Orion Malta has ordered a Hawker 4000 to meet the growing demand for charter services from business owners across the EMEA region. The new aircraft will be added to its Luqa-based AOC and will slot into the current fleet that comprises a Hawker 900XP and a Challenger 605.

Director Boris Ioffe says: "Our customers expect the best service from us, which is why we selected the Hawker 4000 from a range of aircraft available to us.

"The 4000 stood out due to its exceptional cabin comfort, storage facilities, additional range and unrivalled technology. Another key factor in our decision was the global support service provided by Hawker Beechcraft, which we are sure will give our customers the peace of mind to enjoy their flight, wherever their destination."

Orion Malta is registered and licensed in Malta, but also has a permanent representative in Moscow. The company maintains its own aircraft, and performs flights to any part of the world.

"We are delighted that the Hawker 4000 is Orion Malta's aircraft of choice to support its growing charter offering across Europe," said Sean McGeough, HBC president, Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific. "This purchase reflects our positive outlook on what we view as an important region in Europe and this deal demonstrates that we are ideally positioned to capitalise on the new opportunities arising in the area.

"We see Malta as a key growth market within Europe for a number of reasons: firstly, its geography allows for swift business travel to mainland Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. Malta also boasts some of Europe's lowest initial and recurrent fees associated with business jet operation. Lastly, its membership in the EU means that jets registered here have freedom of movement within the other constituent states. This, coupled with its residency laws, makes it the perfect base for non-EU buyers to register their aircraft, and Hawker Beechcraft expects a growing number of non-EU citizens to take advantage of Malta's unique proposition for business travellers."

Hawker Beechcraft announced three orders for Hawker 4000 jets at the recent EBACE show. See our coverage of InterAviation on page 6 and JoinJet on page 4.