Austrian operator Goldeck-Flug has taken delivery of a Challenger 601,which will be used for corporate shuttle and ferry flights. The company acquired the aircraft to accommodate the increase in demand for flights throughout eastern Europe and Russia.

The aircraft can be reconfigured to suit each mission, with a maximum capacity of 18 passengers for short flights or 13 passengers for flights which range up to 3,100nm.

“The aircraft has a very nice modern interior,” said quality manager and technical pilot Friedrich Pontasch, “and the space in the wide body cabin is very impressive.”

According to Pontasch, the Challenger 601 fits perfectly into Goldeck-Flug’s existing fleet, which consists of four Citations, a Learjet 55 and a Hawker 800XP.

The Hawker has proven to be a popular aircraft within the fleet, as Pontasch explains: “We recently flew to Recife, Brazil, to pick up three famous Brazilian footballers going to Spain. We are looking to expand our fleet and are in negotiations to acquire another Hawker 800XP.”

The company has enjoyed the benefits of a centrally located position within Europe, and the strong markets that are developing in eastern Europe have broadened Goldeck-Flug’s client base.

Said Pontasch: “Because our home base is in Klagenfurt, we can provide ferry flights in all directions and pick up passengers in a short period of time.

“The business aviation industry is growing enormously, especially in the countries that recently joined the European Union, as well as the Ukraine and Russia,” he concluded.