Press Release
Issued by Wijet.
September 21, 2009
Today, Blink opens its Geneva hub. Using the next-generation four seat Cessna Citation Mustang, Blink offers all the benefits of personal air travel at prices competitive with commercial business class and up to 50% less expensive than existing private jet services.
Geneva is Blink's first base in continental Europe following the successful launch of the service in London in June 2008. Over the past 15 months, Blink has successfully pioneered the air taxi concept in Europe with seven of the 30 Blink jets on order already in service and a large pan-European customer base.
While Blink has been serving clients in Switzerland from its base in London since the arrival of its first plane, the opening of a base in Geneva will allow Blink to offer clients flying into and out of Geneva and the nearby region greater value and an enhanced service. From today, Blink will provide the Geneva market with dedicated Blink aircraft from Blink's fleet.
Blink selected Geneva as the first continental European base in its destination network as it is a key commercial and financial centre that suffers from expensive airfares, over-priced private jet alternatives, and inefficient air links.
Geneva's importance as a business centre is growing rapidly as evidenced by the significant increase in companies and individuals relocating. Until now, Swiss business travellers have had to endure inefficient and expensive scheduled services or hire a 6-8 seat private jet. When the average number of passengers on a private jet in Europe is just over two, it is clear that travellers have been wasting money and burning fuel unnecessarily.
In contrast, Blink's low-cost business model has been designed with the value driven business or leisure traveller in mind – the service is functional and efficient, enabling travellers to move between cities quickly, efficiently, and economically.
Prior to commencement of revenue operations , Blink raised $30m in equity funding, making it one of the most well-funded air taxi operators in the world, and ordered its fleet of 30 Cessna Citation Mustangs – the largest fleet globally. Against a backdrop of challenging economic conditions, Blink has demonstrated strong growth, genuine innovation and stringent cost management. The development of the Blink destination network and the increase in the Blink fleet through 2013 will see great numbers of travellers benefit from Europe's first air taxi service.
Peter Leiman, managing director or Blink commented, "Geneva is the perfect location to begin developing our destination network. Their lack of any similar products and the central European location of Geneva is an enormous opportunity for Blink."
Cameron Ogden, managing director of Blink added, "Many Swiss customers have enjoyed Blink's service already. We will now be able to offer them the most competitive prices possible that will see Blink quickly become the obvious choice for business travel in Europe."
