Dusseldorf based 3A Triple Alpha Fluggesellschaft is adding a Challenger 300 to its managed fleet which will boost its international charter capacity from the spring of 2007.

A Citation III was added in November and a second is being brought into service. These, plus the Challenger 300, will give Triple Alpha a ten-strong fleet in the new year.

"The Challenger is owned by an investor and will be chartered when he is not using it," says director Hans Pfeiffer. "We are benefiting from the positive economic climate in Germany. For some months the company has registered increased enquiries from people planning to invest in aircraft. 'Aircraft instead of property' seems to be an attractive alternative to classical investment ideas."

He adds: "An aircraft is a perfect investment. Last year the business charter segment grew by 8.9 per cent in Europe. Guaranteed revenues and tax aspects are interesting to people investing in such valuable products."

Pfeiffer says that Triple Alpha, founded in 1995, is negotiating to add more aircraft to the managed fleet. "Investors call us in when the acquisition of new aircraft or the import or conversion of preowned aircraft is on the agenda. Triple Alpha has been instrumental in implementing plans for the acquisition and furnishing of aircraft types ranging from the Citations to the Airbus 319."

The managed fleet now includes a Citation V, five CitationJets, and a Citation CJ2.