Flexjet Limited has acquired FlairJet Limited from Marshalls of Cambridge, UK. Flexjet had been looking to develop its own aircraft operations in Europe since it entered the market earlier this year, and after it rejected the idea of setting up its own AOC, the company decided that FlairJet was the best choice. “We could have built an AOC from scratch or, like other organisations, brought aircraft to the UK or to Europe and placed them with a larger entity, but again that wasn't the right choice for us,” explains MD Ray Jones.

“We arrived at the point where we were looking for a small organisation with an AOC in Europe that we could have acquisition discussions with. We have known Marshalls for some time. It is a very famous and large organisation, and it became clear to us early on in the conversation that the two companies have a close cultural alignment. We really liked the way the business had been put together from inception; we liked the processes that the operating arm of the company has in place. So we are very compatible: culturally, professionally and mechanically.”

Jones indicates that in the future FlairJet is likely to rebrand as a Flexjet company, but until that point it will continue to charter aircraft in the same way as before. “In time, we will start to bring our own aircraft over as well,” he continues. “This will set us apart from many operating companies because we will have third party aircraft flown privately, third party flown commercially, and owned aircraft.

“We would like to put the wheels in motion for all of this by the end of the year, but if not then it will be at the beginning of next year. It will all depend on how the acquisition stabilises. We will have to make sure that the platform is exactly as we need it before bringing aircraft in.”

Jones concludes by saying that, although it was not the decisive factor in the deal, the fact that FlairJet is based in the UK was favourable. He wants to offer services to his US clients flying into Europe, expand Flexjet's fractional client base into Europe and offer charter to new and existing customers, initially using a Nextant 400XTi.