June 21 - Air Partner plc, a world leading provider of private aviation services, celebrates its 50th anniversary this month.
From humble beginnings in 1961 when it started out as an air training school, Air Partner (formerly Air London) now has group sales of over GBP200 million (USD323.6 million), a strong international client base and operates from 20 offices worldwide.
As it approaches its sixth decade, it says it is mapping out further expansion plans which will see it grow its existing global office network, looking to move into new emerging markets - such as China and South America. It also plans to extend its existing product offering across its 20 offices and increase its presence in higher growth markets like Russia. A
"We respect our competition. We may be one of the biggest charter companies in the world today, but we cannot be complacent," CEO Mark Briffa (pictured below) says. "While service and prestige have always been important, price is also a key influence in our business as buyers have become more educated
and more sophisticated in their use of private aviation."
Coinciding with its 50th birthday, Air Partner is moving its UK headquarters to larger premises at City Place alongsideLondon Gatwick Airport next month (July). The new address provides Air Partner with 2,000 sq ft (185.8 sq m) of additional space enabling the company to have a dedicated area for its in-house training facility.
