VIP Charter company, Comlux Aviation (a division of Comlux The Aviation Group), has ordered two ultra long-range Global Express XRS jets, which will result in a fleet of nine Bombardier business jets. Vicky Karantzavelou, of Travel Daily News, reports that Comlux’s Bombardier fleet comprises two Challenger 605, two Challenger 850, two Global Express, and one Global 5000.

Ettore Rodaro, head of Comlux Aviation, says:

“These new aircraft are part of our strategic development plan to become the leading long-haul charter services provider in Europe, Central Asia and the Middle East, and will be a complement to our Airbus corporate jet fleet.”

The Bombardier site describes the Global Express XRS as:

“Ready to fly with only 30 minutes warning, no other intercontinental business aircraft takes you faster, farther than the Bombardier Global Express XRS. Flying at altitudes of up to 51,000 ft (15,545 m), this high performance aircraft has exceptional range, carrying eight passengers and a crew of four 5,450 nautical miles nonstop at Mach 0.87, 6,150 nautical miles nonstop at Mach 0.85 and 6,500 nautical miles nonstop at Mach 0.82 — bridging Tokyo and New York, or Moscow and Los Angeles, nonstop. Superb, short-field capabilities allow access to the most challenging airfields, saving valuable executive hours and getting you even closer to your destination.”

NetJets is adding to its fleet of large-cabin Gulfstreams with the addition of four Gulfstream G450s and four Gulfstream G550s to be delivered each year from 2012 through 2016, as reported by Perspective Magazine.

Richard T. Santullis, chairman and CE of NetJets Inc. said:

“…These aircraft offer NetJets Owners premiere large-cabin amenities and the flexibility of intercontinental range. Gulfstream products provide our pilots and flight attendants with the best in next-generation technology and their service teams ensure we meet the high standards of performance and reliability NetJets Owners expect.”

The article goes on to state:

“NetJets has over 90% of the long-range cabin fractional market and is the largest operator of Gulfstream aircraft in the world. As of June 2008, NetJets’ worldwide Gulfstream fleet totals 110 and is comprised of 21 Gulfstream G550/V, 55 Gulfstream G450/400/IV-SP and 34 Gulfstream G200s.”

Of course I posted yesterday about a much more opulent flight option, but if you’re looking to spend only half as much—right around $30,000 per trip—then you should probably follow Francis Smookler’s lead with chartered flights from Halcyon Jets.

According to Forbes:

That’s Francis L. Smookler’s plan. He’s going to spend his bonus crossing the globe in a chartered Lear 45 from Halcyon Jets.

He travels for business every two weeks, and on a Halcyon charter flight, he gets the benefits of traveling solo– privacy and a fully catered, fully staffed aircraft–without having to maintain a personal jet.

Of course, if you’ve already got your own jet, there are plenty of other ideas in the article.

Executive charter companies in the Middle East are adding new equipment, new markets, and related business opportunities such as FBOs and maintenance services. An article at AINonline by Charles Alcock provides details about two companies who operate in this lucrative market, including Bexair:

“…each of the aircraft currently operated averages up to 1,200 flight hours per year in the fast-growing Arabian Gulf market for business and private charter. The growth in Bexair’s charter business has been driven entirely by demand by private individuals and local and international businesses. The company does not do any flying for the region’s wealthy royal families, and Alam [Bexair chief of marketing and strategy, Faisal Alam] said this is entirely consistent with how the Middle East charter market is diversifying in terms of customer base.”

According to AME Info, Abu Dhabi-based Royal Jet is planning a major expansion to take place over the next 5 years. The expansion is “aimed at achieving turnover of $500m by 2012″ and increasing the size of the fleet to more than 20 airplanes. Royal Jet already operates the world’s largest Boeing Business Jet fleet.

