Swiss PrivatAir has completed a restructuring plan and introduced a new centre of operations in Portugal to add to its other locations in Geneva and Düsseldorf. It is now focusing on scheduled contract work. “Nowadays we are not only dealing with typical VIP ops, but we have also engaged with tour operators for the summer season,” explains senior VP of business aviation Pedro Caneira.

“We made a deal with TUI Netherlands which is due to start in April using a Boeing 767. Our project in Saudi Arabia with two A319s is also well underway; we have been performing VIP scheduled flights in partnership with Saudia Airlines and Saudia Private Aviation. Although they are not in fact ACJs, they have a close resemblance because they have all business class lie-flat seats. We carry out daily flights from Riyadh to Jeddah, branded as Albayraq in full Saudi colours, with the flag on the fuselage.

“We continue flying VIP cruises for tour operators Hapag-Lloyd and Weltreisen out of Germany. We are still the preferred partner for them due to our high service standards. Hapag-Lloyd has the cruise ships but its VIP air cruises are sub-contracted from us.”

The operator manages a Falcon 2000 and has recently taken on an Embraer Lineage. “Both are available for charter but are difficult to charter; we just send them from A to B when the client wants,” Caneira adds.

“We are more interested in VIP airliners, and the flights we do for Lufthansa and for SAS use VIP-configured Boeing 737s. We maintain the highest levels of service onboard; it's what we do best and we are in business to uphold our reputation and deliver premium service. Flying for Lufthansa is always a big source of pride for us, and is a reference for anybody in the market.”