PrivatAir will soon start operating two brand new Airbus A319s for Lufthansa’s direct business class only services between Munich and Newark and Düsseldorf and Chicago. Corporate communications manager Tony Hinder said: “We’ve been operating a BBJ for Lufthansa on a year-long trial basis and the results have exceeded everyone’s expectations. The yield and load factors have been very high, so they now want to extend it to other routes.”

The aircraft will be equipped with 48 seats in a two-by-two configuration. Under the ACMI wet lease agreement, PrivatAir will provide crew, maintenance and insurance for the aircraft. Ceo Greg Thomas said: “We realise that our clients’ journey doesn’t start or stop at the aircraft door. From the moment you pull up at the airport until you catch a taxi at your destination, you are treated to an optimal class, seamless service.”

PrivatAir now operates four Airbus and three BBJs along with a 737. Hinder added: “The important fact for us is that it’s a long-term contract, which means guaranteed hours. With a scheduled service you can plan around how many hours you’re going to fly, whereas with ad-hoc charters there are ups and downs. Obviously if there is a downturn in the market it can affect every sector of the industry, but businessmen need to travel whatever happens.”

All of the aircraft have 100 per

cent business class configurations. “We’ve believed in this concept for a long time, because it’s difficult to get business class service on the average airline.

“You still have to wait for the other 300 or so passengers to get off. When there are only between 40 and 50 people travelling, the logistics are far easier,” said Hinder.

The new routes will be served six days a week, with the Munich service commencing May 19, 2003 and the Düsseldorf service departing June 9, 2003. Lufthansa has also confirmed that the existing contract for the Düsseldorf to Newark route has been prolonged indefinitely.

This month will also see PrivatAir launch a corporate shuttle service for Airbus, flying its personnel between the company’s bases in Toulouse, Hamburg and Filton, UK.