FAI rent-a-jet AG, which is investing Euro 10m in a new 5,000 square metre hangar and office building, claims fleet expansion has made it the world's largest medevac and casevac (casualty evacuation) operator.

Chairman Siegfried Axtman points out that FAI's fleet has just welcomed a fourth Learjet 60 and will be expanded again by two more Challenger 604s in January 2010.

Including one Challenger 604 operated by FAI's Swiss subsidiary Nomad Aviation AG, FAI's jet aircraft fleet will total 16, comprising 12 Learjets including the 35A, 55, and 60; the three Challenger 604s and one Falcon 900 EASy. "This expansion will make FAI certainly the world's largest medevac and casevac operator with a fleet of 13 aircraft in dedicated service," Axtman says.

The air ambulance division, he says, has enjoyed a 10 per cent growth in revenues to €17m annually despite the problems suffered by the travel industry due to the global economic downturn.

FAI rent-a-jet AG has reported that as at 30 September, 2009, its revenues increased by 45 per cent compared to revenues to 2008.

"Most of our competitors are happy to maintain their 2008 numbers in 2009 but FAI has managed growth which is not typical for the general aviation industry," Axtman says. "For the fiscal year of 2009 FAI is expecting total revenues of Euro 36m (2008: e27m) while another boost to close to Euro 50m is expected for 2010."