Oxaero has announced the appointment of Richard Birch as charter sales manager, previously senior charter executive with Lynton Aviation.

The position will focus on maintaining and expanding the customer-base of the company, with particular emphasis on the current Citation V Ultra and the future Citation Excel operation.

While the Ultra has been offered for charter by Oxaero since May 2000, managing director Alex Durand says its popularity has surprised him. He said: “We knew the aircraft occupies a niche, but the feedback we have received from clients has been excellent – many have previously flown in the Lear 35 or Citation II, and have remarked upon the extra legroom and space of the Ultra.

Richard Birch will be raising broker awareness of the Ultra as an alternative to the Lear. His appointment represents another important step in Oxaero’s development, and his 17 years’ experience of larger aircraft operations will be essential to us when the Citation Excel arrives later this year.”

The Oxford-based company says it expects to report year 2000 sales 100 per cent up on 1999.