New aircraft could boost VistaJet's fleet to 14. The Swiss company has ordered three Challenger 605 jets

and will take delivery of an additional Global Express XRS. It says a third Challenger 604 will be delivered in September.

The total includes jets that VistaJet currently has either in operation or on order including two for which it

has options.

The company will take delivery of its first new Challenger 605 aircraft in late 2007, shortly after the aircraft's scheduled entry into service.

The list price for the typically equipped aircraft, excluding options, is approximately US$81 million.

"It is the first and largest multiple aircraft order placed by a European company for the new jet," says Jahid Fazal-Karim, senior vp, new aircraft sales, Bombardier Business Aircraft. "The purchase is part of VistaJet's strategy to convert its entire business jet fleet to Bombardier aircraft, offering the advantages of fleet commonality as well as full access to the Bombardier Skyjet International charter network."

Bing Chen, ceo VistaJet, told EBAN: "A single manufacturer fleet is one of the simple ways to maximise our efficiency. We have already made great operational strides in this regard. Our charter aircraft, on average, fly 1,100 hours per year. This compares with the more usual industry total of perhaps 500 to 600 hours."

He says that VistaJet's all round service offering facilitated other economies of scale. VistaJet is a business jet charter operation, financing and brokerage company, headquartered in Switzerland with operations based in Salzburg, Austria.

Chen says that VistaJet is expanding into Asia. It is in negotiations with potential business partners.