The UK’s Gregg Air has added a series of new aircraft to its AOC. The first of these will be a seven-seater Citation Bravo, registration G-ORDB, and will be fully operational from the start of December 2003. The aircraft is less than a year old and says Gregg Air, is in immaculate condition.

The company’s fleet of owned and operated aircraft currently includes two Citation Jets, a Citation Excel, Ultra and an Encore. With the addition of the Bravo, plus a second Citation Ultra, Gregg Air claims it will be the largest Citation operator in the country. What’s more, the Oxford-based operator will purchase a Hawker 125-800 by the end of this year.

Alex Durand, managing director of Gregg Air, said “We’ve had a phenomenal year, resulting in a doubling of our turnover and a 50 per cent increase in our staff numbers. To meet the growing demand, we needed to add further aircraft to our fleet.

“The Bravo was chosen as it complements the rest of our Citation fleet and falls between the CitationJet and the Ultra in terms of size, capacity and range. It is a very cost-effective aircraft and combines performance with price. Its ability to take off from short runways means that it offers more destination options for our clients on short and mid-range trips.”

While a lot of demand comes through charter brokers, Gregg Air says the direct business has continued to grow. Durand said: “With the majority of clients based in the UK and Europe, the Citation fleet gives us every option to provide the best sized aircraft for any particular trip. The entire fleet is finished to the highest standards, both inside and out, giving clients an extremely comfortable experience.”

Gregg Air has both regular and ad hoc clients, all of whom says Durand, receive trademark treatment from Gregg Air. “Our clients are very discerning and expect high standards,” he said.

“To ensure this, we offer a range of services to help them with every element of their trip, including chauffeur service from the client’s home or office. We also have a special arrangement with our catering firm to produce quality food and a partnership with Justerini & Brooks to provide the very best wines for our clients. Our pilots and support staff are committed to the Gregg Air culture of quality and discreet service, which makes us stand out from the crowd.”

Gregg Air’s aircraft are based at both Oxford Airport and Coventry Airport. The company says the new extension in the licensed runway length at Oxford Airport now means that its Citation fleet can operate from there more effectively.

To further serve its clients, Gregg Air says it’s considering basing an aircraft at Farnborough Airport.