France's iXAir is working in partnership with Le Castellet airport to expand helicopter and international jet charter activities.

The airport in 2004 acquired an AS355N to launch vip and leisure helicopter services. "The airport now has decided to group its helicopter activities within the iXAir Group which is already based on-site, in order to optimise the service," explains its spokeswoman Marie Pierre Dupasquier-Damagnez. "All the helicopter activities of the airport, including shuttle, business, private tourism and filming, are now under the iXAir umbrella."

Up until January this year, iXAir, based at Le Castellet since 2003, provided helicopter customisation and maintenance services.

"This was mostly for Eurocopter clients and owners," says spokesman Laurent Persin. "Now iXAir will also develop its business jet activities departing from Le Castellet, with its Citation Jets."

Helicopter charter from Le Castellet will be based on four different types of helicopters. These are the EC135 offering a five or six seat vip service; the AS355N, providing a four or five seat executive service; the AS350 B3 and the Colibri EC120 B.