Air Alpha is building a highly varied business jet fleet based on three Citation Vs, a Challenger 300, a Challenger 605, a Learjet 60XR and a Global Express as a new ceo fashions the company's one-stop shop expansion. "The fleet expansion will make Air Alpha a full-scale charter operator, covering all the aircraft sizes that are in demand," says Jesper Carvalho Andersen, group md and ceo of Air Alpha A/S.

Andersen, formerly ceo of Scandinavian fashion group Inditex. says the Citation V now in operation for charters will be joined by two pre-owned Citation Vs. "The rest of the aircraft on order are factory new." In addition, Air Alpha has three PC-12s on management contracts. "The Citation V is a very popular aircraft because of the number of passengers it holds relative to its operating costs and it is the perfect aircraft for inter-European travel. The combination of range, payload, runway performance and operation costs makes it the right aircraft type for our clients right now," Andersen adds.

Air Alpha's main focus is ad hoc charters in Europe. "Most of our customers are business people from sectors including finance and the shipping industry, often traveling routes such as the U.K. to Poland and Scandinavia to Russia to name just two."

The expansion means that Air Alpha, headquartered at Odense airport, is looking for pilots. Andersen says: "Obviously, as we are expanding our fleet, we will be needing more flight planners and administrative personnel in our charter department soon too."

But the Air Alpha Group has built a broad "one-stop shop" business and now sells, maintains and operates aircraft offering all aviation related businesses, including interior, painting, aircraft modifications with design organisation approval, avionics and spare parts.

Established in 1991, Air Alpha started out as a small air taxi company. From 1992 to 1996 it carried out contract flying for the United Nations, including several assignments in Afghanistan, alongside charter contracts in Greenland and Greece. In 1997 Air Alpha signed the first contracts with Greenland's home rule government which were renewed until 2006 when its Greenland operations were sold to Air Greenland. In 1997, Air Alpha collaborated as a strategic partner at the establishment of ExecuJet Scandinavia.

Earlier this year, the group acquired three painting interior and avionics companies. (See last April's EBAN). Andersen says: "Our overall main focus now is on sales, maintenance and operation within private and business aviation, focusing on markets in Europe, including the Baltic countries and Russia." He adds: "Our one stop shop concept will be applied to other markets in the Nordic-Baltic countries and Russia, over the next few years."

Peter Hogsberg, director Russia, Air Alpha aircraft sales, says the company is still waiting for the final Russian certification of the engine for the Pilatus NG. "I expect that in October," he reports. Air Alpha, the exclusive distributor of PC-12 NG in Russia, expects to take delivery of a total of five of the new model by December depending on final certification with Russia's Dexter Air Taxis among the buyers. Andersen says: "Dexter has received four out of a total of 25 aircraft, and another four will be added to its fleet by the end of this year."

He says: "In addition we have considerable expectations for the forthcoming business aviation show, Jet Expo 2008, which takes place at the Moscow Crocus Centre this September 17-19. This will be our third time attending the show, and we are looking forward to meeting existing and potential customers."