Air Planner rebranded as Air Partner Ops24

Monday 11th April 2011

Air Partner's global flight support division Air Planner has been rebranded and renamed Air Partner Ops 24. This rebranding capitalises on the strength and secure financial stature of the Air Partner Group while eliminating confusion about Air Planner's association with Air Partner.

Peter Turner, Air Partner Operations Manager has spent the last year progressively strengthening and restructuring the 24/7 office-based operations team to ensure clients receive improved levels of efficiency and customer service.

"This is the first time Air Partner has had a round-the-clock specialist operations team of this calibre," said Peter Turner. "Following reorganisation, our portfolio of experience and skills, not least in languages, positions us perfectly to strengthen Air Partner's performance across the full range of operational services. Air Partner Ops24 supports the Air Partner Group worldwide and competes at the highest level for business on the open market."

Concurrent with the name change, Air Partner's ACMI wet lease service has now been incorporated into the Ops24 function. Wet leases generally last from one month to two years and involve the provision of an aircraft, its crew, maintenance services and insurance. Air Partner has had considerable success in the last year with urgent ACMI requests.

Air Partner Ops24 offers a complete outsourced operations service for ad-hoc passenger and freight flights worldwide and has its own independent client base. Following recruitment of more aviation operations specialists, the team now provides an enhanced service 24 hours a day, every day of the year.

The Ops24 division has three departments serving external and internal clients: Sub Charter and Leasing, Flight Planning and Flight Monitoring.

Sub Charter and LeasingThis department is now a true H24 operation. Its multi-lingual members have hands-on operational experience and considerable knowledge of current sub charter and leasing markets. In addition to ACMI, team leader Pietro Perrotta is now also focusing on developing and expanding dry (aircraft only) and wet long-term leasing and aircraft sales activities.

Flight PlanningAn experienced team, which includes licensed FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) dispatchers, deliver a key Ops24 capability for airlines. Using the new Navtech NFP Flight Planning system, they provide initial route evaluations through to ATC (Air Traffic Control) flight plan filing, slot co-ordination and intelligent re-routes in the event of delays. Comprehensive, tailored flight weather briefings are supplied to aircrew anywhere in the world. Diplomatic and civil over-flight and landing permits, ground handling, fuel and logistical support can be quickly arranged through a global network of contacts and handling agreements. The department is fully EU-OPS compliant.

Flight MonitoringThis team provides out-of-hours support for all Air Partner services, specifically flight monitoring and aircraft broking. Often the first point of contact for customers, their ability to inspire confidence and trust is a vital part of their function. Flight Monitoring underpins Air Partner's Emergency Planning division and is a key element in the company's ability to win and support contracts with government clients (including the UK's Department for International Development DFID), the oil and gas sector and organ transplant authorities.

Peter Turner has worked in the aviation industry for 31 years and has experience of airline cargo operations, ground handling and flight support. Roy Boreham, Deputy Operations Manager, was formerly Director of Ground Operations for a UK commercial airline and has experience in ground handling, airline security, flight watch and flight planning. Iain Waite, Operations Supervisor, has a degree in Airline and Airport Management and experience in dispatch, passenger services, ramp handling, cargo operations and flight/trip planning.

About Air PartnerAir Partner has earned global recognition as a leading aircraft charter broker and organises ad hoc charters of aircraft of every size for any reason. Its core divisions comprise Private Jets, Commercial Jets and Freight. The Commercial Jets division charters airliners with 20 to 500 seats to move groups of every size. Air Partner Private Jets offers on-demand charter and the company's unique pre-paid JetCard scheme. The Freight team charters aircraft of every size to fly any cargo anywhere, at any time. With its headquarters in the UK, Air Partner has offices spanning Europe, North America, the Far East and Middle East and operates a 24/7 year-round Ops24 flight support centre from its London Gatwick base. The Group was formed in 1961, is fully listed on the London Stock Exchange and is debt free.

www.airpartner.com