Global Jet says that business has re-emerged well in 2021, following a testing 18 months. “As with every other company, 2020 with the pandemic was quite tough, with all the new restrictions, rules and laws, varying from country to country,” says marketing manager Margo De Kalbermatten. “There was a general sentiment of fear installed in everyone’s day-to-day lives, and of course this impacted our operations. Activity was greatly reduced last year, but it is slowly getting back on track. This year we have performed well so far. Last year we seized the opportunity to embark on some refurbishments.

“This year things have been going better than expected. Charter and brokerage aside, we have sold a lot of aircraft since the beginning of the year, and we have secured a number of new deals regarding aircraft management. We’ve got new deals coming up with aircraft and new types of aircraft. We’ve got a Global 7500, so we have plenty of diversity. We have around 35 different aircraft types at the moment. It’s all going well and getting back to where it needs to be. Of course there is always a march to grow and there is always more to do. We’re happy that it is going this way – let’s hope that it continues.”

Global Jet started the summer of 2021 by launching a brand-new website in English. A French, Spanish, Russian and Chinese version will be shortly available as well. It has been designed with a modern look with more functionality and interaction.

The charter and brokerage side of the company has been highlighted through the website and gives the users the opportunity to directly request charter quotes online. From very light, light, midsize and long range jets, right through to VIP airliners, all aircraft are listed and available for rent. Dedicated brokers are able to find what the client is looking for at the best price available.

In the first quarter of 2021, Global Jet added a Falcon 2000LXS, based in Madrid, and a Global Express XRS. The XRS is designed to welcome 14 passengers with optimum comfort. The jet is divided into three large zones, offering guests a maximum level of functionality, luxury and relaxation. The second period of 2021 seems promising, with three new aircraft in the pipeline for commercial operations.

A new web-cloud-based aviation software (LEON) has been implemented in the charter and brokerage team in order to gain efficiency and to support flight operations and scheduling.

Global Jet now counts more than 70 aircraft in its fleet with around 10 aircraft in the pipeline, including a BBJ, a Falcon 7X, a Challenger 300 and a factory-new Gulfstream 650ER. Since the beginning of the year 2021, a Gulfstream 550, a Global 6500 and a Global 7500 have all joined.

In terms of sales, three Global 6000s, a Falcon 900DX Easy, a Falcon 2000LX, an Airbus ACJ318 Elite, a Gulfstream 450 and a Legacy 650 have been recently sold thanks to the company’s expertise and its proactive and dedicated sales team. A number of transactions are ongoing, with the aim of completing the deals before the end of the year. Following this positive and ascending phase, Global Jet has managed to achieve new aircraft sale mandates recently – a Global 6000 and a 2020 Global 6500 off-market, two exceptional aircraft with low hours.

In terms of aircraft acquisitions, in the past few months Global Jet has acquired a Pilatus PC-24, a Global 5000, a Global 6000 and a brand-new Challenger 350 with a delivery in 2022.

The company has also been engaged in a number of widebody completion projects. In December 2020, a Boeing B787 was successfully delivered. This complex project was entirely managed by Global Jet from design coordination to the completion supervision at Lufthansa Technik, to the final delivery to the client.

Furthermore, the operator has also effectively delivered a VVIP Airbus 320 and is planning to finalise the completion and delivery of another VVIP Boeing B787 by December 2021.

Global Jet obtained an Aruban AOC in autumn 2020 for commercial operation. The process of obtaining this AOC was very intense and the level requested was above any standard the firm had previously experienced. This achievement demonstrates a high level of performance and is another added value for clients. Today, Global Jet already has three aircraft under the Aruban AOC including an ACJ330 VIP, ACJ319 and B737 Cargo.

Polar route approval has also been granted for Global Jet Aruba. GJC is the first and only operator in Aruba and one of the few business jet operators in the world to hold and perform polar route operations, which helps to significantly reduce flight times. This means that aircraft can fly straight over the North Pole and optimise flight plans.