Chauffair has ordered two Citation Excel jets. This follows seven Excels ordered in October 1999, when "Chauffair Share", its fractional ownership scheme, was initiated. The need for the two extra aircraft is due to the success of the scheme, according to the company.

Said managing director Nick Probett: "We have increased our market share substantially and I intend to expand our fleet to ten by the end of 2002.

"We are winning new clients because we are a British-based, long-established public transport operator with a large and flexible fleet. It is also a much easier scheme to join... and to leave."

Since its launch last October, ten members have joined the scheme and Probett predicts that it will account for 25 per cent of Chauffair's business by the end of 2001.

Chauffair was present at Farnborough for the first time, on the Cessna static display.