Flying by air charter to your business destination can be efficient, private and flexible, but it can also be essential. With the growth and development occurring within the African continent, it is becoming increasingly necessary for business travellers to hire a charter company to get them to destinations that commercial, scheduled flights cannot reach. South Africa has a host of air charter companies that can get travellers safely to their business meetings in comfort and style.
ExecuJet Aviation Group
ExecuJet South Africa is a subsidiary of the global ExecuJet Aviation Group which offers a modern and sophisticated charter fleet, based in key locations around Africa, Europe, Australia, Latin America and the Middle East. Discretion, safety, comfort and time efficiency, along with the flexibility to accommodate the demands of corporate pressures are all part of the service offering.
Location: Lanseria International Airport near Johannesburg and Cape Town International Airport.
Type of aircraft and seats: The ExecuJet fleet ranges from turboprop aircraft and light business jets such as the Learjet range seating six to eight passengers to intercontinental aircraft such as the Global Express XRS that seats 10 to 14 passengers. Also available in the fleet are larger turboprop aircraft that can seat up to 29 passengers.
Destinations: ExecuJet’s charter aircraft can reach any destination in Africa, depending on the size of the aircraft.
Length and cost of flights: This depends on the type of aircraft and the destination. A return flight in an eight passenger Learjet 45 to Cape Town will cost about R160 000.
Facilities: VIP catering is offered on all aircraft, and depending on the aircraft type, it will have Internet connection, ablution facilities, DVD and, in longer range aircraft, cabin attendants.
ExecuJet arranges airport transfers and chauffeur services, hotel accommodation, restaurant reservations and provides secretarial services for executives doing business on the move. Secure, safe and covered parking is available at all their facilities. The company also provides a logistical solution, managing such factors as air space clearances, fuel arrangements, receiving passengers and arranging accommodation and transfers in destination countries. ExecuJet passengers are also able to use ExecuJet’s private VIP lounges at Lanseria International Airport and at Cape Town International airport, with all the amenities.
Contact details:
Tel: 011 516 2300, execujet.net
Bass Aviation cc trading as Bass Airways
Bass Airways has been operating for 20 years from Virginia Airport in Durban, which has a pool of experienced and rated pilots which Bass Airways uses from time to time, but it also employs two pilots on a full-time basis.
Location: Virginia Airport in Durban.
Type of aircraft and seats: A King Air 200 which seats eight passengers, a Baron which seats four passengers and a Cessna 402 which carries six passengers.
Destinations: Bass Airways flies to any destination as per the client’s request. It has flown extensively to Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, Tanzania, and Malawi to name a few.
Length and cost of flights: Depending on the client’s requirements, some flights are short and some are as long as six days. The cost depends on how many days away they travel and what aircraft is used and how many passengers there are.
Facilities: The King Air 200 has a toilet. Breakfast and coffee are supplied for the early morning flights and a snack basket and drinks for flights during the day.
Bass Airways can arrange transportation and accommodation if the customer requires it. The offices at Virginia Airport have Internet facilities, a boardroom and coffee facilities.
Contact details:
Tel: 031 563 6655, bassgroup.co.za
Allegiance Air
Allegiance Air prides itself in the high level of service and expertise that is delivered. The experienced team is dedicated to ensuring that it provides the right solution for your specific air charter requirements.
Location: Lanseria International Airport near Johannesburg.
Type of aircraft and seats: The range of jet aircraft carry passenger numbers as follows: Boeing 727-200 VIP – 44 seats; Gulf Stream 11 and 111 – 11 to 15 seats; Cessna Citation – 10 seats; Falcon 50 – nine seats; Falcon 20 – eight seats; Premier 1 – six seats. The range of turbine-propeller aircraft carries passenger numbers as follows: Embraer 120 – 30 seats; Beech 1900 –18 seats; King Air – eight seats.
Destinations: Allegiance Air flies to domestic and international destinations, depending on the range of the aircraft selected and the landing strips being approved.
Length and cost of flights: The duration of the flight will depend on the type of aircraft utilised. Allegiance Air ensures that they provide their client with the correct aircraft type for their flight to comply with the client`s planned budget.
