Geneva-based Perfect Aviation has added a UK AOC to its Portuguese approval, and opened a base at Biggin Hill with a pair of Learjet 45s.

The company is listed on the Swiss stock exchange, and claims to be unique among business aircraft operators in reporting its results in line with IFRS international financial reporting standards. The group auditor is PWC and the company prides itself on its ethics which focus on operating entirely transparently. Using a secure web portal that was designed in-house, Perfect shares every supplier invoice and logs all expenditure with its aircraft owners. The company says that it never accepts commissions from suppliers and all leveraged benefits are passed back to the client.

Says ceo Will Curtis: "For too long some practitioners in the business aviation industry have hidden their real charges and remuneration from clients and instead explored convenient deals with suppliers; typically fuel and handling companies, maintenance companies and insurance suppliers.

"This is an unsustainable model because, quite apart from the contractual implications between client and the aircraft management company, such practices are increasingly likely to breach criminal laws such as the UK Bribery Act. Within 10 years we believe there will be no possibility of receiving undeclared kickbacks or supplier rescissions," he adds.

The new base at Biggin Hill is complemented by an operations base in Lisbon and sales offices in Monaco, Moscow and Beijing, where Perfect intends to increase its presence to take advantage of the emerging opportunities in China.

Perfect has built an experienced team at Biggin Hill, including newly-appointed ground operations manager Gary Whitecunas, quality manager Barry Holloway and director of maintenance, Nigel Cooper.

The company operates six aircraft under management. The UK-registered Learjet 45s join a Challenger 604, Learjet 60XR and Falcon 2000EX EASy, all under the Portuguese AOC, and a privately managed Global Express XRS, based in Moscow. Further large cabin aircraft are planned to join the fleet before the year end.

Will Curtis was appointed ceo of Perfect Aviation in early 2010 with a mandate to restructure and develop the company for further growth. Marketing efforts have been bolstered, including the launch of a range of new leisure-driven travel incentives through the Perfect Travel Club. Perfect Ski will see the company launch direct flights with its Learjet 45 fleet from London City Airport to principal ski airports during the winter, while Perfect Shopping offers exclusive shopping packages in Paris and Milan. See our review of business aviation in Switzerland from page 17.