Press Release
Issued by ExecuJet South Africa.
July 9, 2009
ExecuJet South Africa handled a record number of private jet movements during the last two months with the Inauguration of South Africa's new President in May and soon after that, the 19th World Economic Forum on Africa that took place in Cape Town from 10 -12 June.
The inauguration weekend was both challenging and rewarding for ExecuJet South Africa, with many Presidential and diplomatic flights coming in from all over the world. ExecuJet's FBO team in Johannesburg assisted both crew and passengers in entering and exiting the country in the most comfortable and hassle-free way, including co-ordination of transport, re-fuelling of the aircraft, catering, hotel accommodation and permits. Gavin Kiggen, Operations Manager at ExecuJet's Lanseria office in Johannesburg commented: "It is thanks to the organisation and experience of ExecuJet's trained staff that the movements were carried out successfully with limited interruptions. The staff maintained an enthusiastic and positive approach, proving again that ExecuJet are the African experts!"
Over the five-day period of 7-11 May 2009, ExecuJet handled 28 international and 28 local movements at Lanseria International Airport and 35 movements at OR Tambo International Airport. "Eleven ExecuJet staff members worked throughout this period, with some on 24 hour duty at Lanseria as well as additional agents deployed to Johannesburg OR Tambo," Kiggen continues.
A month later, it was the turn of ExecuJet's brand new, state-of-the art FBO in Cape Town to welcome private jets carrying overseas Ministers, Presidents, VIPs and celebrities. With numbers up significantly from last year, ExecuJet Managing Director Ettore Poggi commented: "We're pleased that our new facility has aided the smooth transition for the vast number of delegates attending this years WEF, the attendees at these events require high quality and privacy above all else and ExecuJet's new facility provides just that." The Cape Town facility is strategically located parallel to the main runway, with 5,000 sqm of hangar space and 7,000 sqm of dedicated ramp parking.
The majority of aircraft flying into Cape Town consisted of wide-body business jets (Gulfstream IVs, Gulfstream Vs and Global Express aircraft) which, combined with the increase in jet movements, contributed to an increase in ExecuJet's fuel sales.
ExecuJet's FBO representatives on the ground, led by Cape Town's FBO Manager Cilliers Jordaan, looked after flight crews and passengers as well as all aircraft servicing and ground transportation requests. "The ExecuJet personnel were well prepared for the extra business and pulled together as a dedicated team. A large number of Government Ministers, dignitaries and VIPs travelled to South Africa for the WEF and we were very pleased to make their experience through ExecuJet's private FBO facility a pleasant one," said Jordaan.
