Aero Services Executive (ASE) will become the first French company to operate an Airbus Corporate Jetliner on behalf of executive charter passengers. The aircraft, which is expected to come into operation at the end of June 2001, will be configured for 29 passengers and is being targeted at government, entertainment and business clients. It may also be used for corporate shuttle flights across the Atlantic.

EBAN spoke to ASE’s marketing manager, Jean Rabourdin, about the Le Bourget-based company’s latest acquisition. He said the addition of the ACJ had much to do with the excess demand that the operator had been receiving for its existing Falcon 900EX and Falcon 900B. “With the 900EX and B,” said Rabourdin, “we have got into a market that we didn’t really have exposure to before. For example, we have been making direct flights down to South America and the Far East.

“Due to the popularity of the 900EX and B, we decided that we needed another aircraft with a similar range but were also keen to add that extra bit of comfort for the long-haul flights.”

This particular ACJ, which is company-owned, is now being custom-fitted at Sogerma’s completions facility in Toulouse in the south-west of France. The aircraft will have four extra fuel tanks, facilitating a nonstop flight capability of 13 hours with 29 passengers. The interior will feature a shower, dining and meeting tables and a convertible bed for use outside take-off and landing hours.

So who does ASE expect to become the early users of the ACJ? Rabourdin explained: “We will obviously have to market the aircraft but we believe there are also some ready-made customers out there. For example, we have a lot of contact with Middle East clients who have similar type aircraft to the ACJ. It would be ideal for them if they find their own aircraft is not available, to use the ACJ as a back-up aircraft.”

In addition to Middle Eastern clients, ASE expects custom from a client who’s closer to home and whose former choice of aircraft is no longer available. He explained: “We see the ACJ as a possible replacement for the BAC 1-11s around Europe which are either out of service or are going out of service.

“We could also pick up some Boeing 727 business. Obviously with the noise reduction issue surrounding the 727s, there aren’t going to be as many 727-type aircraft available in the next few years.”

For now at least, the future for ASE’s new charter offering looks bright. Rabourdin has already received charter requests for the ACJ but says the company must take care: “You don’t want to start booking flights in the first few weeks of its anticipated operation, only for the delivery of the aircraft to be delayed by a couple of weeks.”

“Let’s not forget, the French have been known to strike once or twice before,” he quipped.