MAS Airways, based at Biggin Hill, UK, has added a Cessna Citation II to its fleet in order to break into the executive charter market.

John Matthews, chairman and accountable manager, told European Business Air News: “I considered it might be the ideal opportunity to leap frog over the various other options and gain a foothold at the bottom end of the executive jet charter market.”

The aircraft will be used for business flights of up to two hours duration around Europe. MAS states that, once its aircraft is fully operational, it will need to acquire another aircraft to meet demand when the Citation II is in use and during downtime.

The company already operates a Chieftain for medical repatriation flights and is considering the purchase of another Citation II to cover long-range medevacs, leaving the Chieftain to fly short-range medevacs.

Matthews added: “It is anticipated that at some time in the future, MAS will expand into the next

level of executive jets, namely Excel-type aircraft. In addition, we are progressing an interest in

aircraft management.”