Avionco and GetJet have announced a partnership aimed at enhancing customer access to charter services. Not yet a full year into its own charter provision, Canada-headquartered Avionco has partnered with Maltese software platform GetJet to meet demand from private and business customers requiring more flexible, technology assisted booking at competitive prices.

Avionco CEO Mike Dodd says: "We're interested in providing a charter service that makes it easier and more cost-effective for our customers to access our aircraft. Our first step was to register our AOC with 2-REG in Guernsey, Channel Islands, last year, which has been proven to be very effective. The second was to find the right sales and marketing partner. The big learning curve for us here was about our customer base. They want app-based accessibility to select aircraft and make bookings. They want quick access with strong customer support. That's why we chose GetJet."

GetJet VP sales and marketing Roberto Hlaca adds: "The team at Avionco is entrepreneurial and shares our focus on providing a great customer experience. Its Challenger 850 jet will do just that for our charter customers. This CL850 is a converted CRJ200 with luxury seating for 16 and a very large baggage capacity suitable for many purposes. Hauling equipment for things like golf trips or ski trips will be no problem. Even funerals can be accommodated as this baggage hold is large enough to carry a coffin."

By working together the two companies hope to build brand awareness in Europe as an alternative to larger, more cumbersome choices that private or business travellers might make. Dodd continues: "We have had a presence in Europe now for nine months. It started out a little slow for us but we have been seeing increased activity and the future looks good. We have very good ties with Bombardier and a longstanding relationship with the team over many years.

"We have had very good comments back from clients and a lot of happy people have flown with us. Three or four customers have had the aircraft for a week or two at a time. We’ve had a few big groups going to watch football matches, tour groups, bands and people going on holidays for the summer. The responses have all been very positive; people like the aircraft and the seating configuration."

Some of the requests Avionco has received may give it cause to look at other aircraft types so the team is currently exploring all options. "We have a few things in the works at the moment, though it is a little early to disclose any of them," he adds.

However, the intention is to maintain the status quo for the rest of this year: "Sports teams and large group charters are the markets that we need to go for, as well as repatriation flights," says Dodd. "The aircraft we have is not a typical business jet but more a corporate commuter with a specific purpose. We have found that we have been flying all over as opposed to a few specific destinations. We have been across Europe, Russia, Keflavik, Finland, Qatar, UAE, Greece, Ukraine and Turkey. It has been a mixed bag, a bit of everything, but has offered us good exposure across the continent."