Barcelona-based Executive Airlines has acquired a third Cessna 525 jet. The aircraft began operations in July at its base in Palma de Mallorca, in Spain’s Balearic Islands, and replaces a CE525 which will now operate with another aircraft in Barcelona.

The latest aircraft can carry five instead of the usual four passengers, using an extra seat in front of the door. It will fly throughout Europe, including France, Switzerland and the UK.

Although the owner will make use of the jet, charter operations will account for some 95 per cent of its flight time, accumulating an average of 50 flight hours per month.

Demand for charter flights has soared in Palma de Mallorca over recent months, along with the summer temperatures, according to Jacint Puigmarti.

He says that European businesses are slowly becoming more aware of the opportunities and time and cost-savings that aircraft charter has to offer. “Many people think that only musicians use private aircraft to travel from one place to another. They think it’s too expensive for business trips. But people are slowly coming round, especially when they realise that they can fly direct to their destination, save money on overnight accommodation and be back in the office on the same day or the next morning.”

Executive Airlines has organised a marketing campaign to help more businesses to understand the benefits of using charter aircraft. However, it has been difficult, Puigmarti explains. Europe still has a lot of catching up to do when compared to the demand for charter aircraft in the US.

Executive Airlines is expecting to be approved as a Part 129 operator in October, which should ensure that all of its flights to the US are permitted, without the need to apply for a permit each time.

“This is very important for us,” he commented. “It means that we can operate more flights to the US and there is good business there.”

Charter business in the US has many advantages, including cost; it is cheaper to charter aircraft there, Puigmarti states. And because more people use aircraft to get around, there are often more facilities for charter operations than in Europe. He also suggests that, compared with Europe, it is easier to fly from one part of the country to another.

Executive Airlines is hoping that the approval will open up many more business opportunities for the company and help the firm to achieve its plans for expansion.

Since it was established in 1999, the company has expanded its fleet from two to seven aircraft, including a Learjet 45 and a Falcon 900EX. The company owns four of its aeroplanes and manages the rest.