Ohio-headquartered Flexjet has opened its Flexjet House premises in London's Mayfair following a year that has seen travel to, from and within Europe grow more than 44 per cent.

“In recent history, we have seen other private jet travel providers entering and just as quickly leaving the European market. Flexjet, however, has taken the time to understand the nuances of the market, carefully gaining operational experience, recruiting the finest talent and making the strategic acquisitions we need to become the finest provider of private jet travel in Europe,” says CEO Michael Silvestro. “The opening of our new London storefront, and the addition of a proven veteran such as Marine Eugène as European managing director, demonstrates the depth of our commitment to the market.”

Eugène joined NetJets Europe in 2002, when the company's presence on the continent was at an embryonic stage. She was instrumental in orchestrating the expansion of its sales organisation after the economic crises of 2009 and 2011, successfully launching new fleets and programme options. In 2011 she became a member of its European-wide executive leadership, with responsibility for the overall management of relations with senior executives and ultra-high net worth individuals.

“Flexjet has spent the past three years laying the proper foundation to become a force in European private aviation,” says Eugène. “This foundation, including our new Flexjet House in Mayfair, has us well positioned to execute on a dynamic growth strategy. We end 2019 with the building blocks in place, and look forward to 2020, a year in which you will see our European presence truly take flight.”

The premises will allow prospective Flexjet owners to gain a fuller sense of its Red Label programme, which bridges the gap between traditional fractional ownership programmes and whole aircraft ownership through features such as flight crews dedicated to a single specific aircraft, access to the world's newest fleet, and custom cabin interiors featured in the LXi Cabin Collection.

In addition, the facility will provide Flexjet owners with a London home base, with offices and conference rooms they can use when in central London.

Flexjet has been expanding its global footprint over the past few years, gaining a UK operating certificate through the acquisition of Flairjet, that enables it to operate not only in the UK but also on the continent, and a global operating certificate via its partnership with Italy-based Sirio.

Flexjet has also officially opened a European tactical control centre near London Luton airport and its European footprint includes a maintenance facility at Milan Linate airport in Italy.