Private jet firm debuts with flexible charter services

VistaJet, a global business aviation company with over 300 jets in its fleet has concluded plans to extend its services to Nigeria, providing bespoke private jet service to the upper and middle class business segment.  

With mid- to large-cabin, ultra-long-range Bombardier Global and Challenger business jets in its fleet, the firm described Nigeria as an important aviation market to explore.

Representatives of the company led by the President, Europe and Africa, Philippe Scalabrini, were at the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA) and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International airport yesterday respectively for a roadshow with one of the aircraft in its fleet, a Bombardier Challenger 605 with registration number 9H-VFM.

He was joined by Alexandra Price, Senior Manager, Brand PR and Communications, Europe, Middle East & Africa and Amy Yang, Vice President, EMEA.

Scalabrini stated that VistaJet is offering an alternative to people who would have preferred to buy private jets to take advantage of its business model by purchasing a minimum of 50 hours over a period of time.  

This model, according to him, saves the client the stress of maintenance in case of outright purchase of the aircraft and the stringent regulatory requirements.

“Our client can buy 50 hours annually for instance. What we do is that we simplify and make access to private aviation services as seamless as possible.

“What makes us different is that our client can fly point to point and we provide much more efficient, consistent product offering.

“Nigeria is a very big aviation market and so we are providing an alternative to aircraft acquisition, a solution where someone can buy 100 hours for instance.”

“We have been in Africa for the past 14 years and we are happy to continue we the services we have been providing in the past years having flown to over 96 countries and over 2,400 airports across the world,” he explained.

Scalabrini further stated “In the last one year its customer traffic has increased by 28 per cent in the African continent and 58 per cent in the west African region,”  

He stated that three Challenger 605 aircraft have been provided in the African region, saying each of the 12-seater jets has eight-hour flying ranger and can do point to point in Africa, adding that the firm has the capacity to provide bigger jets for long haul flight