VistaJet Holding SA

Infobox_Airline
airline=VistaJet Holding SA
logo=VistaJet.png‎logo_size=188
ICAO=VJS
callsign=VISTAJET
headquarters=Baar, Switzerland
founded=2002
key_people=Bing Chen, George Murnane, Eric Weisskopf, Maximillian Ambs
destinations=Point to point
fleet_size=15
website= http://www.vistajet.com

VistaJet offers comprehensive business aviation solutions including private business jet ownership, management, trading, financing and on-demand chartering.

History

VistaJet Holding SA, "formerly Air Executive LU.AT", was founded in 2002 as a European private business jet charter and aircraft management company. Prior to 2008 VistaJet focused primarily on trading and chartering of business jets. Beginning in April 2008, in response to positive market dynamics, a highly fragmented non-US market and inefficient traditional private business jet fractional ownership and charter models, VistaJet created its VistaJet Flight Solutions program.

In July 2006, Vista Jet placed an aircraft order with Bombardier for three next-generation Bombardier Challenger 605 business jets and signed an option for two additional aircraft, making this order the first and largest multiple aircraft order placed by a European company for the new jet. [ cite news |title= VistaJet Orders Fleet of Bombardier Challenger 605 Jets|url= http://www.bombardier.com/index.jsp?id=0_0&lang=en&file=/en/0_0/pressrelease.jsp%3Fgroup%3D0_0%26lan%3Den%26action%3Dview%26id%3D3508%26sCateg%3D3_0|publisher= www.bombardier.com|date=|accessdate=2008-05-02]

In June 2007, VistaJet announced that it will become the first company to base aircraft at SkyPark Subang, with a Bombardier Challenger 604 and a Challenger 605 likely to be available for customers by early 2008. [ cite news |first= Siva|last= Govindasamy|title= Malaysia's Subang to rival Hong Kong, Singapore|url= http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2007/12/06/220111/malaysias-subang-to-rival-hong-kong-singapore.html/?no_cache=1&cHash=af53230ec6|publisher= Flight International|date=|accessdate=2008-05-02]

In September 2007, VistaJet announced an order for three Airbus ACJs, bringing the privately owned charter operator’s total aircraft investment to more than $1 billion. [ cite news |first= R. Randall|last= Padfield|title= In a sign of the times, charter firms go on buying sprees|url= http://www.ainonline.com/news/single-news-page/article/in-a-sign-of-the-times-charter-firms-go-on-buying-sprees/?no_cache=1&cHash=af53230ec6|publisher= AINonline|date=|accessdate=2008-05-02]

In February 2008, VistaJet announced that, as part of its it plans to triple its fleet in 2008, it plans to be present in the UK market within weeks offering a London City-based Learjet 40XR as well as a Learjet 60XR. [ cite news |title= VistaJet expansion plan fuels career opportunities|url= http://www.ebanmagazine.com/mag_story.html?ident=9092|publisher= European Business Air News|date=|accessdate=2008-05-03]

In May 2008, VistaJet announced an order for 11 Bombardier Learjet 85 aircraft, along with 11 Challenger 605 and 13 Learjet 60 XR aircraft. [ cite news |title= Bombardier wins $1.2-billion order from VistaJet|url=http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/business/story.html?id=d275986d-d3c6-4aeb-985b-ced41bc53525|publisher= Montreal Gazette|date=|accessdate=2008-05-20] The deal includes options for an additional 25 aircraft. In addition to the aircraft order, VistaJet also signed a memorandum of understanding for the acquisition of Bombardier Skyjet International, Bombardier's charter program, making VistaJet the second largest business jet company outside of North America. [ cite news |first= Carolyn|last= King|title= Bombardier Gets Business Jet Order Worth Up To $1.2B|url= http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20080520-708922.html?mod=wsjcrmain|publisher= The Wall Street Journal|date=|accessdate=2008-05-21] The Company completed its acquisition of Skyjet International on June 30, 2008. [ cite news |PRNewswire-AsiaNet|title= VistaJet Completes Acquisition Of Bombardier Skyjet International |url= http://www.voxy.co.nz/business/vistajet-completes-acquisition-bombardier-skyjet-international/5/798]

ervices

VistaJet sells hours of flight time on specific aircraft, chosen from several available types at the time of entry into the Company's Flight Solutions program. This program offer customers the convenience, access, and time advantages of flying point to point in private jets. This also allows travelers access to more, often smaller, airports; possibly shortening travel to both arrival and departure point. Arrival and departure points along with departure time are chosen by the customer for each individual trip. Costs are higher than flying commercial carriers and lower than purchasing, staffing and maintenance of a similar private jet.

VistaJet aircraft are all painted and outfitted the same, are no more than 2.5 years old and average about 1,300 of flight hours per year. [ cite news |first= R. Randall|last= Padfield|title= In a sign of the times, charter firms go on buying sprees|url= http://www.ainonline.com/news/single-news-page/article/in-a-sign-of-the-times-charter-firms-go-on-buying-sprees/?no_cache=1&cHash=af53230ec6|publisher= AINonline|date=|accessdate=2008-05-02]

Fleet

VistaJet's fleet will soon be comprised of more than ninety medium to ultra-long range, jets. Jets in their fleet are classified by mission profile:

Medium Range
* Bombardier Learjet 40XR
* Bombardier Learjet 60XR
* Bombardier Learjet 85
* Bombardier Challenger 300
* Bombardier Challenger 850Long Range
* Bombardier Challenger 605Ultra-Long Range
* Bombardier Global Express XRSVVIP
* Airbus ACJ-319

References

External links

* [http://www.VistaJet.com/ VistaJet website]
* [http://www.skyjetinternational.com/#unpaused/ Skyjet International website]
* [http://www.cnbc.com/id/15840232?video=790509012 Recent Coverage and CEO interview]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7505652.stm Lewis Hamilton races VistaJet Learjet]