Facilities: Depending on which aircraft is used, facilities range from satellite phone, galley, entertainment system and toilet.
Contact details:
Tel: 011 659 2379, allegiance-air.com
NAC Fixed Wing Charter
Employing 50 pilots and with over 60 years of international charter experience, NAC is one of South Africa’s first air charter companies. Over the years NAC has become the largest aviation company in Africa and one of the largest of its kind in the world.
Location: Lanseria International Airport, Rand Airport, Virginia Airport, Cape Town International Airport, the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town and Gaborone in Botswana.
Type of aircraft and seats: Business Jets: Hawker 4000 (eight passengers); Cessna Sovereign (eight passengers); Gulfstream II or III (11-15 passengers); Challenger 300 (eight passengers); Hawker 700A (eight passengers); Hawker 800XP (eight passengers); LearJet 60 (six passengers); LearJet 45XR (eight passengers); Hawker 400XP (seven passengers); Premier 1 (six passengers).
Turbo Prop Business Aircraft: Pilatus PC12NG (eight passengers); King Air 350 (11 passengers); King Air B200 (six to nine passengers); Beechcraft 1900C/D (18-19 passengers); Embraer 120ER VIP configuration (18 passengers); Embraer 120ER standard (25 to 30 passengers).
Piston Aircraft: Beechcraft Baron (five passengers).
Destinations: NAC regularly flies to destinations that are not serviced by commercial airlines.
Length and cost of flights: Length is dependent on the type of aircraft used and destination. The costs depend on the type of aircraft used for the charter (turboprop or jet), number of days away from base, route to be flown (as there may be overflight charges) and more. The cost per kilometre for a charter flight starts at anything from around R35/km upwards.
Facilities: Most aircraft have on-board toilets and the jets are all equipped with in-flight entertainment systems. On the ground they assist with ground transportation, car hire, accommodation bookings, clearing customs and more.
Contact details:
Tel: 082 891 4639, nac.co.za
Sheltam
Boasting a large fleet of aircraft available for business or private charter, Sheltam offers the ultimate level of flexibility and convenience to suit anyone’s travel requirements. The aircraft are able to fly to the closest airstrip or airport to the client’s travel destination, when and where it suits the client.
Location: Port Elizabeth Airport and Virginia Airport in Durban.
Type of aircraft and seats: King Air 200 carries eight passengers; Baron 58 carries four passengers; Cessna 402 carries six passengers; Cessna Caravan carries 12 passengers; Cessna 182 carries three passengers and the Cherokee 6 carries five passengers.
Destinations: South Africa: All airfields, i.e., Umtata, Newcastle, Vryheid, Phinda, Mala Mala, Ulundi, Ladysmith, Shamwari. Zambia: Nakambala, Sucoma, Dwangwa. Tanzania: Dar Es Salaam, Kilombero. Mozambique: Xinavane, Mafimbesse, Bazaruto, Nacala, Nampula, Tete. Zimbabwe: Chiredzi, Harare, Bumi Hills. Botswana: Limpopo Valley.
Length and cost of flights: Flight lengths vary from a same day return to a week away. Cost is calculated per trip and is dependent on the number of passengers, number of days and aircraft requirements.
Facilities: All flights offer in-flight catering.
Contact details:
Tel: 031 563 8361 and 041 581 4194, sheltamaviation.com
Jemax Aviation is a small but highly professional air service operation established to service the needs of clients requiring non-scheduled passenger flights. It offers both light aeroplane charter as well as helicopter services.
Location: Grand Central Airport, Midrand.
Type of aircraft and seats: Cessna Grand Caravan 208B carries 12 passengers; Pilatus PC12/45 carries eight passengers; Pilatus PC12/47 carries eight passengers; Eurocopter EC130 B4 carries six passengers and the MD600carries four passengers.
Destinations: Jemax travels throughout Southern Africa at the client’s discretion.
Length and cost of flights: The length of flights is limited by the aircraft’s range, the flight crew’s flight and duty limitation per day, and other operational aspects such as daylight or airfield hours of operation. Cost of chartering the fixed wing aircraft is based on per kilometre flown multiplied by distance, plus variable expenses such as temporary air service permits, landing clearances, airport landing charges, en route and navigation fees, passenger departure taxes, in-flight catering, customs and immigration charges, VSAT charges, parking charges, aircraft handling at out stations, and any other costs incurred in the execution of a flight.
