Media Backgrounder
Overview
London Executive Aviation (LEA) is one of Europe’s largest executive aircraft charter operators. It was named Best General Aviation Operator in the Baltic Air Charter Association’s 2007 and 2006 Excellence Awards, and won a 2007 and 2006 Gold award from Buying Business Travel magazine in the Executive Aircraft category.
It operates a diverse fleet of business jets, including Cessna Citation Mustangs, Bravos and Excels; Bombardier Challenger 300s and Embraer Legacy 600s. LEA also operates Beechcraft KingAir executive turboprops.
LEA was Europe’s first light jet fleet operator. The company’s first Citation Mustang entered service in February 2008, and further Mustangs have since been added to the LEA fleet. LEA is one of the largest light jet operators in Europe. The four-passenger/two-crew Mustang has enabled LEA to reduce charter rates for business jets by up to 40% against average European market prices.
The company’s client list includes investment banks and other financial institutions; large and mid-size businesses; US-based executives en route to continental Europe; leading air brokers; celebrities from music, entertainment and sport; high net worth individuals; government; and hospitals and medical assistance companies.
LEA is the only business aviation company with a full base at London City Airport. It has six further UK bases (Farnborough, Biggin Hill, Luton, Stansted, Oxford and Stapleford) and can collect passengers from virtually anywhere in the country.
The company makes over 500 flights per month between the UK and over 10,000 destinations in Europe and the Middle East.
LEA has been at the forefront of UK business aviation for over 14 years. It was the first executive air charter firm to obtain European Joint Aviation Authority certification and, in 2001, was the first to introduce the world’s most popular business jet, the Cessna Citation Excel, to the UK charter market.
The company has been consistently profitable since its inception and is widely regarded as one of the best-managed firms in its industry. LEA’s senior management has over 40 years’ combined experience of UK business aviation.
The LEA Fleet
The breadth of the LEA fleet means it is able to offer the most cost-effective solution for a wide range of European business travel needs. This strategy is one of the reasons LEA has proved consistently profitable. For example, shorter journeys and smaller groups can be accommodated in a Citation Mustang, rather than a higher priced aircraft.
Chartering
The expansion of the business aviation market has seen the advent of various new travel options, including fractional ownership (in which one owns a share in a specific aircraft, with proportional rights of usage), jet cards or block hours schemes (which entitle one to a fixed number of flying hours in exchange for an advance lump sum payment) and ‘all business’ scheduled airlines serving certain destinations.
However, chartering aircraft by the hour remains by far the most popular choice for business aviation, since it provides an identical experience in terms of aircraft, crew and customer service, yet offers an attractive blend of flexibility and value for money. For all but the most regular travellers, conventional chartering typically offers the most attractive financial proposition.
Charter operators like London Executive Aviation also help bring much needed liquidity to the broader business aviation market, such as by subcontracting for fractional ownership or jet card operators when their own aircraft are fully committed.
Management Team
LEA’s management team combines a wealth of experience of commercial aviation with tight financial disciplines. The main management team is headed up by:
- Chief Executive, Patrick Margetson-Rushmore
- Former partner with Baker Tilley and Macintyre Hudson accountancy firms
- Founding partner of LEA, overseeing strategy and finance
- Managing Director, George Galanopoulos
- Authorised examiner for the Civil Aviation Authority, council member for BBGA, Fellow of Guild of Air Pilots and Navigators
- Founding partner of LEA, overseeing flight and business operations
Media Contact
Marc Cornelius, 80:20 Communications
T: +44 (0)20 7664 6310
E: mcornelius@8020comms.com
