26 Jan 12 Air Partner opens a dedicated Italian freight operation as strategic expansion continues
Air Partner has opened a specialist cargo department at its Milan office in Italy as part of its strategic expansion plan to develop its worldwide freight charter services.
This comes a year after the aircraft broker’s launch of a dedicated freight department within its US operation and two years after the opening of Air Partner Freight in Turkey.
The Air Partner group now has specialist freight teams in nine of its 21 worldwide locations based at the company’s UK HQ and in France, Germany, Japan, Dubai, Hong Kong, Turkey, the US and now Italy.
“We are confident this was the right time to add a permanent local freight presence in Italy, despite the current economic uncertainty in Europe,” said Regional Freight Manager Mike Hill. “In addition to our well-established passenger charter services, our transient Italian freight business has been growing at a healthy rate for many years.
“Air Partner’s ability to provide local expert knowledge 24/7 is a key factor when clients choose to appoint us as their partner for bespoke aviation charter requirements. Additionally, the recent European launch of our Time Critical product and its tailormade real-time RedTrack door-to-door freight tracking system allows us to offer this new service to Italian clients, including those in the automotive and aerospace logistic sectors.”
The company’s newly-appointed Milan-based freight manager is aviation specialist Domenico Di Roberto. Throughout his career he has held senior sales and commercial director positions at Air Mauritius, Turkish airlines, TWA, Pescara Airport, Italy’s Baltour travel group, and Skylink Aviation.
“Air Partner has been trading for 50 years and over the last 14 the company has established an international reputation a ‘go now’ specialist able to meet every request, even those involving flights into remote areas and outsize loads,” he said. “The company continues to evolve and I am looking forward to the challenge of developing relationships within the diverse Italian freight sector.”
In the financial year to 31 July 2011, Air Partner Freight’s client numbers in the industrial and commercial sector increased by 19 per cent.
About Air Partner
Air Partner has been trading for 50 years and is a world leading provider of aviation charter services to industry, commerce, governments and individuals worldwide. The Group is globally recognised as a leading charter broker and organises ad hoc aircraft charters of every type for any reason. Its three main divisions comprise Air Partner Freight, Air Partner Commercial Jets and Air Partner Private Jets. The Commercial Jets division charters large airliners to move groups of any size. Private Jets offers the company’s pre-paid JetCard scheme and on-demand charter. With its headquarters alongside Gatwick airport in the UK, Air Partner operates 24/7 year-round and employs 225 aviation professionals across its 21 offices in key business centres globally. Air Partner is fully listed on the London Stock Exchange and is the only company in the aviation industry to hold a Royal Warrant, a globally recognised mark of excellence.
About Air Partner Freight
Air Partner Freight charters aircraft of every size to fly cargo anywhere, at any time, whatever its weight, size or shape. Serving governments, leading industrial shippers and relief and humanitarian organisations, the freight team provides bespoke air charter solutions to meet a wide range of cargo charter needs. From urgent ‘go now’ requirements moving small quantities of automotive spare parts between plants through to the most complex project cargo shipments taking several months to plan, Air Partner Freight has the skills, experience and expertise to ensure shipments are handled securely and reliably. London Gatwick-based Air Partner Freight’s cargo specialists in the UK, USA, Dubai, Germany France, Turkey, Italy, Hong Kong and Japan provide strength of knowledge by utilising regional carriers for tailored charter services.
For more information please visit:
http://www.airpartner.com/freight/
http://www.airpartnertimecritical.com/
16 Dec 11 Air Partner Time Critical extends into Europe
Air Partner has extended its Time Critical door-to-door time-definite worldwide freight service – which incorporates its unique RED-TRACK real-time delivery tracking system – to clients based in mainland Europe.
In addition to the UK where it was unveiled six months ago, Time Critical can now be booked through Air Partner’s Cologne office where a specialist team has been established to cope with demand from clients in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Central and Eastern Europe, and Italy.
