Global business jet operator VistaJet, which came into being some nine years ago, regards Africa as one of the regions of the world in which there are great growth opportunities for its business. The global business aviation sector is significantly unbalanced. For example, there are 10 400 business jets in the US, 2 200 in Western Europe but only 120 in India and even fewer – 110 – in China.

VistaJet describes itself as “the world’s luxury aviation company” and has three categories of customers – major corporations, governments and high net worth individuals. It targets clients who need to fly between 51 hours and 550 hours a year. Anyone who flies less than 50 hours would charter aircraft, while anyone who flies more than 550 hours would buy an aircraft. The company also supplies supplemental flying services to customers who have their own aircraft.

VistaJet started operations in Africa, in Nigeria. “In 2012 alone, we had more than 900 take-offs in Nigeria,” reports company founder and chairperson Thomas Flohr. The great reception the company received in that country encouraged it to spread its operations to other parts of West Africa. Last year, the company’s jets flew to 136 different African airports. It is now expanding its operations into the rest of the continent. As a consequence, it is now operating to and from South Africa. “We have a few South African companies as clients,” he says. “These companies came to us and asked us to come to South Africa.”

Clients buy flying hours off VistaJet and the company guarantees than an aircraft will be available in 24 hours of the requirement being made. Positioning flights are not included in the customer’s flying hours allocation. A uniform luxury standard of service is also guaranteed. In South Africa, the ground handling for VistaJet is provided by ExecuJet at Lanseria International Airport.

Worldwide, the company carried out more than 10 000 international point-to-point flights last year, carrying 25 000 passengers. VistaJet currently operates more than 35 long-range business jets. All are manufac- tured by Bombardier in Canada. The operator will take delivery of at least six Global 6000 aircraft this year. In addition, VistaJet recently placed a $7.8-billion order for 56 new Global series long-range business aircraft from the Canadian manufacturer, with options on 86 more. This is the biggest single order in the history of business aviation. The Global series – the latest versions of the Global Express – have the widest cabin in their category, a feature which is much appreciated by VistaJet’s customers.

The company recently exhibited its latest aircraft, a brand-new Bombardier Global 6000, at Lanseria, which is north west of Johannesburg and south west of Pretoria. “VistaJet only flies new aircraft – aircraft under five years of age,” Flohr told a press conference at the airport. This is because manufacturers’ guarantees cover the first five years of an aircraft’s life. The policy of VistaJet is to sell its aircraft before the manufacturer’s guarantee expires. “We only deploy brand new aircraft to Africa.” New aircraft are also maintained through the manufacturer.

VistaJet is domiciled in Switzerland and its aircraft – except those operating in Russia – are registered in Austria or Malta. The aircraft operating in Russia are regis- tered in that country. The company is also seeking to register aircraft in China. The company does not, however, have a home operations base, its aircraft moving around the world as required. Maintenance is under- taken at Bombardier facilities around the globe. In South Africa, when an aircraft needs maintenance, it will be provided through ExecuJet, which is the local representative of Bombardier. Similarly, VistaJet staff are recruited from around the world. They work a duty cycle of 17 days on, 13 days off, and generally have no advance knowledge of where they will be flying.