German operator FAI rent-a-jet AG has reported record sales in 2011, generating operational revenues of more than €50m, which reflects an increase of around 20 per cent over the previous year. Most of the growth came from the vvip charter division, which increased its revenues to around €16m – more than double the 2010 total.

The air ambulance division generated 40 per cent of the total revenues, which was more than €20m in 2011, while special logistics for NGOs in Africa delivered another income of around €10m.

For the year of 2012 FAI is expecting further growth by at least 10 per cent, while a second CRJ 200 plus a second Global Express will join FAI's fleet in second quarter of 2012, bringing the fleet to 21 jet aircraft; 14 Learjets, two Challenger 604, two CRJ 200, two Global Express and a Falcon 900 DX EASy.

"Our main goal is to expand our business in the Middle East, especially in the UAE region, as we have just opened a branch office in Dubai and simultaneously have based one of our ambulance Learjet 60s at Al Bateen Airport in Abu Dhabi," says chairman Siegfried Axtmann.

"Furthermore FAI will target aircraft owners in this region to offer management services after obtaining CAMO and maintenance approvals from UAE's CAA," he adds.