HansJet's PC-12 Fractional Ownership Product Grows

European Pilatus PC-12 operator HansJet is registering strong demand for its recently-launched fractional ownership offering, according to the company. The initiative represents a move away from a business model purely focused on ad hoc charter.

Speaking to AIN at the recent Aero Friedrichshafen show, the Malta-based company's Cesar Laugier said member numbers are growing faster than expected. Although charter still comprises most of HansJet’s business—with each of its PC-12s flying some 800 hours a year—the company sees this balance starting to shift increasingly towards its membership options.

In September, HansJet introduced a pair of new membership programs to build on what Laugier described as "the ownership feeling." The Pinnacle program, which requires a minimum 50-hour commitment, promises guaranteed availability within 48 hours and no upfront investment. The Distinction fractional ownership model typically includes a 25% stake in the aircraft with a minimum five-year commitment.

The HansJet-owned fleet of PC-12s continue to be operated under the air operator certificate of Ireland-based Alliance Executive Jets, although the branded aircraft also remain available for charter missions. The company has no fixed operating base for its Maltese-registered aircraft.

HansJet’s Seeks Long-Term Relationships

According to Laugier, HansJet was inspired by other operators’ success with fractional ownership and the expertise of its sister companies, including HansTravel. It remains focused on building long term relationships with clients rather than purely providing an option to travel between two points, reflecting increased fractional ownership trends in the luxury car and yacht industry.

According to HansJet, its fleet can provide access to over 3,000 airports across Europe. The company said that these flights, operated under private rules, can access some locations from which commercial flights remain excluded. 

Laugier explained that HansJet is currently experiencing strong demand around the Mediterranean region, including specific locations such as Cannes, Nice, and Olbia. Typical missions in a mix of trips for leisure and business purposes, and the current instability in the Middle East is elevating interest in European vacation destinations. The PC-12’s ability to access Courchevel Airport in the French Alps—with a short 1,761-foot runway with a steep gradient—places it among HansJet’s top winter destinations.