PremiAir now offering Learjet 45 charter services

Tuesday 7th September, 2010

PremiAir, the award winning UK-based aviation services company, today announced the addition of the Learjet 45 to its Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) and the immediate availability of its newly acquired fleet of Learjet 45 aircraft for charter. This follows PremiAir’s acquisition last month of the former Gold Air facilities at London Biggin Hill Airport.

“The Learjet 45 is fully proven in the European private jet charter market and we’re delighted to be up and running so quickly with our new charter operations,” said Neil Gibson, PremiAir’s Director of Aircraft Charter & Management. “We’ve had a lot of interest already for the Learjets, which complement our existing Hawker Beechcraft Premier 1 operations. We have a terrific flight crew team in place, with considerable Learjet experience and this is a great opportunity for us to grow our position in the private jet charter market.”

Matt Ashby, PremiAir’s Operations Manager, added: “The Learjet 45’s excellent range, speed, payload and short runway performance makes this a very popular choice of aircraft for our clients. Capable of flying non-stop between London and Moscow, our Learjet fleet is also certificated for London City Airport, which adds an important dimension to our private jet services.”

Jets and helicopter charter – PremiAir’s unique offering

He added: “PremiAir is unique in the UK to offer clients a fully integrated executive helicopter and private jet travel solution, which gives us a distinct advantage over other operators. Many customers are interested in the time saving benefits of connecting their arrivals and departures at the major London airports, with some 40% of helicopter movements departing The London Heliport connecting on to business jets.”

PremiAir will base its Learjets throughout Europe and maintain the aircraft at the company’s London Biggin Hill facilities, which are part 145 approved for Learjet 40/45 services as well as for the Challenger 300.

* PremiAir was named ‘Best Executive Aviation Provider’ at the 2010 Business Travel Awards. Other awards include Buying Business Travel Diamond Award Winner 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 Best Executive Aviation Provider. Luxury Travel Winner Best Private Charter Company 2008.

Editor’s Notes:

• Established 30 years ago, PremiAir is the UK’s largest Executive Helicopter Charter and Management company. It has bases at Denham, Blackbushe, Oxford, London Biggin Hill and Farnborough Airports plus The London Heliport.

• PremiAir commenced private jet charter and management services in early 2010 using the Hawker Beechcraft Premier 1 and has since added a Bombardier Learjet 45 fleet managed by PremiAir and 100% available for charter.

• PremiAir is privately owned by the von Essen Group and is a sister company of von Essen Hotels, which owns and operates 30 luxury hotels throughout the UK and Europe.

• PremiAir also manages and operates The London Heliport at Battersea, which remains the UK capital’s only commercial heliport. New ultra modern business aviation terminal facilities are opening this summer connected to a luxury 5 star hotel development by sister company von Essen.

• PremiAir flies approximately 4,000 helicopter charter hours a year with its modern fleet of Sikorsky S76s and Eurocopter Twin Squirrels. It has 18 Executive Helicopters on management programmes; providing turnkey services to their owners.

• PremiAir’s maintenance business is an FAA, EASA, CAA Part 145-approved organisation; it is a Sikorsky Service Centre for the S76 (all models), a Bell Customer Service Facility for Bell 222, 230 and 430 and is a Hawker Beechcraft Authorised Service Centre for their Beechcraft Model range including the Premier 1 private jet. PremiAir is one of the largest Eurocopter maintenance centres in Europe supporting EC155, AS365 Dauphin and AS355 Twin Squirrel. The company also provides maintenance services on the AgustaWestland 109 model range and is a Pratt & Whitney Canada recognised maintenance facility and a distributor for Honeywell, Rockwell Collins and numerous other equipment vendors.

• PremiAir acquired the ex Gold Air operating and maintenance facilities in July 2010 and has added EASA approved Learjet 40/45 and Challenger 300 maintenance services to its growing list of capabilities.

• PremiAir 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 facility at Oxford Airport, which opened in October 2008.

• PremiAir is a leading player in the provision of pilots to the UK Police Forces with contracts throughout the UK and in Northern Ireland.

• PremiAir Global is the company’s in-house aircraft sales and brokerage business. It specialises in acquiring and selling new and used helicopters and business jets and is based at Farnborough Airport, UK.