PremiAir launches the London Heliport Shuttle Service

Tuesday 10th February, 2009

PremiAir announced today [10 February] the launch of a new helicopter transfer service – the London Heliport Shuttle. The new service offers dedicated flights to meet private jet arrivals from the UK’s key business aviation airports, whisking passengers to the London Heliport in Battersea.

The launch recognises the fact that some 40% of PremiAir’s traffic now connects with private jet arrivals into UK airports. It comes as the Heliport prepares to show off a major facelift this summer, coinciding with 50 years of operations. The new London Heliport Shuttle Service will also complement the newly named five star ‘Hotel Verta’ that PremiAir’s parent company von Essen is building adjacent to the heliport, scheduled for opening later this year.

PremiAir is making available - from 0700hrs to 2100hrs Monday to Friday - an AS355 Twin Squirrel helicopter, which seats up to four passengers, or a Sikorsky 76 VIP helicopter, which can comfortably seat up to nine. The London Heliport Shuttle Service will provide quick and seamless transfers to and from the key business airports such as Luton, Farnborough, Biggin Hill and Oxford plus the London airports including London Stansted, Heathrow and Gatwick. Other airports are available on request.

“We have introduced the London Heliport Shuttle Service in direct response to customers’ requests for a quicker link to central London from the regional business airports,” said David Langton, PremiAir’s Sales & Customer Service Manager. “Our dedicated executive helicopters will collect passengers from the steps of their jets and take them direct to central London, avoiding the time-wasting frustration of sitting in traffic when travelling in and around the city. No other mode of transport enables this flexibility. We are confident this will be a successful venture with business jet owners and operators alike.”

PremiAir is targeting charter brokers, operators and regular business users who need to maximise their productivity.

The London Heliport Shuttle Service operates with a fixed-price tariff, based on a one-way trip to or from the London Heliport at Battersea, the only commercial heliport in the capital. Charter rates start from just £1,695 plus VAT for a one way trip from Biggin Hill to The London Heliport.

Established for more than 25 years, PremiAir is the UK’s leading provider of luxury helicopter charter services and is a consecutive four-year winner of Buying Business Travel’s Diamond Award (Best Executive Aviation Provider). The company flies approximately 4,000 charter hours a year with its modern fleet of 17 helicopters, all of which are sumptuously furnished, servicing both business and leisure markets across the UK and into Europe.

Editor’s Notes:

Established 25 years ago, PremiAir is the UK’s largest Executive Helicopter operating and charter company. It was purchased from the Sir Robert McAlpine Group by luxury hotel group von Essen in 2007 and almost concurrently the Group ratified a complementary purchase of The London Heliport, which is managed and operated by PremiAir. It has bases at Blackbushe, Oxford and Farnborough Airports in the UK

PremiAir flies approximately 4,000 charter hours a year with its modern fleet of Sikorsky 76s, Eurocopter Twin Squirrels and one Bell 222. It has 18 Executive Helicopters on management programmes, providing a turnkey service to the owner – either private companies or individuals.

PremiAir Aircraft Engineering, an FAA, EASA, CAA Part 145-approved organisation, is a Hawker Beechcraft Authorised Service Centre supporting the full range of Beechcraft products. For rotary wing support PremiAir is a Sikorsky Service Centre for the S76 (all models) and a Bell Customer Service Facility for Bell 222, 230 and 430. It is also one of the largest Eurocopter maintenance centres in Europe supporting EC155, AS365 Dauphin and AS355 Twin Squirrel. Also it provides for support services on the AgustaWestland 109 model range. PremiAir is also a Pratt & Whitney Canada recognised maintenance facility and is a distributor for Honeywell, Rockwell Collins and numerous other equipment vendors.

PremiAir Aircraft Engineering boasts Part 21J and G design and manufacturer approvals for aircraft modifications. With a large and experienced design office team, the company provides full refurbishment and upgrade services on most executive helicopter types and a wide range of fixed wing aircraft, including the full Beechcraft model range. Fixed wing aircraft are maintained at a new facility at Oxford Airport, which opened in October last year.

PremiAir is a leading player in the provision of pilots to the UK Police Forces with contracts with 10 UK / Ireland Police Air Support units – both rotary and fixed wing operations.