Customers of Atlas Air's Citation Excel are said to love the aircraft so much that the German operator has admitted that it would not have a problem operating two of them.

Asked about the possibility of adding a second Citation Excel, Atlas ops manager Wolfgang Zoschke joked: "We have to find some one to buy one for us first."

All of Atlas' charter aircraft are owned by private individuals, including a Conquest 1, a Citation Jet and the Excel. The standard charter price for the Excel is DM4,200 per hour plus DM1,700 per day for the crew.

Asked about the qualities of the Excel, Zoschke told EBAN: "The cabin is what's good about the Excel.

The charter price is nearly that of the Citation V or Ultra, but much more comfortable, more powerful and with a much bigger baggage compartment. We have no problems storing the luggage of nine passengers."

Atlas Air's Excel can often be seen flying to European destinations such as Greece, Russia, Lithuania, Majorca, Malaga, Portugal, Sweden and France.

Regarding the relationship between Atlas Air and its private owners, Zoschke added: "We talk with our owners, they give us their schedules and if it coincides with a charter flight, we ask them to alter their schedule slightly, so we can do the charter flight. They are normally very flexible and of course, like to get some money back [on their investment]."