Air Charter Travel celebrates 20 years of business with continued growth in group charters.

Wednesday 2nd November 2011

UK-based Air Charter Travel, the leading air charter broker is celebrating 20 years of business with an increase in the number of bookings of tailored air charters from large corporates. "Business is up 13% compared with this time last year and we are seeing more interest for 160-190 seat aircraft says Tim Procter, Managing Director. "Clients are also booking further in advance - often up to five or six months ahead is now the average." Procter puts the continued growth down to the company's extensive experience gathered over the 20 year history.

As legacy carriers reduce route availability and seat prices increase, corporate travel arrangers are returning to the air charter option as it continues to offer value in terms of time saving, cost-effectiveness and flexibility. "We're noting that business travel arrangers are returning to air charter as they need to do business efficiently and we offer a solution to what could otherwise be a real travel challenge when moving large numbers of employees around," says Procter.

October saw Air Charter Travel handle one of its largest group trips for the autumn when it transported 700 VIP executives from leading car manufacturer Audi on return trips between the UK and Munich, Germany. Four different departures left from Stansted, Manchester and Birmingham airports over a three day period carrying approximately 165 passengers aboard charter specialist's Titan Airways Boeing 757.

The flights supported an intensive training course which saw the executives begin to work as soon as they boarded. Customised interactive-tablets were placed on each seat of the aircraft and data entered by the executives was immediately transferred and analysed by the trainers who used it for training purposes during the two day schedule. "It's this kind of specific requirement that makes chartering aircraft invaluable," says Procter, "from the moment the VIPs boarded the aircraft they were in work mode which ensures that the company is getting maximum value for money as it is saving time and ensures the passengers arrive in the right state of mind. This would be almost impossible to replicate on a scheduled flight."

Other benefits of chartering the aircraft included using airport Fixed Base Operations (FBOs) or dedicated check-ins which ensured a speedy transit through the airport, on time departures at the client's requested times, and the opportunity to customise the aircraft according to the need of the client. In Audi's case everything was branded with the distinctive Audi logo from the head rests to the napkins to after dinner chocolates. "Competition is still fierce, we know we were up against five or six other brokers to manage this particular operation but we have over 20 years of expertise in this field and an expansive network of suppliers who understand our requirements.This is vital to support winning bids and ensures that our clients get exactly what they want from the charter," says Procter.

In its 20th year Air Charter Travel Ltd has handled over 140 flights flights carrying a total of more than 23,000 passengers around Europe and further afield to South America and China.

Air Charter Travel will be attending EIBTM in Barcelona 29 November through to 1 December Booth Number G730. As part of their close involvement with the exhibition the company will be flying 250 hosted buyers to the annual event in Barcelona. This will be the eighteenth year that Air Charter Travel has provided the service to Reed Travel Exhibitions.

http://www.aircharter.uk.com

About Air Charter Travel:

Air Charter Travel was first established in 1991 to provide exclusive air charter and jet hire services to both private individuals and the corporate sector. Jointly the team has over 85 years of experience in the air charter travel sector. The business also provides freight charter and specialist aerial survey aircraft.

2011 sees the business celebrating its 20th anniversary having developed an international client base featuring leading blue-chip corporations, premier-league football clubs and private high net worth individuals. The team has unique piloting experience so understands the essential technical know-how when it comes to planning and executing charter flights as well as hiring jets and offers a full range of bespoke charter services and full ground handling arrangements.

The business is headquartered at London Gatwick airport and operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

www.aircharter.uk.com