Avolar Teams with Airbus for ACJ Sales

Airbus has announced a new alliance with Avolar­UAL Corp.'s fractional ownership division­to market and operate Airbus Corporate Jets (ACJ) in the United States.

The new operation, known as JetSet Solutions, is intended to sell ACJs to corporations and sports teams for joint ownership and use. Officials of both companies stress that this is not a fractional ownership program.

According to Avolar executive vice president and COO Tom Davis, JetSet aircraft will operate under FAR Part 121 and be flown by mainline United Airlines pilots. Davis said it is unlikely that United flight attendants will provide cabin service on JetSet Solutions flights. Avolar recently received its own FAR Part 135 certificate and is awaiting approval of its Part 121 certificate.

Davis and other members of the Avolar senior management team are experienced ACJ operators. While president of DaimlerChrysler Aviation, Davis established and operated the Transatlantic Star corporate shuttle. Using a German-registered ACJ the Star shuttles employees between the automotive giant's Stuttgart, Germany, and Pontiac, Michigan, facilities four to five times per week.

Airbus Corporate jetliner vice president Richard Gaona says his company will not participate n the management or operation of the JetSet aircraft and will continue its own U.S. marketing initiatives to potential individual owners. He expressed the hope that the new marketing arrangement will stimulate sales of the Airbus A319 derivative. Airbus claims 30 ACJ sales, of which 12 have been delivered and eight are in service. There are currently no ACJs on the U.S. registry.

Avolar says it expects to place 15 aircraft in service within the next five years. No pricing has been determined yet, with Avolar still undecided on engines and completion plans for the jetliners.
An ACJ is available for viewing at the static display.