Air Partner Time Critical is tailored to each client’s urgent requirements by using aircraft charter, scheduled airfreight, dedicated express road transport and/or onboard couriers (or an appropriate combination). The bespoke RED-TRACK software provides real-time supply chain and in-transit visibility of a shipment’s progress via live monitoring from pick-up to delivery. Clients can securely monitor their cargo’s progress and status online minute-by-minute via any web device and can request that simultaneous alerts are transmitted to multiple contacts.
Time Critical is a specific service within Air Partner’s Freight division and was established in response to increasing demand from Air Partner clients, including freight forwarders and logistics companies, requesting door-to-door assistance to move urgent goods. Prior to its launch, sales director Rob Moore spent a year establishing a comprehensive global supplier base to ensure that every possible request can be met and every eventuality handled worldwide.
Director Richard Smith explained: “For more than a decade, Air Partner Freight has primarily focussed on providing bespoke ‘go now’ air charter services to move urgent and outsize cargo, often into some of the world’s remotest areas. However, as a result of an increasing number of requests for door-to-door solutions and our success in this area – for clients in the automotive, energy, pharmaceutical, aviation and Formula 1 industries – it made perfect sense to expand this area of our business into a specific specialist service. Time Critical is a natural offshoot of the Freight department with the added value of the RED-TRACK system.”
Regional freight manager Mike Hill added: “Time Critical is aimed at clients seeking to work with a company that provides worldwide 24/7 door-to-door services to precise deadlines; supplies fast, fully-inclusive cost-effective quotations; and has invested in developing a unique user-friendly tracking system which gives them comprehensive information at their fingertips.” He is leading a team, which includes the newly-recruited time critical specialist Tobias Riener, previously from a logistics company specialising in this field, and Domenico Di Roberto who is based in Milan where an Air Partner freight operation is being established.
When speed and security are crucial, aircraft charter is usually a client’s preferred choice of delivery transport using anything from helicopters and light jets to large freight aircraft. When appropriate, scheduled air freight services are offered for worldwide shipments. Alternatively, if a shipment is suitable, a fast and economical method of transport could involve couriers accompanying cargo being moved on scheduled services as hand luggage or in the hold.
The Time Critical service capitalises on the strength and secure financial stature of the Air Partner brand, its status as a listed company on the London Stock Exchange, the company’s 50 years of trading, its global network of 21 offices, and its Royal Warrant from HM Queen Elizabeth II.
Air Partner Time Critical is currently recruiting. In-depth information can be found on the Time Critical website at www.airpartnertimecritical.com.
About Air Partner Freight
Air Partner Freight charters aircraft of every size to fly cargo anywhere, at any time, whatever its weight, size or shape. Serving governments, leading industrial shippers and relief and humanitarian organisations, the freight team provides bespoke air charter solutions to meet a wide range of cargo charter needs. From urgent ‘go now’ requirements moving small quantities of automotive spare parts between plants through to the most complex project cargo shipments taking several months to plan, Air Partner Freight has the skills, experience and expertise to ensure shipments are handled securely and reliably. London Gatwick-based Air Partner Freight’s cargo specialists in the UK, USA, Dubai, Germany France, Turkey, Hong Kong and Japan provide strength of knowledge by utilising regional carriers for tailored charter services.
About Air Partner
Air Partner has been trading for 50 years and is a world leading provider of aviation charter services to industry, commerce, governments and individuals worldwide. The Group is globally recognised as a leading charter broker and organises ad hoc aircraft charters of every type for any reason. Its three main division comprise Air Partner Freight, Air Partner Commercial Jets and Air Partner Private Jets. The Commercial Jets division charters large airliners to move groups of any size. Private Jets offers the company’s pre-paid JetCard scheme and on-demand charter. With its headquarters alongside Gatwick airport in the UK, Air Partner operates 24/7 year-round and employs 225 aviation professionals across its 21 offices spanning Europe, North America, the Far East and Middle East. Air Partner is the only company in the aviation industry to hold a Royal Warrant, a globally recognised mark of excellence.
