Germany’s ProAir has taken delivery of its first company-owned aircraft, a 19-seat Beech 1900 C. The company, which has established its reputation as a charter broker, chose to acquire the aircraft in order to offer ‘maximum flexibility’ to its customers.

Said ceo Thomas Godau: “By owning this aircraft, we can calculate efficiently and cost-effectively enough to keep pace with what today's market requires. Of course, we will remain brokers in the interest of customers.”

The BE1900 is operated by Avanti Air – the AOC holder and previous owner of the aircraft – and ProAir organises flight planning and sources charter customers.

“It’s a kind of niche in Europe, having this kind of aircraft,” he said. “The other type of aeroplane in the running would have been a Metro but we think that the Beech 1900 is the more modern and efficient aircraft.”

“The aircraft is especially ideal for groups of up to 19 passengers for inter-European flights,” commented sales manager Kerstin Mindermann. “We now have our own product, offered at an attractive price, which is suitable for small events or incentive travel.”

The aircraft will mostly be used for cargo flights, but Godau expects that passenger charter flights could account for about a third of its annual use, estimated at 600 hours per year.

The company previously utilised a Beech 200 for a number of years which, in its busiest year, logged 1,100 flight hours. “Compared with that, we expect that 600 hours will not be too difficult to attain. We may get some leasing business for airlines, which could add to this figure.

“We have based the aircraft at Stuttgart Airport because it is open 24 hour a day to turboprops, and we

can take off in an hour,” he said. “It

can fly almost anywhere within Europe. The first flight was from Berlin to Moscow; it was a cargo flight carrying a passenger, and the client was happy with it.”

Godau expects that the majority of ProAir’s clients will come from the automotive industry. “It will be flying everywhere that industry is heavily engaged, especially in Spain, the UK and Poland.”