VistaJet

VistaJet Holding SA
IATA ICAO Callsign
VJT VJS VISTA JET
Founded 2004
Fleet size Over 50
Headquarters Baar, Switzerland
Key people Thomas Flohr, Ian Moore
Website http://www.vistajet.com

VistaJet Holding SA is a Swiss airline holding company founded in 2004 by Thomas Flohr. The company is headquartered in Baar, Switzerland with satellite facilities in London, UK; Farnborough, UK; Malta; Dubai, UAE; Beijing, China; Hong Kong; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Lagos, Nigeria; Salzburg, Austria; and Zurich, Switzerland. The company operates two charter airlines, one in Austria and one in Malta.

History

Founded in 2004 as Air Executive, in 2008 it was renamed VistaJet Holding SA as a European private business jet charter and aircraft management company with Bing Chen as CEO till September 2009.

In 2006, the company ordered from Bombardier three Bombardier Challenger 605 business jets and signed an option for two additional aircraft, making this order the first and largest multiple aircraft order placed by a European company for the new jet. In 2007, VistaJet announced the opening of a base at SkyPark Subang, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with a Bombardier Challenger 604 and a Challenger 605.

In February 2008, VistaJet announced that it was basing a Learjet 40XR at London City Airport in the United Kingdom.[1] Later, in May 2008, VistaJet announced an order for 11 Bombardier Learjet 85 aircraft, along with 11 Challenger 605 and 13 Learjet 60 XR aircraft.[2] In addition to the aircraft order the company also acquired Bombardier Skyjet International, Bombardier's charter program, making VistaJet the third largest business jet management company outside of North America.[3][4][5]

In 2009, the former Swissair Chairman and SAir Group CEO Phillippe Bruggisser joined VistaJet as the new CEO and board member, following a general restructuring of the company's management team. Founder Thomas Flohr announced a growth program to make the company the largest executive airline outside North America.

In May 2010 the company expanded into West Africa with a regional base in Lagos, Nigeria.[6] In the same month VistaJet received the EBAA Bronze Safety of Flight Award for outstanding Operational and Maintenance Safety Record (20 years or 40,000 hours without an accident).[7] Two months later, a $277 million order for four Bombardier Global Express XRS and two Challenger 605 aircraft to aircraft was announced at Farnborough Air Show. The new aircraft would enable the company to change emphasis to larger and longer-range aircraft.[8] In October 2010, Phillippe Bruggisser stepped down as CEO and Thomas Flohr took over day-to-day management.[9] At the 2011 Paris Airshow, VistaJet ordered 10 Bombardier Global 8000 business jets.[10]

In 2012 the company started operations from Malta with four Maltese-registered aircraft.[11]

September 2013 VistaJet announces agreements with Wheels Up and Jet Aviation Flight Services to offer access to Global aircraft flights within the United States, under the VistaJet Flight Solutions Program (FSP), as of March 2014. VistaJet will invest 600 million USD in a fleet of new American-based Bombardier Global aircraft that will be operated and managed by Jet Aviation Flight Services, a Part 135 U.S. air carrier.[12]

Charter operations

VistaJet's charter operations are based on simplicity. All of the aircraft are warrantied by Bombardier and aged a maximum of three years. They offer to fly between any two points and have a 'pay as you go' fare structure like a taxi company, unlike fractional charging, where each craft is owned or leased by multiple clients.[13]

Fleet

In November 2012 the company has placed a firm order for 56 Bombardier Global Express business jets (25 Global 5000, 25 Global 6000 and 6 Global 8000 aircraft) and options on a further 86 aircraft. Deliveries are expected to start in 2014.[14]

June 2013 saw VistaJet place an order for 40 Bombardier Challenger 350 jets, consisting of 20 firm orders and 20 options, set to join the fleet in mid-2014.

References

  1. ↑ "VistaJet expansion plan fuels career opportunities". European Business Air News. Retrieved 2008-05-03.
  2. ↑ "Bombardier wins $1.2-billion order from VistaJet". Montreal Gazette. Retrieved 2008-05-20.
  3. ↑ King, Carolyn. "Bombardier Gets Business Jet Order Worth Up To $1.2B". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2008-05-21.
  4. ↑ "VistaJet Completes Acquisition Of Bombardier Skyjet International".
  5. ↑ "VistaJet Completes Acquisition Of Bombardier Skyjet International".
  6. ↑ "VistaJet expands into West Africa with exciting new partnership".
  7. ↑ "VistaJet receives the EBAA Bronze Safety of Flight Award for outstanding Operational and Maintenance Safety Record".
  8. ↑ "VistaJet announces firm order to substantially increase its luxury fleet of Bombardier aircraft at Farnborough Air Show".
  9. ↑ "Flohr managing VistaJet as Bruggisser steps-down".
  10. ↑ "Firm orders for 16 Global business jets worth $1.05 bln". Reuters. 2011-06-21.
  11. ↑ VistaJet adds Malta to its operating bases to help facilitate future growth
  12. ↑ "VistaJet Moves into U.S. with Jet Aviation and Wheels Up". AINONLINE. 2013-09-06.
  13. ↑ "Thomas Flohr: The high-flying multi-millionaire". BBC News. 2013-09-15.
  14. ↑ "Major Order for VistaJet", Airliner World, February 2013: 9

External links

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