European Flight Service (EFS) is to add a C680 Citation Sovereign and a Gulfstream 650 to its fleet and keep open options on other aircraft deliveries as future needs crystallise. Steve Diapere, md, says that, while there is generally no growth in sight for the ad hoc charter market, the management sector still has inter-esting opportunities. "Business growth continues in the Middle East but is stagnant in Europe and while charter sales are down, contract customers and clients are unaffected so far." EFA has been adding aircraft to its fleet regularly during recent months and the current line-up now comprises two G550s, a Legacy 600, four C680s, a C560 XLS and a C560 XL, a Caravan Amphibian and a PA31.

"Routes for new aircraft are Europe and the Middle East for the Legacy and Europe for the C680."

The Legacy, Diapere says, was chosen partly for its cabin size and range while the Citation's advantages included comfort, low noise level and compatibility with other aircraft in the fleet. Formed in 1988 with a change of ownership in 2004, EFS owns 50 per cent of BookaJet UK and 50 per cent of NBA in Norway. "EFS is in the process of selling its interest in BookaJet," Diapere says, "but our scope of work, which includes charter, aircraft management and EASA 145 maintenance will remain the same."

He adds: "EFS are not aircraft traders but we have sold one G550 and one C560XL during the past two years."

While the main EFS base is Goteborg Saeve, Stockholm Arlanda is home to its largest facility with 24 hour access and a large hangar complex. Aircraft also operate out of Stockholm Bromma and Moss Rygge airport, Oslo, as well as London Farnborough through BookaJet.

EFS, which traditionally recruits crews mainly from Scandinavia with a few from the UK, does not currently have vacancies.