Boutique hotel group, von Essen, which recently acquired the London Heliport at Battersea, has purchased PremiAir Aviation from Sir Robert McAlpine Group. Established in 2002, PremiAir claims to be the UK market leader in the management, charter, engineering and sale of business helicopters. Its charter fleet includes a mix of Sikorsky S76, Agusta 109, Bell 222 and Eurocopter Twin Squirrel aircraft. It also holds the management contract for the heliport, the site of a new 70-room seven-storey von Essen hotel under construction.
Von Essen Group chairman Andrew Davis comments: "This acquisition heralds an important and strategic development in the growth of our aviation business. Von Essen Aviation already owns an exceptional fleet of executive helicopters and jets and this development substantially extends the company's capacity to offer this growing market a wider and more consistent service.
"PremiAir is the leader in its field, and we will be supporting its exceptional management to lead the Group's future re- expansion." Davis confirmed that von Essen will seek further opportunities to grow its overall aviation businesses, including PremiAir, in the coming months.
The purchase includes PremiAir's engineering and maintenance business, the market leader in the support of business helicopters and fixed wing aircraft and also PremiAir's Police Air Support business, the leading provider of pilots to the UK police forces.
Located on the south bank of the River Thames between Wandsworth and Battersea bridges, the London Heliport provides landing, parking and refuelling services and is the capital”s only commercial heliport.
Von Essen's 23-strong 'private collection' includes Cliveden in Berkshire, The Royal Crescent in Bath and Chateau de Bagnols near Lyon, hotels very much in the five-star class.