Stuttgart-based charterer Eisele Flugdienst has purchased a brand new Cessna CJ2 after placing an order almost two years ago. “With this aircraft we’re much more flexible. We can fit seven passengers in, all of whom can sit in great comfort. The range of the aircraft is around 1,700 nautical miles, which suits a journey such as Stuttgart to Tel Aviv,” said the company’s managing director Fred Eisele.

Since its introduction on the company’s AOC it has flown to Parma, Moscow, Helsinki and Oslo. “When our customers fly in this aircraft they normally ask for it again on their next flight. Although they are also very happy with the CJI we offer, they like the higher speed of the CJ2. It can fly higher (so you can normally take shortcuts) and there’s basically quicker access to your destination. Particularly attractive is the efficiency – if you go on a longer range flight, the price is better on the more expensive and quicker aircraft,” added Eisele.

After setting up in 1996 the company now operates four aircraft, two of which it owns and the other two are owned by what it terms as ‘investors’. When asked whether it was advantageous buying a brand new aircraft, Eisele replied: “It depends, if you can afford it – yes. At the time we chose it we wanted it very quickly, so there wasn’t the opportunity to purchase a used aircraft.” The aircraft charters at 2,050 euros per flight hour and the company said that for flights over an hour, it charges more or less the same price for both its CJI and 2s.

“Our customer base is predominantly made up of business people (around 80 per cent) and the other portion are mainly private charters flying to holiday destinations. The majority are German and last year we had a pretty steady situation until November, even after September 11. However, business dropped off in December, in my opinion due to the economy and the uncertainness of the situation in Afghanistan. But after a very slow start in January all over Germany, I think that business picked up heavily in February.

Confidence levels are now returning because it is expected that the economy will bounce back over the next three or four months,” explained Eisele.

Eisele Flugdienst’s base at Stuttgart contains an office at the GA terminal and hangar space for the four aircraft. When the CJ2 was picked up it was treated to the company’s own paint scheme and personalised interior.