Luxembourgish aviation group Luxaviation has acquired Masterjet, an operator which holds a Portuguese AOC, is headquartered in Lisbon and operates business jets from Paris Le Bourget.

With its 44 employees in Paris and 13 aviation experts based in Lisbon, Masterjet operates a fleet of eight business jets ranging from Falcons to Learjets, as well as a wide body Airbus 320 targeting head of state clients. As part of Luxaviation Group, Masterjet will continue to be led by Edward Queffelec, president and son of founder Philip, as well as md Karol Gueremy.

With the acquisition of Masterjet, Luxaviation Group offers the expertise of 520 employees across six European operating companies: Luxaviation in Luxembourg, Luxaviation Germany, Abelag in Belgium, Unijet in France, London Executive Aviation in the UK and now Masterjet in Portugal. The group now operates a combined fleet of close to 100 business aircraft, with particular strengths in large cabin.

Luxaviation will continue its strategy to retain the identity, leadership and operational independence of each operator within the group. In common with other group companies, Masterjet will benefit from economies of scale in the purchasing of fuel, insurance and training, increased aircraft availability and utilisation, a broader range of aircraft types, and collaboration across all operational areas.

Patrick Hansen, co-ceo of Luxaviation says: “The expertise, reputation and combined scale of the region's most outstanding operators provide the group with an unmatched leverage. With the addition of the company's Airbus 320 to our fleet, we will be able to serve a market with strategic potential supported by technical and commercial experience which Masterjet offers for the head of state.”

Adds Masterjet president Edward Queffelec: “We are pleased to have joined Europe's leading business aviation group and to continue to develop our markets by sharing deep local knowledge and expertise with like-minded sister companies throughout the region.”