Turkish flight support and ground services provider Bilen Air Services has taken operator Turkmen Air under its wing, following the purchase of Turkmen's shares by Bilen. Turkmen was founded in 2008 and operates a Learjet 60XR on its AOC for ad hoc charter from Istanbul Ataturk.

Bilen intends to take more aircraft under management in the coming years because of the growing charter market in the region, and decided to invest in an aircraft operator to expand the range of its services. “We have started a new project here and changed the organisation,” says FBO manager Ayca Kocabas.

“We are having conversations with the other operators as well and hope to invest in more companies. We also wish to add to Turkmen's fleet while drawing on Bilen's capabilities and knowhow. The aircraft will continue to be operated by Turkmen Air as our subsidiary company. All the crew and staff are the same as before, but the owner has changed to Bilen Air, with Turkmen as AOC holder and trade mark.”