Reason for charter: Car launch programme
From the Agila to the Zafira, the Audi A4 to the Jaguar XJ, from the Golf to the Panda: all feature in Air Partner’s extensive A–Z car launch portfolio. The company has played a significant role in the successful launch of dozens of vehicles over the last 20 years and has worked for 30 leading car manufacturers. In the first three years of the new millennium alone, the UK, French, Swiss, Austrian and German offices organised an average of 1,000 flights a year – 187 of them in one month alone – to fly 8,600 dealer principals, customer-facing staff, corporate clients and journalists. Car programmes vary in size from just two flights up to a massive 450, as was the case when 15,000 European guests were flown into Nice and Maastricht for one conference launch event. Aircraft used are matched to the task and can include use of Boeing 737s and 747s and the Airbus A340. A typical medium-size launch can involve working with up to 22 airlines and ground handling agents at 30 airports.
Reason for charter: Multi-national conference
For almost two-and-a-half hours at approximately 15-minute intervals, nine aircraft carrying 1,700 employees from one of the world’s largest information technology conglomerates landed at Berlin Tegel airport for a one-day conference event. Unusual? Yes. All the flights were Air Partner charters originating from Switzerland, Austria or other points in Germany. The logistics involved in organising the synchronisation, passenger lists and landing permissions was enormous. And the following day, the entire programme was repeated in reverse. Three wide-body Boeing 767s carrying up to 328 passengers were used, plus six narrow-body aircraft. By outsourcing travel solutions, our client was able to concentrate on pulling together all the other major elements of the programme.
Reason for charter: VIP group travel
Air Partner USA worked closely with Arianespace, the French space transportation agency, to sort out immigration details for its 40-strong multi-national group travelling to South America to witness the launch of a rocket. The group flew from Washington DC on a VIP-reconfigured Boeing 727. Additional requirements included custom-printed menus and baggage tags, and deluxe in-flight catering.
