Austrian Airlines has sold Lauda Executive to fellow Austrians Jetalliance, after deciding not to expand into the executive aviation market. Lauda Executive operated a Challenger and two Learjet 60s, although the Challenger was sold prior to the deal. Paul Davey, marketing manager at Jetalliance, said: “This has upped our fleet in a very short space of time to nine jets. With these new aircraft we have more of a mixture to offer on our AOC.”

Jetalliance fended off other bidders over a period of around six months, before the deal was finally signed. Davey explained that it was not merely the aircraft, but also the goodwill of the company that had been involved: “Even the manager of Lauda Executive is now with us. The company still exists on paper because it still has work to do, closing deals on aircraft it’s selling and leasing. We’re not privy to all the details there. But it will not be operating executive aircraft for charter and will eventually be incorporated into Jetalliance.”

The Learjets involved are managed aircraft, as is Jetalliance’s entire fleet. Next month this will be further complimented by the addition of a Citation X on the company’s AOC.