; we are very aware of the highly sensitive nature of this work and are glad that we could help in our own small way."

Air Partner is a valued supplier to many national and international organisations and provides aviation solutions to governments worldwide, including six of the G8 group of governments, NGOs and aid agencies, as well as international and UK Royalty. It is the only company in the aviation industry to hold a Royal Warrant from Her Majesty the Queen as the Supplier of Aircraft Charter. Air Partner's Emergency Planning Department provides detailed evacuation plans for major international corporations and rapid response services for the repatriation of personnel in the event of unrest or natural disasters.