16 Dec 11 Air Partner wins ‘Best Private Jet Company in Europe’ award
Royal Warrant holder Air Partner has become the first winner of Global Traveler’s ‘Best Private Jet Company in Europe’ award following the magazine’s decision to add the category to its 2011 annual Tested Reader Survey.
Simon Wheatley, UK Manager for Air Partner Private Jet, said “We are delighted to have won this new award. We work very hard to provide the best quality service, investing in client relationships for the long term. This award is testament to the quality of the Air Partner product.”
The survey was conducted during the first eight months of this year with more than 36,000 frequent business and luxury travellers voting for airlines, hotels, loyalty programmes and travel-related products in 66 categories.
Over the past eight years, Global Traveler says consistent, unbiased reporting has made its survey one of the most highly regarded in the industry. The business travel and lifestyle publication has a circulation of 107,140+ with readers spending an average 80 nights a year away on foreign travel and 40 nights on domestic travel.
About Air Partner
Air Partner has earned global recognition as a leading aircraft charter broker and organises ad hoc charters of aircraft of every size for any reason. Its core divisions comprise Air Partner Private Jets, Air Partner Commercial Jets and Air Partner Freight. Air Partner private jet offers on-demand charter and the company’s unique pre-paid JetCard scheme. The Commercial Jets division charters airliners with 20 to 500 seats to move groups of every size. Air Partner Freight charters aircraft of every size to fly any cargo anywhere, at any time. Air Partner plc organises around 18,000 charter flights annually, operates 24/7, has 21 offices globally and is fully listed on the London Stock Exchange. The company also holds a Royal Warrant from HM Queen Elizabeth II.
12 Jul 11 Air Partner moves its HQ even nearer to Gatwick Airport
Air Partner plc, a world leading provider of private aviation services, is relocating its UK headquarters this weekend to larger modern offices alongside London Gatwick Airport.
“Coinciding as it does with our 50th birthday, we are very excited about this relocation,” said Mark Briffa, Air Partner CEO. “It gives us a much more contemporary home, befitting our image and brand as a leading aviation company, a Royal Warrant holder and a plc that is fully listed on the London Stock Exchange. And as we expand our portfolio of products and services, it also gives us the advantage of having more room for the established international in-house training academy we operate for the Group’s 200-stong team.”
From next Monday (July 18) Air Partner’s head office location will be:
Air Partner plc
2 City Place
Beehive Ring Road
Gatwick
West Sussex
RH6 0PA
All telephone and fax numbers, plus email addresses, will remain unchanged.
City Place is opposite The Beehive, Gatwick’s original terminal building, where Air Partner began trading and has been located within 1km ever since. From humble beginnings in 1961, the company has grown into one of the largest air charter organisers in the world. Serving governments, industry, commerce and individuals, its range of expertise covers commercial airliner and private jet ad hoc charter, freight charter, emergency evacuation planning, 24-hour operations and fuel reselling. The company also operates its own JetCard membership scheme, has an in-house travel agency and a 24-hour operations division
About Air Partner
Air Partner is a world-class provider of aviation services to industry, commerce, governments and individuals worldwide. The Group is globally recognised as a leading charter broker and organises ad hoc aircraft charters of every type for any reason. Its three main division comprise Air Partner Freight, Air Partner Commercial Jets and Air Partner Private Jets. The Commercial Jets division charters large airliners to move groups of any size. Private Jets offers the company’s pre-paid JetCard scheme and on-demand charter. With its headquarters in the UK, Air Partner operates 24/7 year-round and employs 225 aviation professionals across its 20 offices spanning Europe, North America, the Far East and Middle East. Air Partner is the only company in the aviation industry to hold a Royal Warrant, a globally recognised mark of excellence.
For more information visit:
http://www.airpartner.com
http://www.airpartner.com/why-air-partner/office-locations
Tags: Air Charter, cargo aircraft charter, commercial jet charter, europe, international, Private Jet, UK, worldwide
01 Jul 11 Air Partner flies more rare birds
Air Partner has once again flown white-tailed sea eagle chicks from Norway to Scotland as part of a major reintroduction project.
