ExecuJet Aviation Group will have added three Global Expresses to its AOC by the beginning of July. Two of these will be chartered by ExecuJet Switzerland, and split between its Zurich and Geneva bases.\r

The third (yet to be added) will be based in London and registered on ExecuJet Scandinavia’s AOC. “The Global Express is proving to be an exceptionally popular aircraft in the European charter market.

“The level of cabin comfort, combined with the aircraft’s ability to connect such cities as Geneva to Los Angeles or Zurich to Johannesburg is unrivalled,” said Ettore Roadro, ExecuJet Switzerland’s charter director.

EBAN asked Mike van Berkel, md of ExecuJet Switzerland, what his reaction was to the three additions: “It’s cool! The first one was already in our management fleet for a while, but the owner converted it from private to commercial operations. The second we expected a lot earlier but there have been delays with the completion and the same holds true for the third.

“The fact is that these are aircraft that were already ordered two years ago and the deliveries have now coincided.”

KJJ Transportation Ltd. owns the Zurich-based Global Express, which replaced its Falcon 900 last year. “The aircraft changed from a Bermudan to Swiss registration so that we could charter it out to third parties. ExecuJet already managed the aircraft and the idea is basically now to try and cover some of the costs,” said KJJ Transportation md Matthias Völker.

According to Völker, it still falls a little short of the desired non-stop range from Central Europe to Buenos Aires, but eliminates one fuel stop.

He said: “Although other Global Expresses are on the market, this one is different because two groups of passengers can occupy their own space on the aircraft without disturbing each other – and the interior includes three divans.”

The aircraft is equipped with all the standard amenities plus satellite phone and fax, ultra long range radios and computers to enable executives and their staff to hold or prepare conferences inflight.

“The Global Express was not chosen for the number of passengers it can carry, but for the dimensions of the aircraft. In my opinion it is bigger and better than the GV,” said Völker.

The Globals have received repeat business since their introduction, with destinations including South Africa and Bermuda.

“The market here in Switzerlnd has shifted upwards in terms of business aircraft size. We’ve seen that before in our managed fleet, but it’s not also taking place with our charter fleet.

“Apart from Paris, we now have three key charter hubs in Europe covered, which puts us in a strong position. The implications of these new additions are that we have to set up 24-hour operations to dispatch these aircraft wherever they’re needed around the world,” explained van Berkel.

ExecuJet Aviation Group recently announced that it has rebranded subsidiary Avcon as the afore-mentioned ExecuJet Switzerland. The aircraft management division will still be know as Avcon, due to the brand equity the company has built up over the last 13 years.