VistaJet has announced that it is placing 20 firm orders for Challenger 350 jets, with options for another 20, in a transaction worth $1.035 billion. These are due to join the fleet in mid-2014 and would mean that VistaJet's current business aircraft register would double in size.

The cabin design in the new aircraft will mirror the existing fleet and feature a jump seat for the cabin hostess as well as a cabin divider door. It is equipped with the latest inflight technology, internet access via wi-fi, a modern business suite and panel speakers. The 350 has an intercontinental range of 3,199nm, giving it the capability to handle flights from London to Lagos or Moscow to Dubai.

Thomas Flohr, VistaJet's founder and chairman, says: “VistaJet leads the industry in offering the world's most modern fleet of large cabin jets. We now expand this strategy by adding the newest super-midsize aircraft to our fleet of Global and Challenger aircraft. Having personally participated in the focus groups that led to the Challenger 350 jet's con-ception, I am confident that this aircraft will deliver the comfort, tech-nology and range that our customers rely on when flying with VistaJet.

“Our Think Global strategy and commitment to provide point-to-point global coverage includes providing the best aircraft option for our customers' intercontinental and transcontinental travel needs, always with guaranteed availability.”

Elsewhere, VistaJet is celebrating the official inauguration of its Malta operations centre. The island was singled out as having the efficient infrastructure and English-speaking workforce needed to grow the aviation industry in the region.

A ceremony to mark the opening was attended by dignitaries of the Maltese government, including prime minister Dr Joseph Muscat and the minister of tourism.

Flohr says: “As we continue to grow our fleet, we expand our international footprint in parallel. In addition to being an excellent geo-strategic location for our European operations centre, Malta is backed by a very service-oriented government that is focused on growing the aviation industry presence on the island. “The attendance of the prime minister at the opening ceremony underlines the high level of commit-ment towards the success of the Malta aviation growth initiative. We are confident that this was the right move for our company,” he says.

Accountable manager for VistaJet Nick van der Meer adds: “We've recently completed the transition of several operations teams to Malta, gathering key functions under one roof, essentially creating a nucleus for all activity that directly touches our fleet of aircraft. The local support we've received throughout the critical set-up and launch phase of this move has been fantastic and key to on-time completion of this project.

“Over 75 VistaJet employees now work in the Malta office and we already have five VistaJet aircraft under Maltese registry. We will add another Global 6000 jet to that count before the end of this month. We have no doubt that VistaJet's significant presence in Malta will be a great success.”