The 16 eaglets arrived in Edinburgh on a chartered Metroliner and are now in secret aviaries. Air Partner’s freight team ensured the cabin temperature was maintained at14°C for the two hour flight from Alesund.
Now in its fifth year, the reintroduction programme is a partnership between RSPB Scotland, Scottish Natural Heritage and Forestry Commission Scotland. Affectionately known as ‘flying barn doors’ due to their eight foot wing span, white-tailed eagles became extinct in the UK in the early 19th century. The initiative aims to return the species to its former range in Scotland.
This latest arrival of sea eagles, gifted to Scotland from Norway, received an official welcome last Friday (June 24) from Stewart Stevenson, the Scottish Government’s Minister for Environment and Climate Change, and Norwegian Consul Mona Røhne.
Lindon Cooper, an Air Partner freight analyst, commented: “Air Partner frequently moves animals and birds, and flying sea eagle chicks is repeat business for us. It is an honour to fly such precious live cargo. The flight went smoothly and the eaglets had the shortest and most comfortable transfer possible. We look forward to the day when they will take to the skies using their own power.”
About Air Partner Freight
Air Partner Freight charters aircraft of every size to fly cargo anywhere, at any time, whatever its weight, size or shape. Serving governments, leading industrial shippers and relief and humanitarian organisations, the freight team provides bespoke air charter solutions to meet a wide range of cargo charter needs. From urgent ‘go now’ requirements moving small quantities of automotive spare parts between plants through to the most complex project cargo shipments taking several months to plan, Air Partner Freight has the skills, experience and expertise to ensure shipments are handled securely and reliably.
About Air Partner
Air Partner is a world-class provider of aviation services to industry, commerce, governments and individuals worldwide. The Group is globally recognised as a leading charter broker and organises ad hoc aircraft charters of every type for any reason. Its three main division comprise Air Partner Freight, Air Partner Commercial Jets and Air Partner Private Jets. The Commercial Jets division charters large airliners to move groups of any size. Private Jets offers the company’s pre-paid JetCard scheme and on-demand charter. With its headquarters in the UK, Air Partner operates 24/7 year-round and employs 225 aviation professionals across its 20 offices spanning Europe, North America, the Far East and Middle East. Air Partner is the only company in the aviation industry to hold a Royal Warrant, a globally recognised mark of excellence.
For more information visit:
http://www.airpartner.com
http://www.airpartner.com/freight/
Tags: air cargo, air cargo charter, air cargo freight, Air Partner Freight, eaglets
10 May 11 Air Partner enjoys multi-celebrations at ACE
Air Partner, which celebrates its 50th anniversary next month, has sent a 12-strong delegation to this year’s Air Cargo Europe exhibition and conference where it is showcasing the company’s new eye-catching freight stand. The three day event in Munich, Germany, started today (May 10).
The new trade display features an image of the world’s only Antonov 225 operated by Ukrainian airline Antonov Airlines. It is pictured being loaded with 145 tonnes of humanitarian aid and relief equipment when the company chartered the giant jet for a mission to Japan following the devastating earthquake and tsunami in March.
In recent months, Air Partner Freight has expanded its teams in the UK, USA, UAE and Germany. New members being introduced to the industry during ACE are Emily Brient and Mark Turner from the UK and Stefanie Müller from Germany. Buyers and suppliers are invited to meet the team and enjoy a celebratory drink at the Air Partner stand 421 in Hall A4.
“Air Partner Freight has had a remarkable start to 2011,” said Richard Smith, Group Freight Director. “Our Turkish operation celebrated its first anniversary in February with sales that exceeded expectations and our expansion in key geographic markets continues. Additionally, organising charter flights to carry a wide range of supplies to areas around the world affected by natural disasters and political unrest continues to keep us busy 24/7.”
Currently, Air Partner has freight teams in seven worldwide locations: UK, Germany, France, Turkey, the USA, Japan, Hong Kong and the UAE. Expansion into new markets, including India and China, is planned.
