Lufthansa has joined forces with NetJets to provide its passengers with access to Citation Bravos and Excels for transfers between airport hubs.

The scheme, Lufthansa Private Jet, will be operated exclusively by NetJets Europe but passengers will book their flights with Lufthansa.

NetJets director of business development Robert Dranitzke believes that the synergy created between a major airline and fractional operator marks a positive step towards the cooperation between two segments of the industry that previously seemed poles apart.

“What is great for private aviation in general, not just for NetJets, is

that the German national carrier

sees that business executives need this tool – they need the efficiency gains that private aviation offers, which is fantastic for the entire industry,” he said.

“We’re very proud that they chose us to cater for the needs of their best clients. An airline could partner with a broker, but you have to ask whether those passengers will be getting a consistent service, with

the same type of aircraft all the time. We can guarantee Lufthansa’s customers with consistent quality across the fleet.”

The companies anticipate that the service, which launched at the end of March to tie in with the airline’s summer schedule, will be used by Lufthansa premium passengers who wish to fly to one of the airline’s hubs, but the aircraft can also be booked for point to point travel.

As with other NetJets aircraft, the Bravos and Excels will not be based at specific airports, though they will primarily operate out of Munich Airport. “We decided together to start it off in Munich because it doesn’t have the slot capacity issues of Frankfurt,” said Dranitzke.

“It’s interesting that instead of focusing on cheapest seats per mile, Lufthansa is focusing on the needs of its customers. We think that people will use the service as they recognise the speed and efficiency

of business jet travel.

“We remain in the business of selling aircraft and I think that this cooperation with Lufthansa will help us to accelerate that business in Germany,” he added.

Although the airline has not

yet expressed the need for longer range aircraft, Hawker 800XPs and Falcon 2000s could be added to

the scheme if there is sufficient demand from passengers.

“As with any new venture, you’ll typically start with the entry level products. The Bravo has been our most popular aircraft and, with its range of two and a half hours, we

can cover the major business destinations in Europe, especially when operating out of Germany.

“The Excel offers a little more range and comfort,” he said. “We’ll listen to the needs of the market place and if passengers are looking for Falcon 2000s, for example, we can accommodate Lufthansa.”

The success of the scheme will be measured by the demand for flights. “We think that in the first few months, if we’re doing two or three flights a day, it will be a success.”