Business jet charter up 8% at Air Partner

Air Partner PLC saw revenue from private jet charter broking grow by 8% to £44 million ($70 million) in its 2012 financial year. The UK charter broker also saw a 67% increase in US business jet charter sales.

“Our private jet business is growing and that is before we implement our new strategic focus,” said Gavin Charles, CFO, Air Partner. “High net-worth individuals are still flying and we are seeing more people move out of fractional ownership.”

The charter broker added 35 new members to its JetCard business in its financial year ending on July 31 2012. Air Partner launched its first JetCard in 2006. “It is an established scheme and we have seen 30% of our new members coming over from fractional ownership,” said Mark Briffa, CEO, of Air Partner.

Briffa says that the company is planning to launch a US jet card and will consider other regions.

“We will continue to develop emerging markets,” said Briffa. “We are looking for partners in China and are already in one or two discussions.”

Air Partner’s private jet division was the only division to experience an increase in sales, with commercial jet broking falling by 18% and freight broking down 38%. Overall, the company’s revenue was down 19% to £227 million.

Founded in 1961, Air Partner focuses on organising charter for the private jet, commercial jet and freight markets. Private jet broking currently accounts for 19% of the company’s revenue, with the large majority of the revenue coming from the UK and Europe.

Air Partner is the first aviation company to hold a Royal Warrant by Appointment to Her Majesty The Queen.

25 hour JetCard Prices

Note: Air Partner’s card includes no peak day restrictions, refunds on unused air time and passengers only pay for flying time plus six minutes fixed taxi time at each end of the flight.

Source: Air Partner