ACE runs alongside the Transport Logistics event from May 10-13. They make up the biggest exhibition of logistics companies in the world and take place once every two years.
About Air Partner Freight
Air Partner Freight charters aircraft of every size to fly cargo anywhere, at any time, whatever its weight, size or shape. Serving governments, leading industrial shippers and relief and humanitarian organisations, the freight team provides bespoke air charter solutions to meet a wide range of cargo charter needs. From urgent ‘go now’ requirements moving small quantities of automotive spare parts between plants through to the most complex project cargo shipments taking several months to plan, Air Partner Freight has the skills, experience and expertise to ensure shipments are handled securely and reliably.
About Air Partner
Air Partner is a world-class provider of aviation services to industry, commerce, governments and individuals worldwide. The Group is globally recognised as a leading charter broker and organises ad hoc aircraft charters of every type for any reason. Its three main division comprise Air Partner Freight, Air Partner Commercial Jets and Air Partner Private Jets. The Commercial Jets division charters large airliners to move groups of any size. Private Jets offers the company’s pre-paid JetCard scheme and on-demand charter. With its headquarters in the UK, Air Partner operates 24/7 year-round and employs 225 aviation professionals across its 20 offices spanning Europe, North America, the Far East and Middle East. Air Partner is the only company in the aviation industry to hold a Royal Warrant, a globally recognised mark of excellence.
For more information visit:
http://www.airpartner.com
http://www.airpartner.com/freight
http://www.airpartner.com/freight/relief-and-humanitarian-aid/
Tags: Air Partner, Air Partner Freight, humanitarian aid, relief flights
28 Mar 11 Air Partner charters the giant Antonov 225 to fly aid to Japan
Air Partner is flying a further 145 tonnes of humanitarian aid and specialist relief equipment into Japan on the only Antonov 225 in service worldwide. The giant freight aircraft, the largest in the world, was chartered by the company’s France-based freight team and departed for Tokyo Narita Airport late yesterday (Tuesday March 22) from Châteauroux Airport south of Paris.
The Air Partner Emergency Planning team members spent the weekend finalising the logistics following confirmation of the flight last Friday, and were on-site during loading to ensure a smooth and timely operation. The aircraft is carrying varied cargo including water, masks, protective suits, blankets, food, respirators and anti-radiation medication. Additionally, the load comprises a range of specialist equipment for relief teams such as pumps, compressors, generators, dosimeters (which measure an individual’s exposure to radiation), and radiometers (to measure the power of electromagnetic radiation).
The AN225 has been chartered by Air Partner in the past for other major outsize air cargo contracts. For example, the company used the aircraft to fly helicopters from Toulouse to an event in Kuala Lumpur and to move a 14-carriage exhibition train from Hawaii to the USA for a German engineering company.
Richard Smith, Air Partner’s Freight Director, said: “It was very satisfying to secure use of the AN225 once again. The aircraft was ideal for the task as it allowed us to move the entire payload in one airlift which was commercially beneficial for the client. Following the earthquake and tsunami on March 11, Air Partner has been involved in assisting the Japanese relief effort from the outset. We flew one of the first relief flights and medical support teams into the region, as well as their equipment, and this latest relief flight is part of our on-going operations on behalf of governments, corporate companies and international charities.”
The AN225 is a rare sight. Originally designed to support Russia’s space programme, it can carry 250 tonnes of cargo, has a 290ft wingspan and is almost 50 per cent longer than a Boeing 747.
In the last few weeks Air Partner has now moved:
• More than 12,000 people
• 445 tonnes of aid and relief kit
• From or into Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, New Zealand and Japan
Air Partner
London Gatwick-based Air Partner is a world-class provider of aviation services to industry, commerce, governments and individuals worldwide. The company has earned global recognition as a leading aircraft charter broker and organises ad hoc charters of aircraft of every size for any reason. Its three main divisions, supported by a host of support teams, comprise Air Partner Freight, Air Partner Private Jets and Air Partner Commercial Jets. Air Partner Private Jets offers ad-hoc charter and the company’s unique pre-paid JetCard scheme. Air Partner Freight charters aircraft of every size to fly any cargo anywhere, at any time. The Commercial Jets division charters large airliners with 20 to 500 seats for groups of every size. With its headquarters in the UK, Air Partner has 20 offices spanning Europe, Asia, the Middle East and North America and operates a 24/7 year-round Flight Support centre from its London Gatwick base. The Group was formed in 1961 and is fully listed on the London Stock Exchange.
