VistaJet has signed an agreement with Dexter Aviation, as a result of which it will offer point-to-point flights within Russia, with a particular focus on meeting demand for flights to and from the far-eastern Russia, Siberia and CIS countries. The company will also open a base in Moscow.
Based in Moscow, Dexter Air Taxi provides customers with point-to-point flights to any operational airport in Russia within a 2,000km radius with a fleet of Pilatus PC-12s. Using a unique pricing structure of Rubles per kilometre with a 24/7 guaranteed availability, Dexter's client base has grown significantly since its founding in 2004. It is ultimately owned by the industrial investment group Fesco, one of Russia's leading companies, founded by Sergey Generalov.
The agreement follows an upsurge in demand from Russian entre-preneurs and businesses and will see VistaJet aircraft permanently based within Russia, drawn from its US$2 billion order backlog, making it the only foreign business aviation operator of long range large cabin aircraft in the country. VistaJet has become the first commercial operator of the Global 6000 aircraft and has taken delivery of the first two of these aircraft out of an order of ten.
Thomas Flohr, founder and chairman, says: "This announcement is a further milestone for VistaJet. Russia has always been a major market and the partnership with Dexter allows us to build a physical presence in this fast growing territory. Russia epitomises the increase in founder-owned commodity and natural resource companies, currently driving the rapid growth of luxury aviation in the region.
"VistaJet is connecting entre-preneurs with their next major project, their next business partner. Entrepreneurs cannot afford to spend up to two days flying commercially between remote locations either under-served by commercial airlines or from where direct routes to other key business locations do not exist."
Flohr adds: "Our Russian customers, many of whom run major global enterprises and are extremely discerning, have always admired our personalised, luxury service."
Sergey Generalov of Fesco adds: "We are delighted to be partnering with VistaJet in a move which will complement and extend our existing operations. We have established Dexter in a short period as Russia's preferred air taxi service and our highly discerning clientele will appreciate the luxury and service VistaJet will bring to their longer-haul flights, both within Russia and internationally."
VistaJet's fleet is now over 30-strong and is set to double by 2015. Ian Moore, chief commercial officer comments: "No one else in the private business aviation sector is taking delivery of brand new aircraft at the rate we are, nor is anyone more committed to maintaining the youngest fleet in the skies. It is a bold step."