Air Partner
 | |
| Private | |
| Industry | Aviation |
| Founder | Tony Mack |
| Headquarters |
2 City Place, Beehive Ring Road, Gatwick, West Sussex, RH6 0PA United Kingdom |
Key people | Mark Briffa CEO |
| Website |
www |
Air Partner Plc is an air charter company based in the United Kingdom. They have 21 offices in Europe, North America, the Middle East and Asia,[1] and offer private, commercial and air freight charter flights. The company is publicly listed on the London Stock Exchange as LSE: AIR, and is the only charter aviation company to have held a Royal Warrant by Appointment to Queen Elizabeth II.[2]
Clients include six of the G8 group of governments, the UN, EU, NATO, leading NGOs such as the Red Cross and royal families.
History
Air Partner was launched in 1961 by Tony Mack Snr. Trading as Airways Training, it began as a school for military pilots converting to civilian licences using flight simulators and a fleet of Beagles. It was initially based in the art deco Beehive Terminal, Gatwick’s original terminal with its grass runways, which opened in 1936.[3]
Following the years as a flying school, Air Partner formed an air taxi operation with a fleet of Chieftain, Piper Aztec, 125 and C550 aircraft. At this time the company name was changed to Air London to reflect the change in business focus.
In 1983 Air London decided to move away from the air taxi business and concentrate on aircraft broking. The company remained in the same location and the name was not changed from Air London to Air Partner until the global offices were introduced.
In 2011 the company was voted the best private jet company in Europe by Global Traveler magazine, a monthly, ABC-audited magazine for frequent business and luxury travellers.[4]
Air Partner became a PLC in 1995 when they achieved full listing on the London Stock Exchange.
Affiliations
- Travel agency services are protected under the ATOL scheme; a financial protection that ensures if an ATOL tour operator fails customers will not lose their money or be stranded abroud.
- The company's travel agency has been named British Airways' preferred supplier for group bookings.
- Air Partner is a member of the Energy Industry Council (EIC), a trade association for UK companies supplying goods and services to the energy industries.
- The company is a member of FPAL, which works on behalf of its purchasing members in the oil and gas industries to identify, qualify, evaluate and monitor suppliers.[5]
- Air Partner is a member of IATA for fuel broking service, and the in-house travel agency is IATA approved.
- The company is a member of the Scottish Council for Development and Industry.[6]
- Air Partner is a member of the World Cargo Alliance, an international network of independent international freight forwarders.
- Air Partner is a Wyvern Broker. The Wyvern Standard is a safety standard whose requirements far exceed the regulatory requirements for commercial air charter operations and maintenance.
Chronology
- 1989, Air Partner floated on the Unlisted Securities Market, the forerunner to the Alternative Investment Market (AIM)
- 1994, Overseas expansion begins with the opening of Air Partner France. The sub-charter division is launched.
- 1995, Company achieves full listing on the London Stock Exchange LSE: AIP.
- 1996, Air Partner unveils the CharterPLUS guarantee programme CharterPLUS, it includes $100 million third party liability insurance cover and aircraft failure protection.
- 1997
- Air Partner opens its first US based offices based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
- Air Partner opens its second mainland European office in Cologne, Germany.
- Managing Director David Savile is appointed CEO.
- 1998, Air partner launches a specialist Freight division.
- 1999
- Company name is changed from Air London to Air Partner.
- Air Partner Travel Consultants is launched. The IATA and ATOL bonded agency organises scheduled flights, limousine hire and accommodation.
- 2000, Air Partner enters Switzerland and Austria with offices in Zurich and Vienna, a second US office opens in New York.
- 2001
- 24/7 office-based operations department opens at London Gatwick HQ.
- Emergency Planning is the new name for Rapid Air Support, the corporate pre-planned emergency air evacuation service launched in 2000.
- 2002, Air Partner opens offices in Dubai and a third US office opens in Washington DC.
- 2003, The first Far East Air Partner office opens in Singapore covering the Pacific Rim.
- 2004
- Air Partner opens offices in New Delhi.
- Air Partner Launches the Jet Membership Programme.
- Royal Warrant awarded as Supplier of Aircraft Charter to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
- 2005, Air Partner opens offices in Japan and Italy and opens a West Coast USA office in San Francisco, its fourth in North America.
- 2006
- Air Partner makes a £4.4m purchase of London-based private jet operator and aircraft management and maintenance company Gold Air International. Gold Air ceases to exist as a trading name.
- The JetCard membership scheme is unveiled, superseding the Jet Membership Programme launched in 2004.
- 2007
- Air Partner re-brands, launches a new corporate identity and creates two new internal trading boards - Private Jets and Commercial Jets.
- Air Partner opens offices in Malmő, Sweden, and opens a Benelux operation in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
- Air Partner offers an aviation emission offset service called CarbonNeutral JetCard.
- 2008
- January sees the arrival of a Learjet 40XR into the Air Partner fleet of six managed Learjet 45s, the largest fleet of this type in Europe.
- Air Partner’s Royal Warrant is renewed until Winter 2014.[7]
- Carbon neutral offset options are launched across all flights.
- 2009, Fuel broking division re-selling Jet A-1 kerosene is launched.
- 2010, Air Partner opens an office in Istanbul, Turkey,[8] and establishes a freight partnership in Hong Kong.
References
- ↑ "About The World Class Aviation Charter Company". Airpartner.com. 2004-01-01. Retrieved 2013-11-28.
- ↑ "Royal Warrant Holders Association". Royalwarrant.org. Retrieved 2013-11-28.
- ↑ "Terminals: the last word - News & Advice - Travel". The Independent. 2008-03-22. Retrieved 2013-11-28.
- ↑ Krol, Kimberly (2011-12-01). "Global Traveler Announces 8th Annual Reader Survey Award Winners | Global Traveler". Globaltravelerusa.com. Retrieved 2013-11-28.
- ↑ "Awards & Affiliations Of The Aircraft Charter Company". Air Partner. 2012-09-05. Retrieved 2013-11-28.
- ↑ "Members' Weblinks". SCDI. Retrieved 2013-11-28.
- ↑ "Royal Warrant". Airpartner.com. 2004-01-01. Retrieved 2013-11-28.
- ↑ "Royal Warrant renewed for Air Partner". Airpartner.com. 2011-09-01. Retrieved 2013-11-28.