Bikkair says it is ready to start operations within weeks as the first VLJ air taxi company operating in continental Europe. "We are launching after two years of painstaking preparation," says founder Leendert Bikker.

The company's first flight, from its "home base" in Rotterdam, follows the delivery this year of its first Mustang. "It has proved a good choice of aircraft and it is, of course, the first VLJ certified for commercial use in Europe," adds Bikker.

He says that over 80 per cent of users will not have flown previously on private jets. "The new generation of VLJs, in combination with largescale operations, make this type of new air taxi service affordable for a much broader group of business professionals. Bikkair will fly its customers across Europe for less than half of the rates currently charged by other jet programmes."

Bikker says that the VLJ in general, and the Mustang in particular, is the "ideal transportation tool" for business people travelling distances within Europe of between 400 and 2,000 kilometres. "Due to the short runway required by VLJs, an additional 1,200 airstrips across Europe become accessible. Business professionals can look forward to an era when they can travel point-to-point from the location they live or work, to the location that really is their end destination."

Bikkair is targeting the business of up to four passengers with luggage. It says that each plane will have the benefit of two pilots. "By flying from a small airport near the customer to a small airport close to the final destination, there is a significant time gain," says Bikker. "The service is safe and highly flexible; the plane will fly on demand and the pilots will wait for the passengers when they are delayed."

Bikkair research during launch preparations confirms that flying is the only means of transport for which the average speed per hour (door-to-door) has decreased over the last five decades.

The company says it has plans in place for a large scale operation of 100 VLJs by the end of 2012. "By that time, air taxi services based on very light jets will be a well accepted mode of transport for business professionals throughout Europe," Bikker predicts.

He says Bikkair's Amulet membership programme will enable clients to buy 15, 40 or 100 flying hours in advance. "Owners of the Amulet have the right to designate which individuals are eligible to use the service as a member. Members can book a plane by indicating the destination location by departure and destination addresses. Bikkair will then select the most appropriate airports."

Bikkair has been founded by Leendert Bikker and his pilot son Bas Bikker. The management team includes Arie-Willem van Doorne (Royal Dutch Shell, Bain & Company), Henk Smith (Arthur D. Little, Accenture), and Hans Stellingsma (Microsoft, KPN, Atos-Origin, Content, Monitor). Willem de Kruif (Royal Dutch Navy, JetNetherlands) is accountable manager for the Dutch operations.