For more information visit:
http://www.airpartner.com
07 Dec 10 Air Partner to conduct multi-lingual business at TIACA
Air Partner Freight will have an international multi-lingual presence at this week’s TIACA Air Cargo Forum in Amsterdam.
Freight specialists from its offices in the UK, France, Germany and Turkey are attending the three day event to reinforce the message that airlines and other aviation industry suppliers are just as important to the company as its clients.
Richard Smith, Air Partner’s Director of Group Freight, will join his team on Stand 419 in Hall 10 where visitors will be introduced to the new London Gatwick-based trainee freight analyst Mark Turner.
Clive Chalmers, who was appointed UK Freight Manager in September on completion of an intensive two-year cross-division management training scheme, said: “This year our International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) team is tasked with reinforcing the confidence suppliers have in our bespoke, speedy and cost-effective services. The relationships Air Partner has with its suppliers and customers are of equal importance. Our TIACA delegation is looking forward to fostering those supplier relationships and to building new contacts across the industry worldwide.”
Despite the global economic downturn, Air Partner’s Air Freight division has seen significant growth in market share for cargo aircraft charter. Sales for the 12 months to July this year rose 178 per cent to £55.7million compared to the same period in 2009. New freight offices opened in Hong Kong and Turkey while further expansion into new territories is planned. And, against fierce competition, the company has just won a four-year tender to be the sole provider of freight air charter services for the UK Government’s Department for International Development (DFID).
The three day TIACA Air Cargo Forum starts tomorrow (November 2).
About Air Partner
Air Partner plc is a world-class provider of air cargo charter, among other, services to industry, commerce, governments and individuals worldwide. The company has earned global recognition as a leading aircraft charter supplier and organises ad hoc charters of aircraft of every size for any reason. Air Partner is the only company in the aviation industry to hold a Royal Warrant (as Supplier of Aircraft Charter to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II) a globally recognised mark of excellence.
Further information can be found at http://www.airpartner.com
Tags: air cargo, Air freight, aircraft charter
10 Aug 10 Air Partner Freight flies emergency aid to flood-stricken Pakistan
Air Partner arranged the dispatch of an Airbus A300 Freighter last Friday (6 August) carrying 32 tons of emergency aid supplies to flood-stricken Pakistan.
The charter flight departed within 48 hours of quote confirmation taking off from Brindisi in Italy, to Islamabad, Pakistan, loaded with generators, water purification units, water tanks, plastic sheeting, latrines, jerry cans and high energy biscuits. It touched down in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Air Partner’s Nigel Nicholas from the Group’s UK Air Freight team arranged the flight for an international relief agency. “We immediately searched for suitable aircraft availability from a carrier that has accreditation to operate into Italy”, he said. “Air Partner is highly experienced at sourcing solutions to meet urgent aviation demands in the event of crises worldwide and we hope this emergency response flight brings some relief to the millions of people currently suffering from the disastrous monsoon flooding.”
With 20 offices around the world and a specialist international air freight division Air Partner has considerable expertise arranging repatriation and relief flights in times of disaster and recently provided a series of humanitarian flights to Haiti following the country’s devastating earthquake. Now in its 49th year of operation, the company is a trusted partner working with leading non-government agencies globally.
Air Partner has played a vital role assisting victims in every kind of natural and man-made disaster arranging flights to Sudan, Chad, Pakistan, Indonesia, Ethiopia and Afghanistan. Its operational planning skills and the expertise of its staff ensure’s that Air Partner can arrange flexible rapid deployments into difficult and hostile areas.
