2Excel Aviation has added a second VIP Boeing 737 to its charter fleet. The latest arrival is in the same 62-seat configuration as the company's other B737 and will offer greater flexibility as 2Excel can now perform two 737 charters at the same time. Popular markets include music tours, sports teams and large private group charter such as for a milestone birthday. "We are not looking for high utility; we are looking for lower utility with great service," says ops director Andy Offer. "We pride ourselves on the fact that the aircraft look amazing, and all of our crews are specially selected to provide the service expected of them. Not letting people down is our key focus.

“Our reputation is growing in the market, which I’m delighted about, and we are really looking forward to the future. We have got some tours planned for next year already. These are good markets for us, and we hope to be able to add more aircraft to the fleet in the future."

2Excel has used management tool Centrik for the last three years, and also uses Leon planning software. "Both Leon and Centrik are excellent and provide us with the exact service we require," adds Offer.

The operator also has three King Airs available for ad hoc charter, all of which remain busy. One King Air is based in Milan for AOG support, and Offer and his team are keeping a close eye on the outcome of Brexit with this in mind. "We are not sure how Brexit is going to affect us in terms of freedom of movement, but we are hoping that there is going to be some kind of arrangement," he explains. "We don’t know what the effect is going to be and the contingency plans that may be required, and the same applies to everybody else. It is important that the freedom of movement issue gets resolved."

2Excel started life in 2005 with six people, and 12 years later the group employs in excess of 300. It has a turnover of more than £35 million, 30 aircraft in its fleet, and the biggest change it has made this year was selling 51% of the company to its employees. Through the establishment of an employee ownership trust the company hopes to reward, incentivise and retain staff, and in turn ensure its long term future.

2Excel also works for the oil and gas industry. Says Offer: "We have two Boeing 727s that carry out large aircraft oil spill response by spraying dispersant on to oil slicks if they are coming towards the coast. We work for a company called Oil Spill Response Limited, owned by all of the major oil companies in the world, so the work is global. The contract runs until 2028, and is important because it is about preserving the environment. We are proud to deliver it, and we are proud to be British and delivering a global service.

“We also provide a surveillance service for the same customer for the UK continental shelf, and we hope to provide further services in the future. We have a number of platforms that work for the government and the MoD, and for agriculture. So we are very busy, and I hope that we will continue to be so.”