Gold Air International has opened a base operation at Dublin International Airport. In addition, as part of its progress towards an all-jet fleet, the company has sold its last Beech King Air 200.

Gold Air says it has expanded in the last four years and saw the opportunity to develop in Ireland, where the economy is booming. The company is seeking to place itself to cater for the increasing demand in first class air travel.

Regarding the departed King Air, chief executive Michael Vaughan said: "This disposal was part of our strategic plan. The King Air was not seen as part of our fleet towards the end of 2000, when we expect our first Learjet 45 delivery. We decided to operate all new jet aircraft for charter by the end of 2001, to ensure compliance with regulation changes in Europe.

"By the end of 2001," he continued, "we expect to have a fleet of ten executive aircraft, of which eight will be less than one year old and four will be all-new design Lear 45s. These aircraft will be equipped with TCAS, EGPWS, RVSM and 8.33 KHz radio." Vaughan went on to state that, in the next two years, the European market will see many operators stretched by the need to update equipment to comply with new regulations or facing the dilemma of whether to buy new aircraft with two-year waiting lists.

Gold Air is also fishing for more customers on the service it undertakes for American clients who come to Europe on Concorde or first class 747s. To this end, the company is exhibiting at NBAA on stand 256.