Chalair bought a fourth King Air 200 several months ago and is now making regular taxi flights with

it to France, Germany, Holland and the UK.

The Caen-based operator says it is popular with customers because of the price – 1,500 euros per flight hour – the speed, the comfort and the fact that it can accommodate larger parties because it’s a ten-seat turboprop.

Operating out of Carpiquet airport, Chalair specialises in Beech aircraft and also has a Beech 1900 on its books, in addition to the quartet of King Air 200s.

Situated in Normandy, roughly 400 kilometres from Paris, president and director of operations Alain Durdek said of the airport: “It’s good for business aviation, has nice facilities and life as an operator here is very easy.

“There’s one scheduled flight but the main focus of the airport is general and business aviation.”