PremiAir promotes helicopters as an important business tool

Wednesday 17th June, 2009

PremiAir, the UK’s leading provider of executive helicopter charter and management and sister aviation company of von Essen Hotels (Stand No 402) continues to innovate in the UK business travel market. Its latest service is its London Heliport Shuttle Service and the company’s message at the new Business Travel Market at London’s Excel this week (18-19th June) is that executive helicopters are all about saving time - especially in these testing economic times, when productivity must be heightened.

The London Heliport Shuttle Service is a seamless connection between key business airports around the UK and the London Heliport at Battersea. Managed and operated by PremiAir, the London Heliport is the only commercially licensed heliport in the capital. The new shuttle service offers dedicated flights to meet private jet arrivals from airports including London Heathrow, Gatwick and Farnborough, ensuring a speedy and seamless connection into or out of the capital. Charter prices for a helicopter from London Heathrow Airport to The London Heliport, start from £2,695 + VAT in a Eurocopter Twin Squirrel AS355. Transporting up to five passengers, this equates to £539 +VAT per passenger. A Sikorsky S76 operating from London Gatwick - carrying up to nine passengers, is £3,595, or £399 per passenger- and zero rated VAT.

PremiAir has another industry first too. In May, it became the European launch member of a prestigious new Global Executive Helicopter Service, named ‘Aurion’. The Aurion Network heralds the first and only international network of best-in-class executive helicopter operators, embracing professional and established helicopter operators who provide consistent and unparalleled safety, service and reliability. PremiAir is the inaugural European member (serving UK and Ireland) joining New York-based operator AAG Global. Operators in other countries, including France and Italy, are being courted. Reservations can be made through a dedicated website or through the local Aurion member operator, which makes booking executive air travel effortless, no matter where the journey begins or ends.

“There is now growing pressure on senior executives to be as productive and cost effective as possible,” said PremiAir Business Development Manager, David Langton. “Point-to-point helicopter travel – up to 200nm - enables businesses to maximise their management time better than any other form of transport. Only the helicopter can enable them to do three or four business meetings in one day. Once people experience the viability of helicopters as a business tool, they never look back. Importantly, PremiAir, which operates unbranded aircraft, guarantees that clients are assured total confidentiality and discretion with regard to all bookings. We can source landing sites wherever required,” he said.

PremiAir, which marks its 30th anniversary this year, has bases at Denham, Blackbushe, Oxford and Farnborough Airports in the UK. The company operates a fleet of 18 twin-engined executive helicopters including the popular VIP Sikorsky S76, on management programmes, providing turnkey services to their owners.

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Editor’s Notes:

Established 30 years ago, PremiAir is the UK’s largest Executive Helicopter operating and charter company. It has bases at Blackbushe, Oxford and Farnborough Airports in the UK

PremiAir is privately owned by the von Essen Group and is a sister company of von Essen Hotels, which owns and operates 28 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 will be opening late 2009 connected to a new luxury 5 star hotel development.

PremiAir flies approximately 4,000 hours a year with its modern fleet of Sikorsky 76s and Eurocopter Twin Squirrels. It has 18 Executive Helicopters on management programmes; providing turnkey services to their owners.

PremiAir’s maintenance business is also an FAA, EASA, CAA Part 145-approved organization; 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. PremiAir is also one of the largest Eurocopter maintenance centres in Europe supporting EC155, AS365 Dauphin and AS355 Twin Squirrel. The company also provides for support services on the AgustaWestland 109 model range and is a Pratt & Whitney Canada recognised maintenance facility and is a distributor for Honeywell, Rockwell Collins and numerous other equipment vendors.

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 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 UK / Ireland Police Air Support units.

PremiAir Global is the company’s 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.

Buying Business Travel Diamond Award Winner 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 Best Executive Aviation Provider. Luxury Travel Winner Best Private Charter Company 2008.
www.premiair.co.uk