Hangar8 plc, headquartered at London Oxford, is augmenting its services to Middle East clients by basing a Citation XLS in Mumbai.

"The company believes that the Indian market is now sufficiently mature for the location of company aircraft in the region and operations will be for both local and international flights," says ceo Dustin Dryden. "Establishing a base for Hangar8 in India is a further step towards achieving our stated aim of being able to provide an aircraft to a charter customer at an airport in any EMEA location within three hours of an order being confirmed. This will assist us both with our existing operations within the Middle East and also satisfy the growth in demand for our services in the Far East."

The company, which recently completed a flotation on the stock market (EBAN December 2010) has added a Lineage 1000 and Hawker 4000 aircraft to its 21-strong fleet.

Dryden says: "The Lineage 1000 is the only aircraft of its type to be available for charter outside of the UAE. The company has entered into a contract with the third party owner of the Lineage to provide management services and charter the Lineage to third party customers."

He adds: "The Lineage 1000 will be based at Oxford airport. It is the UK's longest-cabined private jet available for charter, some 118 feet in length, and represents the largest aircraft ever to land at Oxford airport in the airfield's 73-year history. Its attractions include an executive layout, with four separate cabins containing bespoke facilities such as a large lounge area with a 52 inch movie system, wireless internet, a separate master bedroom suite with a full-sized double bed and private shower facilities."

The aircraft can carry up to 19 vip passengers. Dryden says: "It is also one of the quietest aircraft in its class as a result of its specialised noise reduction system. It is capable of operating from London City Airport and New York's private jet-only Teterboro airport and can fly non-stop from London to Dubai; from Dubai to Johannesburg; from New York to Moscow; or from Singapore to Sydney. Destinations such as Los Angeles and Tokyo can be reached with one fuel stop."

He adds: "This genre of aircraft is very popular among sports stars, pop stars, heads of state and royal families and takes Hangar8 to a new level in operational capability. It further augments our growing fleet and in particular sets a cornerstone in our fleet expansion plans of adding larger, longer range aircraft."

Hangar8 plc has posted a first half-year operating profit of £0.3 million. Group chairman Nigel Payne says: "Financial highlights include: total group revenue for the six months to the end of October rising 43 per cent to £7.2 million and charter revenues increased 52 per cent to £6 million; gross margin percentage up seven per cent to 19 per cent and current cash at the bank stood at £1.2 million."

Hangar8 has appointed Philip Brady as chief financial officer and member of the board.