Lisbon-based charterer Heliavia Transporte Aereo has been telling EBAN about the “complete transformation” the company is going through.

Company president Hipolito Pires explained: “Our company is currently undertaking a fleet renewal programme. We recently sold our Falcon 50EX and we’ve bought a new Falcon 2000EX, which we’re waiting to receive next year.” The company’s fleet also includes a Falcon 900B and a Falcon 50. Its Falcon 20 was sold last year.

The company anticipates a great deal of demand for the 2000EX, particularly from its domestic client base. “We often fly to Africa, so this is ideal because it has practically the same range as the 900. We are also looking at the possibility of buying a smaller jet, something like the Excel. But the decision has now been postponed until next year, because of a slight recession in the market,” said Pires.

Heliavia claims to be the oldest charter company operating in Portugal, and as such can command high profile clients.

“We often fly members of our government and also vips from large companies such as JCB. As well as inter-European flights, our main destinations are Africa and the US,” said Pires.

The company has embarked on its renewal programme because it is wary of how important it is to customers to fly in the latest aircraft. Pires added: “We also have light aircraft, which normally fly

to Spain, France, the Canaries and Majorca.”

Heliavia - Transporte Aero Lda. Phone: +351 21 842 9290, Fax: +351 21 847 5042