Ocean Sky has taken a majority stake in Dusseldorf-based Triple Alpha. "The acquisition effectively doubles the size of Ocean Sky's managed aircraft division," says ceo Kurosh Tehranchian, "giving Ocean Sky a particularly strong presence in Germany, one of the most important European private jet markets."

The deal, the first acquisition by the UK-based company since it announced it would spend £32 million on expansion this year, will be followed by further acquisitions in the months ahead, Tehranchian adds. "It is our belief that the landscape for aircraft operators in Europe is going to change fundamentally, with consolidations and acquisitions creating a super league of major players coming out of this recession. Ocean Sky will be one of them."

Triple Alpha, which was founded 14 years ago and is based in Dusseldorf, operates principally in central Europe. The acquisition effectively doubles the number of aircraft in Ocean Sky's managed fleet to 32 with aircraft ranging from VLJs up to an A319.

The share in the new company has been bought for an undisclosed sum. But Ocean Sky says it will immediately inject #€1.8 million into the business as working capital to further strengthen its finances.

Triple Alpha co-founder Hans Pfeiffer also predicts that the coming months will see "considerable consolidation" in the private jet market. "What we have done is recognise the changes ahead. It's a win-win for us to be with Ocean Sky."

Erik Scheidt, co-founder of Triple Alpha and joint gm, says: "We are very strong in terms of operations, Ocean Sky is very active in its FBOs and maintenance. This is what we need and could not have achieved on our own. We are excited to be able to expand our operation even more rapidly and access areas where we do not already have a footprint."

Triple Alpha will continue to trade under its current company name as part of the Ocean Sky Group. Both co-founders will be remaining with the company.

Tehranchian says: "In common with Ocean Sky, Triple Alpha's founders are still with the company and pushing it forward. They bring a remarkable technical expertise to our company, particularly as both founders are pilots conversant in all areas of aviation."

Ocean Sky launched as an aircraft broker in 2003, expanding into full aircraft service in 2005. It has FBOs at Manchester, Glasgow Prestwick and Luton and offices in Salzburg, Zurich, and Moscow.

The company recently announced plans to expand its maintenance network by acquiring FBOs in central Europe. It manages a fleet that includes a Global Express XRS; a Gulfstream G550; three Challengers; two Learjet 45s; a CJ3; a Challenger 601 and a Global 5000. Triple Alpha was founded in 1995 and has 84 employees and flight centres in Dusseldorf, Paris, Milan and Palma.