Norway’s Sundt Air has recently purchased another Citation III business aircraft to add to its fleet, which primarily charters for the air ambulance service. The aircraft will replace an older model which is being sold to partly finance the acquisition.

Sundt Air is owned by shipping magnate, and Norway’s richest man Petter Sundt. Managing Director Tor Bratli said: “The reason we have chosen another Citation III is because the medical personnel we employ like the cabin size of the aircraft.” This is particularly important to Sundt, as Bratli says the ambulance service accounts for around 75% of their business.

Sundt also charters to the corporate and private market, and has contracts with the Norwegian government. Bratli explained: “We have only Citation IIIs and a medically equipped King Air 200, which is contracted by the Norwegian government to fly between hospitals in Norway.” The aircraft are based in Oslo, and fly to the Mediterranean, Europe and roughly once a month fly transatlantic. Bratli claims “We need to have good contracts like the air ambulance service. We wouldn’t be able to survive purely on the charter or lease market.”

After a slow first month Sundt says the Norwegian charter market is now very busy. This increase in demand coincides with the opening of its brand new facility at Oslo airport, which provides 3,200 metres of hangar space. Sundt will now move into business aircraft management rather than expanding its own personal fleet, servicing and chartering aircraft owned by businesses or private individuals.