UK operator and worldwide AOC holder Voluxis has opened a new office at Farnborough airport. Commercial director Sam Heather comments: "It is an exciting time at Voluxis. We have been based at Biggin Hill since our inception, but we opened an office in the Middle East earlier this year and now we have a second UK one here at Farnborough. Biggin Hill is still our headquarters, but we felt that we needed another option near London for our clients.

"We will be announcing a new aircraft in the near future and it will be a very different offering to what we currently have. Basing it at Farnborough signals our intentions for the future. And we now have a top class management team in place and are in the best position in the company’s history, which is why we are now expanding our range of operations bases and aircraft offerings."
Voluxis accountable manager Ben Banda talked about the new aircraft at ACE18: “Our Hawker 800XPI is a little bit delayed out of maintenance but will be available soon; we are looking forward to receiving it. It has been an interesting journey for us. The rebrand was very necessary, we had to reinvent ourselves and we are coming into a market that is really competitive. We are trying to bring something new to the market and call ourselves ‘the broker operator’."

Its fleet does not carry Voluxis branding, allowing the broker booking the flight the opportunity to promote its own brand. "We are trying to tap into the unique things that we offer and stand out. The market is cut-throat and we have to present something different. We offer a bespoke service to passengers because we recognise that one of the things that they really want is control over the experience and their schedules."

Like for any new business there have been a few challenges but the company has managed to negotiate its way around them. The investment it has had in the project has been very helpful, and Banda adds: "Huge financial outlay has gone into revamping the offices, and the new office in Farnborough has positioned us very clearly for upcoming additions to the fleet. We will continue shaking the trees in the hope that something will fall. We have been flying into new locations and our team is growing." More aircraft are expected to join the fleet before the end of the year.

The company is looking to tap into the long range market and is close to bringing on such a type. "There is a market for the Hawkers but the type is somewhat limited in terms of the support on offer, and sometimes the reliability. Long range will be a new avenue for us but we are primed for it, and ready.” he adds.