European charter provider Elit’Avia recorded its second busiest year in 2020 since its founding in 2006, the Luqa, Malta-based company announced late last week. Its flight hours last year totaled 6,615, driven by new clients who previously flew business class on commercial carriers as well as specialized cargo transportation, especially of medical supplies such as facemasks.
“The more obvious benefits of private aviation during the pandemic include the ability to hand-pick your travel companions and the dramatically lower number of touchpoints on a typical private flight, versus commercial,” said Elit’Avia CEO Michel Coulomb. “Less obvious has been the increase in specialized cargo missions, including the delivery of medical supplies, which is rewarding work because it enables us to contribute directly to fighting the virus. 2020 was a difficult year and we are grateful to have found a measure of success in the face of overwhelming challenge.”
Also driving the company’s business higher was the offering of aircraft, crew, maintenance, and insurance for aircraft operators seeking additional rapid fleet capacity, and demand for aircraft management services. “By proposing creative solutions to rapidly evolving needs, we continued to serve existing clients, and worked with many new clients as well,” Coulomb added.
Elit’Avia’s mixed fleet of 25 business aircraft comprises models from Gulfstream, Bombardier, Dassault, Embraer, and Hawker.