Members-only airline Club Airways of Switzerland, in co-operation with UK operating partner Club328, has commenced business flights from London Biggin Hill airport to Nice. Club328 is the new brand name of executive jet operator Bookajet.

The flights, which are carried out with Club328’s eight-seat Hawker 125s, operate on Mondays and Fridays, morning and evening, so that members can take advantage of long weekends in the Riviera or midweek days in London.

In addition, the two companies have started private flights between Nice and Pisa, taking advantage of

the fact that scheduled services do not operate between the two cities. The move is primarily in response

to interest from members in the marine business.

“Biggin Hill is the ideal airport for these new private flights,” said Club328 ceo Warren Seymour. “It is easily accessible off the M25 and other major motorways, is just 17 miles from London and offers excellent facilities for our members.”

Welcoming the new flights, Andrew Walters, chairman of Biggin Hill airport, commented: “It makes great sense to take cost-sharing to the next level within business aviation by allowing customers to share the cost of the flight rather than chartering the whole aeroplane for themselves. These operations fit exactly into the types of flights that already use the airport.”

Club Airways plans to offer a chauffeur-driven service to meet arriving passengers at Biggin Hill.

Club328 was recently granted its Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) by the UK CAA. The recognition enables the company to operate its fleet strictly in accordance with JAR OPS standards. The company had been operating under the AOC of Farnborough-based aviation management company and Hawker 125 operator, Aravco.

Last month, Club328 confirmed an order with AvCraft for seven new Dornier 328 Envoy jets, which will be configured in a 14-seat executive layout. The company is preparing to accept its first aircraft this summer and pilots are due to start their training on the type with CAE in Amsterdam next month.

“We are now looking forward to introducing the Dornier jets and developing plans to undertake in-house and third party maintenance on Hawker 125s at our hangar in Southampton,” said Seymour. “We have applied for an EASA 145 licence in respect of this and await approval.”