The article also includes information on an industry report commissioned by Royal Jet. For the Middle Eastern region, the report indicates a compound annual growth rate of aircraft movement and fleet size of 40%, and a 23% annual growth rate for the charter market. The report goes on to detail:

“…the double-digit CAGR in regional aircraft movements are Abu Dhabi at 46% and Dubai at 38% recorded between 2003 and 2007; Jeddah at 18%, Riyadh with 12% and Damman with 10% in the three-year period 2004-2006; Amman with 37% from 2000 to 2005; Bahrain at 25% from 2002-2004; and Sharm-El-Sheikh at 11% from 2002-2005.”

“The region’s charter fleet is broken down by aircraft size into 40% devoted to the light and mid-sized range; 29% for the super mid-size, heavy and regional range; 27% to VIP airlines and 4% to ultra, long-range airliners.”

TAG Aviation Holding Ltd. will pay the FAA $10 million to resolve the FAA investigation that led to the revocation of AMI Jet Charter’s operating certificate (TAG owns 49% of AMI). TAG has admitted no wrongdoing, but the FAA has agreed not to block any possible ownership transfer of TAG’s U.S. subsidiary, TAG Aviation USA (the company is in current negotiations with Sentient).

Now comes word that Tag Aviation has sold their U.S.-based aircraft management unit to U.S.-based Sentient Flight Group LLC. According to a press release (via AVWeb), the sale will allow AMI Jet Charter to resume operations (after operations were suspended by the FAA).

The president of the National Air Transportation Association (NATA), James Coyne, sent a letter to NATA members on October 15, according to AVWeb. In the letter, Coyne expressed anger at the FAA’s “shocking” action, and said the decision to suspend operations at AMI Jet Charter was “driven more by arrogance and a failure to understand how Part 135 is different from Part 121″, than by any concerns about safety. I blogged about the FAA’s action in an earlier post.

You can read the appeal and more from AMI on the NATA web site (membership required).

AVWeb goes on to say:

“National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) President and CEO Ed Bolen said the FAA action should be viewed as a wake-up call to all charter providers. ‘This significant action was taken against a company that is among the most highly regarded charter providers in the country,’ Bolen said. ‘NBAA urges the charter members within our association to take note of the FAA’s recent action and ensure that their operational control practices are in order.’

The last month has proven to be a tough one for a couple of private jet companies. First, Aspen Executive Air (doing business as Aexjet) filed for bankruptcy protection, according to Chris Walsh of the Rocky Mountain News. Aexjet sells jet memberships, and also provides maintenance and other operations for owners of private jets.

“Officials said the filing allows Aexjet to continue day-to-day operations and renegotiate lease agreements as it prepares to merge with a similar company.”

Then earlier this month, FAA regulators suspended the operating certificate of AMI Jet Charter Inc as part of an effort to scrutinize aircraft charter companies.

Andy Pasztor, of The Wall Street Journal (subscription required), writes that the FAA’s

“…emergency action takes about a tenth of top-of-the-line Gulfstream, Falcon and other large corporate jets off the charter market int eh U.S., at least temporarily.”

Tag Aviation owns 49% of AMI, which is appealing the suspension. AMI is the “highest-profile firm targeted so far”, and company officials say they have “taken every required step” to comply with regulations and that AMI has a clean record.

FAA officials contend AMI violated federal rules by allowing Tag Aviation’s U.S. unit to operate the chartered jets on its own; in addition, the FAA said mandatory maintenance was not completed and the pilots did not have adequate rest time.

The FAA is continuing to evaluate other charter operations.

According to Pasztor’s article:

“…owners of expensive business jets leave it to a maze of agents and brokers to arrange and operate charters when the planes otherwise would sit idle. This is the case with Tag Aviation’s U.S. unit, which directly manages 100 aircraft, primarily owned by large companies or celebrities, and also arranges charters for many of the same planes. Now, as long as the suspension remains in effect, those planes can’t be chartered through AMI.”

Kent S. Jackson has just posted a PDF that details how the FAA is scrutinizing operations that offer seats on empty leg flights. At the heart of it is the risk of being categorized as a “scheduled” operation versus an “on-demand” operation. Scheduled flights are to be categorized under FAR Part 121.