With 14 founding members, operators in Europe recently launched the Air Taxi Association Europe, an adjunct of the U.S.-based Air Taxi Association. Founding operators stretch across continental Europe and beyond and include AccelJet, AirCab, Air-Cannes, BIKKAIR, Blink, byJets, ETIRC Aviation, GlobeAir, Gonow, JetBird, Jet Ready, LEA, Taxijet, and Wondair. While some have already luanched operations, most are in development. Aircraft choices announced to date include the Cessna Mustang, the Embraer Phenom and the Eclipse 500.
The prime mission is to develop committees covering the environment, government relations, technical standards, financing, manufacturing and communications, similar to its U.S. counterpart. It will develop standards for best practices for new and existing operators. It hopes that such practices and standards will result in economies of scale and operational efficiencies.
“In 2007, we announced the formation of the Air Taxi Association Europe and had extremely high attendance at our launch meeting in London last quarter,” Air Taxi Association President Joe Leader stated. “This is a phenomenal group of next-generation air taxi companies that are building industry leading companies across Europe.”
Alan Perry now serves as the Managing Director of ATXA Europe from London. Perry has become an aviation expert through his role as chair of MIU Events, a worldwide conference manager which has already run conferences on very light jets, air taxis, and aviation industry financing.
In their first action, the members elected Stefan Vilner of JetBird to chair Air Taxi Association Europe. Before joining JetBird as president & CEO, Vilner served as CEO of one of Europe’s largest low-cost carriers and served as president of the European Low-Fare Airlines Association (ELFAA). The vice chair – Javier Cardona of Wondair, will take leadership in close coordination with Vilner and the committee chairs.
“I’m honored to serve as chair of the Air Taxi Association Europe and I look forward to driving the organization’s success,” Vilner stated. “The Air Taxi Association Europe bridges next-generation air taxi companies together as we provide best business practices, encourage market education, foster communication, properly direct lobbying, effectively leverage technology, proactively conduct environmental protection initiatives, and build financial efficiencies.”
ATXA Europe’s efforts have been focused into five strategic committees with chairs selected via elections. The Technical Standards Committee, chaired by Paolo Sommariva of AirCab, the Finance Committee, chaired by Winfried Boeing of ByJets; Manufacturers Committee, chaired by Conor Neill of Taxijet, the Lobbying Committee, chaired by Peter Leiman of Blink; and the Communications Committee, chaired by Patrick Margetson-Rushmore of LEA.