Gold Air International plans to develop its business to include transcontinental flights to the CIS states and China. It is currently evaluating which aeroplane type will best suit its operations and is

working to raise the capital to fund the venture.

“We want to acquire genuine intercontinental aircraft, not converted regional airliners,” said md Will Curtis. “They’re too slow and don’t have a long enough range to deal with emerging markets like China. Charter passengers would rather have a Falcon, Gulfstream or Global Express.”

Driven by the quest to develop new oil fields, many entrepreneurs and businesses are travelling to the CIS states and other businesses are developing interests in China. As a result, many of Gold Air’s clients have already begun asking the company to provide a long-range service.

“Once an outpost has been set up, it’s not long before scheduled airlines set up regular flights there,” commented Curtis.

He believes that security is a major concern for passengers on long-range missions, noting that business aviation offers key benefits and reassurances.

“As aircraft become larger, the chances that one of the passengers onboard has not got your best interests at heart increases. However, on an executive jet, if you don’t recognise one of the faces onboard, then that person probably shouldn’t be there,” he said.

Curtis states that businesses and private individuals are increasingly opting to charter aircraft in a bid to ensure that the crew and passengers are known to them.

As well as expanding its portfolio to include long-range aircraft, Gold Air is also building on the success of its light jet business. It recently acquired a sixth Learjet 45, which seats up to nine people and has a double club configuration.

The company chose the LR45 after a rigourous evaluation test in which it examined 275 different points and rated them in order of importance. Gold Air considered a Learjet, Citation Excel and a Hawker 800XP.

“The Learjet scored considerably higher than the other two,” he said. The aircraft that Gold Air operates are used mainly for charter but it also operates a regular air ambulance service, which accounts for about 1,500 flight hours per year.