London Biggin Hill-based Sovereign Business Jets has enjoyed a busy summer with much repeat business. Accountable manager Glen Smith says: "Greece wasn’t as busy as it was last year but there was a lot of activity around the Balearics. And we haven’t really slowed down, even into September." The company predominantly flies three or four passengers, and with the Balearic leisure flights being performed on its Hawker 800B and Challenger 300, the Phenom 100 has become more of a business aircraft.

The Sovereign fleet can cater to most needs, accommodating those passengers who want upsizing from the Hawker on to the Challenger or the Phenom on to the Hawker. "If it works for the customer, it works for us," he says. And with a second Hawker coming there will be more scope in the midsize segment of the market. "At the moment we are flying 50 hours a month with the Hawker and the passengers love it. I would expect the latest one to be operational within eight weeks, the deposit is being placed any day now and the aircraft is ready to go into pre-buy registration," he adds.

Smith attributes the high level of repeat business to the strength of the flight crew. "It’s not about how good we are in the office, it is about how good we are on board; that’s what makes our service. We have got some fantastic flight attendants, and they deliver a service that our passengers love," he says.

Will things change with Brexit around the corner? "I think it is going to be an interesting time," he adds, "and who knows what might happen? It could have a big impact operationally and it will be intriguing to see what happens from an EASA point of view. No-one can second guess it at this stage." But the availability of training is an issue that consistently rears its head; he thinks simulators are too busy and there are very few suppliers. Alongside which the requirements for training, from a regulatory point of view, are getting more onerous.

Overall, Smith says that airports are busy, brokers are doing a good job and online businesses are bringing new people into the market. "It doesn’t matter how those people start flying, as long as they do."