Portugal's Omni Group is finalising plans to add a sixth base with a further AOC in 2010. "The location and aircraft type will be announced at a later date," says chief officer commercial Stefan Buschle.

Buschle says the group's 2009 business objectives were to increase market presence and improve profitability. "We wanted to establish stronger cooperation and co- ordination of the group's companies and create a strong Omni Group brand,"

he says. "We also want to showcase the full capability of the group and further develop projects with customer relevance in new markets in Africa and Middle East." He says the group has made good progress towards accomplishing these objectives. The newest additions to the Omni fleet are an A320 with 180 seats, an A319CJ with 48 seats and an A319CJ vvip with 19 seats and bedroom. A Challenger 300 is expected to arrive in September 2009 and two S-76C++ helicopters in October 2009. A Learjet 45 has recently been added.

The Omni Aviation Group, composed of 18 companies active in the aviation sector, recently expanded its top management with the recruitment of Buschle. Born in Germany but raised in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Buschle returned to Germany to graduate in engineering and business administration, before starting his career in commercial aviation. He joined the Lufthansa Group in 2004 then became director of business development and later md with Cirrus Airlines.