Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group has acquired the share capital of FlairJet, the Oxford-based aircraft management and charter company.

FlairJet has become part of the group's newly formed aviation services business unit and will continue to be led by md and founder David Fletcher. It will operate alongside Cambridge airport-based Marshall Executive Aviation, but its Phenom 100 aircraft will remain based at Oxford.

Initially both company names are to be retained, although they will be brought together under one AOC and Fletcher also takes on the role of md at MEA. "FlairJet has great people and experience with aircraft manage-ment, and its efficiency is higher than MEA in terms of aircraft optimisation," says Steve Jones, md aviation services at Marshall. "MEA has hard assets, and the backing of a £1b group and history."

FlairJet brings a solid relationship with Embraer to the mix. As launch operator for the Phenom 100 and 300, the company pioneered Phenom operations in Europe and has managed the acceptance and delivery of a total of 22 Embraer business jets to date. Commenting on the acquisition Fletcher says: "We are excited to be joining one of the most respected and largest privately owned aviation groups in Europe. FlairJet has strong entrepreneurial spirit and customer service values and I believe this to be the perfect platform to support FlairJet's ambitious plans for growth."

The combined operation has set itself a target of having a ten aircraft fleet within a year.