Rising demand has encouraged Spain's Grup XXI to launch a charter operation with a Falcon 900C and a Citation XLS based in Barcelona. Jacint Puigmarti, sales and product manager, says corporatejets XXI, expects the XLS to fly 600 charters hours in a year and the 900C around 800.

"Both are very good preowned aircraft. The Falcon 900C has flown only 2,500 hours and is in pristine condition. The XLS is a 2005 aircraft and was available for immediate operation whereas the waiting list for a similar one new is over 18 months."

He says that Grup XXI's decision to diversify into charter came at a time when the owners of another charter operation, Executive Airlines, needed more and more use of their managed aircraft constraining availability for charter. Puigmarti was commercial manager at Executive Airlines where he worked with Eugenio Soriano, now chief pilot and operations manager at corporatejets XXI.

"The aircraft at corporatejets XXI will be fully available for charter. Grup XXI has adopted an entirely different approach. It decided to diversify into charter: it didn't have a corporate fleet," Puigmarti says.

Grup XXI's main activity is real estate and construction but it also has companies dedicated to other sectors including hotels and restaurants, catering and health and mobility.

Puigmarti says: "We will be using our long-time experience in aviation to provide a highly personal service. We anticipate a large number of referrals as we will be dealing with brokers in Europe and around the world, with those in London playing a prominent role."

The XLS is configured for eight passengers plus a flight attendant. The Falcon 900C will carry up to 14 passengers and a flight attendant. Both aircraft will cater for the business and leisure market but a sizeable amount of charter will involve taking executives to conferences and meetings.

"The XLS was found through Aradian Aviation and the Falcon 900C was offered by Dassault," says Puigmarti. "We chose the XLS as a very interesting aircraft for its cabin comfort, range, performance and operating cost.

"The Falcon 900C was chosen because it has an excellent range and comfort when flying mid and long distances. From our previous experience we know it is a very reliable aircraft for such flights, and customers agree. We chose the 900C as it is really difficult to find a 900 EX, which has a better range."

corporatejets XXI expects to service growing intercontinental demand for charter, with destinations to North America and the Far East prominent, as well as flying to destinations around Europe.

"Demand is very good and

we are very much looking forward

to developing the business,"

says Puigmarti.