London Executive Aviation (‘LEA'), one of Europe's largest business jet charter operators, is expanding the company's operations at London Oxford Airport by basing a Cessna Citation Mustang at the facility.
As the first of a new generation of ‘Very Light Jets' (VLJs), the four-passenger Mustang sets new standards in the affordability of private jet use, allowing LEA to cut the cost of executive jet chartering by up to 40%.
Complementing the Mustang, LEA already bases a new, 13-passenger Embraer Legacy 600 business jet at Oxford.
George Galanopoulos, managing director of LEA, says: "The revolutionary potential of the Mustang, allied with the ambitions of London Oxford Airport, is a very exciting combination. The airport is an attractive, affordable and well-positioned centre for business aviation, with great opening hours and uncongested airspace, and we look forward to growing our presence there."
Patrick Margetson-Rushmore, LEA's chief executive, adds: "The low operating cost of the Mustang means that we can now offer jet charter prices to people in the Oxford region for the equivalent cost of a turboprop. The Mustang is perfect for the kind of short-haul flights with 1-3 passengers that dominate European business aviation."
LEA became the first private jet company to introduce a Mustang to the British Isles in January 2008. The company is now operating six Mustangs, alongside six other classes of larger business jet, and has been the largest operator of VLJs and Mustangs in Europe for the past 20 months.