"The global aviation insurance is worth billions of dollars but is dominated by just four big brokers and underwriters, which limits choice. We believe this means that the general aviation sector of the market is not getting the service it deserves," says John Moreton, aviation manager at Ward Evans Group Limited, which has just established an aviation division.

Moreton has worked in the aviation broking market for 16 years and formed his own company, ARC, 1998, which now joins forces with Ward Evans. The project is intended to bring more choice to the market. Ward Evans aims to attract 50 per cent of its business by the web.

"The opening of our aviation division also supports the aggressive ongoing expansion of the Ward Evans Group," Mike Kenney, chief executive, said. "We intend to grow the company into the largest independently-owned insurance brokerage in the UK within the next couple of years."