Facilities: In-flight catering is standard. The PC12 is equipped with a toilet and in-flight entertainment.
Contact details:
Tel: 011 805 0652 / 82 / 2240, jemaxaviation.co.za
Federal Air Charters
This all-girl company started in 2006, but their individual aviation experience spans well over 40 years. Federal Air believes in spoiling guests, by making sure that even the smallest detail has been covered.
Location: OR Tambo International Airport
Type of aircraft and seats: Federal Air has various aircraft that can carry anything from two passengers to 40 passengers; however, it is not limited to this.
Destinations: Anywhere in Southern Africa that travellers may find it hard getting to because their destination is not serviced by the commercial airlines, and also those whose itineraries do not fit in with the scheduled times.
Length and cost of flights: Length of the flight is determined by the client’s destination. Federal Air does not charge a set rate for any given route, due to all the variants that need to be taken into account when quoting. When quoting a potential client, the number of guests is taken into consideration, as is the number of days they travel for, and where they are travelling to.
Facilities: All flights have in-flight catering and liquid refreshments (non-alcoholic, unless specifically requested otherwise) and the charter provides a Meet and Greet service.
Contact details:
Tel: 011 395 9000, fedair.com
MS Aviation
MS Aviation, a wholly owned subsidiary of the MS Group, was set up in 2006 to operate and manage the MS Group’s fleet of aircraft and meet the challenging transport logistics of the group’s exploration and mining projects in remote areas throughout Africa. It soon extended this travel and logistical expertise from the MS Group to external corporate and private clients. MS Aviation offers a comprehensive, cost-efficient and convenient travel charter service that includes VIP charter, business charter, cargo/ parcel charter, tailored charter, crew change, scenic tours, aerial surveys and location scouting.
Location: Cape Town International Airport.
Type of aircraft and seats: Pilatus PC12 NG carries two crew plus seven passengers or one crew plus eight passengers; Baron 58 carries one crew plus five passengers or two crew plus four passengers; Cirrus SR 22 carries one pilot plus three passengers and the Premier One Jet carries two crew plus six passengers.
Destinations: The majority of requests are to destinations south of the equator.
Length and cost of flights: The length of flights is dependent on destination and type of aircraft chartered. The cost varies according to destination, aircraft and other relevant considerations.
Facilities: The company offers a fully personalised service ranging from catering requirements to airport transfer via its sister company, BLACKWAGON, a bespoke driving service for private, corporate and tourism clients in the greater Cape Town area.
Contact details:
+27 21 531 3162, msaviation.co.za
Alyd Air
Alyd Air charter services was founded in 1993 when the founding member Dr James Dawson, a medical doctor and commercial pilot, flew a Piper Aztec F model out across the Atlantic and down through Africa to South Africa. Alyd Air now specialises in providing effective aircraft charter solutions in Southern Africa.
Location: Cape Town International Airport
Type of aircraft and seats: Cessna SP1 carries two crew plus five passengers; Beechcraft Baron 58 carries one crew plus five passengers; Pilatus PC12 carries one or two pilots plus nine passengers standard or six to eight passengers executive; King Air 200 carries two crew plus six passengers; Piper Aztec (PA-23-250) carries one crew plus five passengers; Partenavia P.68 carries one crew plus five passengers; Cessna 206 Staionair carries one crew plus five passengers; Cessna 210 Turbo carries one crew plus three passengers and the Piper 236 carries one crew plus three passengers.
Destinations: Alyd Air flies all over Southern Africa.
Length and cost of flights: Length of flight depends on the type of aircraft and the destination. The cost depends on the type of aircraft and the destination. Inevitably the private jets will cost a lot more to charter than turboprops.
Facilities: Alyd Air offers in-flight catering. Ablution facilities are available on some of the larger aircraft. Car hire and transport to and from the aircraft can be organised if required.
Contact details:
Tel: 021 934 5405, flyalydair.co.za