Very Light Jet Report :: New VLJ Air Taxi in Europe

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After two year’s of preparation BIKKAIR commences flying, using the Cessna Mustang, as the first continental European air taxi operator from its “home base” in Rotterdam, the Netherlands this month.
“Air Taxi is the intelligent alternative for business travelers,” said Founder Leendert Bikker. “It is an entirely new mode of transport that compliments travel by car, high-speed train, and traditional business class travel on commercial air lines. Flying is the only means of transportation for which the average speed per hour (door-to-door) has decreased over the last five decades. Waiting currently accounts for more than half of total travel time with commercial airlines. With the introduction of a new travel concept – air taxi service with very light jets – flying no longer needs to be an unpleasant and time-consuming interruption of the business-day.”
Earlier this year, BIKKAIR received its first Cessna Citation Mustang, the first very light jet (VLJ) certified for commercial use in Europe. “This new generation of jets makes an affordable air taxi service possible,” said the company. “The very light jet is efficient, fast and is the most environmentally friendly jet around and is the ideal transportation tool for business people traveling distances between 400 and 2,000 kilometers within Europe.” The company cited the short runway requirements of very light jets affording access to an additional 1200 airstrips across Europe, many closer to a traveler’s destination than that provided by airlines.
The BIKKAIR jets have capacity for up to four passengers and their luggage. Each plane will be flown by two-pilot pilots.
Over 80 percent of the customers expected to use the new service will not have flown on private jet before. BIKKAIR expects costs to be less than half of the rates currently charged by other jet programs.
BIKKAIR said it carefully prepared for its commercial launch from The Netherlands and starting with a medium-sized fleet of VLJs. Its aim is to be the premier European air taxi operator and has plans in place for a large scale operation with a fleet of 100 VLJs by the end of 2012. By that time, air taxi services based on very light jets will be a well accepted mode of transport for business professionals throughout Europe.

Frequent Flyer Program
The company introduced its Amulet membership program, based on the Latin translation of Amuletum which stands for protection and security. Amulets are bought in advance and are valued at 15, 40 or 100 flying hours. Owners of the Amulet have the right to designate which individuals are eligible to use the service as a member. Members book a plane by indicating the destination location by departure and destination addresses while Bikkair selects the most appropriate airports.
The BIKKAIR leadership team exists of experienced executives with a broad and balanced mix of backgrounds: aviation and non-aviation, entrepreneurial and large corporate, strategic and operational. Founders of BIKKAIR are Leendert Bikker (serial entrepreneur) and his son Bas Bikker (pilot). The management team includes Arie-Willem van Doorne (Royal Dutch Shell, Bain & Company), Henk Smith (Arthur D. Little, Accenture), and Hans Stellingsma (Microsoft, KPN, Atos-Origin, Content, Monitor); Willem de Kruif (Royal Dutch Navy, JetNetherlands) as account manager for the Dutch operations. The leadership team is supported by its senior board of advisors: Pieter Bouw (ex-KLM), Alexander Ribbink (COO, TomTom), Ben van Schaik (ex-Fokker/Mercedes Benz) and Willem Stevens (Baker McKenzie).

New VLJ Air Taxi in Europe

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