TAG Aviation has recently added three managed aircraft to its fleet, in the form of a Challenger 601, a Falcon 900B and a Citation X. The Challenger and Falcon aircraft are based in Geneva, while the Citation X is being operated from Zurich airport. Additionally, a Falcon 2000 has rejoined TAG’s 150-strong fleet.

Neil Gibson, TAG’s director, charter and operations, told EBAN: “We added the Challenger 601 at the back-end of last year and the charter availability is very good – around 90 per cent. Since we took on the aircraft, it’s been flying more or less nonstop on charters around Europe and, in particular,

to Russia.”

Next to arrive was the Citation X, which was placed on TAG’s certificate just last month. Said Gibson: “The Citation X is fitting into the market very well. People are particularly attracted to it because of its speed and this attribute really brings the aircraft into its own on some of the longer distance trips.”

The aircraft has eight leather club seats, out of which four beds can be made. It has two DVD players with five individual screens and two sat phones.

Gibson added: “Although it’s a midsize aircraft, what you lose by comparison to a Challenger in cabin space, you gain in speed. That’s the compromise.

“It cruises near the speed of sound yet has outstanding fuel efficiency. With its 3,125nm range and 51,000 foot altitude rating, the aircraft can take eight passengers in luxury from, for example, Geneva to Dubai in less than six hours.

“A pair of high-bypass Rolls-Royce engines also provides the aircraft with excellent short-range, short-field performance.”

Also sporting DVD systems, satcom and plug-in monitors is the 13-seat Falcon 900B. It was placed on TAG’s certificate in the middle of March and is 100 per cent available for charter.

TAG says it carries out good business with its existing Falcon 900s – of which it has three – and is therefore very optimistic about this fourth one coming online.

Asked about current market trends, Gibson said he had observed a significant increase in business from the first quarter of last year. “This year’s first quarter is significantly better,” he said. “We’ve had our aircraft flying a lot this year and we’re really on track.

“Last year we picked up after the first quarter and by the end of the year, we’d reached the type of levels we would normally have expected, probably even better. So from a slow beginning, it picked up steadily throughout the year to a nice end to the year – and that has continued into this year.”

With regard to the company’s Falcon 2000, which recently rejoined the fleet, a spokesman added: “From the light-toned carpeting and newly-upholstered seats and furnishings to its panelling in elm burl veneer, the aircraft is an immaculate example of one of today’s most sought-after business jets.

“In fact, having also successfully passed all its technical checks, this is effectively a brand new aircraft.”