Having already added three Hawker 800s to its fleet of managed aeroplanes this year, Elbe Air will take delivery of a fourth aircraft in June. Three of the aircraft will be operated for ad hoc charter missions as well as private flights for the owners, whereas the fourth will be operated privately.

Some of the Hawkers will be based at Paderborn-Lippstadt Airport; the other aircraft will join the company’s duo of Falcon 20s in Russia. Elbe Air also owns the only Falcon freighter currently operating in Europe.\r

According to recently-appointed marketing and charter sales manager Holger Ostheimer, the Falcons have proven very popular in the 10- to 12-seat segment for charter flights, and he anticipates that the Hawkers will be equally as popular.

“We’re looking at a base of 500 hours per year and we’ll be flying to all of the main executive destinations in Europe,” he said. “Once you begin to streamline your operation, it makes a lot of sense to concentrate on one aircraft type to keep the costs at a reasonable level.”

For the upcoming football World Cup 2006 in Germany, Elbe Air will be offering handling assistance at Paderborn-Lippstadt Airport. “PAD is a perfect alternative to operate business jets to for a number of different World Cup venues. Dortmund is the nearest airport for some of the events at Schalke and the Dortmund Stadium, for example, but we are only about 45 minutes away, are easily accessible and we can operate 24 hours if necessary.

“Obviously the sole handling agent at Paderborn is the airport itself, but because of our experience in the executive market and base at Paderborn, we have liaised with them to offer supervision and organisational help.”

Ostheimer joined Elbe Air in January, having previously worked for air charter broker Chapman Freeborn. “It offered me a new perspective, joining the executive market, and also the ability to combine my corporate work with some flying,” he said.

In line with its fleet expansion programme, the company is currently seeking potential customers who are looking for a partner to manage their aircraft.