Austria's JetAlliance has ordered another ten Citations and is increasing its ACJ fleet to five as it builds strategic alliances and business in Eastern Europe and Russia.

"Our customers are always hugely impressed by the wide open spaces of the ACJ family cabin," says JetAlliance Holding ceo Lukas Lichtner-Hoyer. "The spacious cabin represents a big change from traditional business jets which is why we keep coming back for more of them." He adds: "We also like the ACJ family's modern design, outstanding take-off performance and excellent reliability".

The Vienna-based group's new order adds an ACJ to a previously ordered ACJ and three A318 Elites. "Like our other aircraft, the new ACJ will feature a vip cabin and be powered by CFM56-5 engines," says Lichtner-Hoyer.

JetAlliance also placed a US$105 million order for a further 10 Citations comprising a CJ1+, two CJ2+, two CJ3, three XLS+ and two Sovereigns. Deliveries will take place in 2009 and 2010. JetAlliance announced an order for 25 Citations in May.

JetAlliance's subsidiary AC Aircraft Sales & Consulting is Cessna's authorised sales representative for Russia and Eastern Europe. "Citations are well matched to the needs of Russia's business community, and we are seeing strong demand across the region," says Lichtner-Hoyer. The ACJ family has done especially well in Europe, including Russia, says Airbus customer coo, John Leahy.

But strategic alliances as well as demand in Russia and Eastern Europe are all helping to fuel JetAlliance expansion.

The JetAlliance fleet of more than 35 aircraft is playing a central role as Austrian Airlines is expanding a "feeder network" for its intercontinental fights (See EBAN June 2007: JetAlliance thinks short haul to win long haul business). Paul Paflik, Austrian Airlines gm for the Americas, says: "We are teaming up with JetAlliance to offer business class passengers a fast private jet service to virtually any airport in Europe in connection with their transatlantic flight to Vienna." There is a minimum notice of 48 hours for the Austrian Business Jet service that runs to and from Vienna airport.

Paflik explains: "In Vienna, ABJ service passengers are escorted by specially trained staff through dedicated passport and security checks. If desired, they are driven to their aircraft in an ABJ limo. The Vienna airport vip lounge and JetAlliance vip lounge are both available to travelers."

He adds: "We will broaden our feeder system, primarily for destinations which have not yet been opened by us or are not operated with high frequencies."

Austrian Airlines operates non-stop flights to Vienna from New York, Chicago, Washington and Toronto.

Lichtner-Hoyer says JetAlliance has the capability to solve the short haul problems of clients in Europe and build longer haul business. "We already have a fleet of more than 35 aircraft with an average age of 3.5 years. This is one of the youngest fleets in Europe. It operates under JAR OPS 1 in Europe, but is also FAA part 129 certificated, allowing it to fly commercially in the US and Canada."

JetAlliance has also placed orders for 20 Mustangs. "Twenty-two Citations already operating are being reinforced by another 22 coming into operation by the end of 2007 followed by another 25 in 2008," says Lichtner-Hoyer. "These aircraft will be used to further extend our reach into eastern and central Europe. We should receive our first Mustang this year."