A multi-engine, instrument rated pilot, James Wynbrandt has been an AIN and Business Jet Traveler contributor since 2003. His in-depth reporting and insightful features have won more than a dozen editorial honors, including two National Business Aviation Association Gold Wing Awards (2019; 2021), and his articles have also appeared in the New York Times, Barron’s, Fortune, Forbes, and Smithsonian Air &amp; Space. He has flown his Mooney M20K 252 on assignments throughout North and Central America and the Caribbean. Wynbrandt is also the author of Flying High (Wiley &amp; Sons), a biography of Jet Blue founder David Neeleman, as well as histories, references works, and books on a variety of other topics from major publishers. He lives in New York City.

Contributor - Business Aviation

James Wynbrandt

VistaJet is expanding its program-based charter network through an alliance with Beijing Airlines, Air China’s private aviation subsidiary. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed today at the Abace show sets the stage for <a href="http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/aviation-international-news/2012-02-08/vistajet-gears-global-expansion">VistaJet</a> to establish a base in Beijing and eventually provide point-to-point service within China.


“We have been targeting China as a major market for expansion,” said VistaJet founder and chairman Thomas Flohr, “and our new partnership with Beijing Airlines will allow us to rapidly build a presence in this fast-growing market.”


The MoU is expected to lead to a long-term partnership agreement under which VistaJet, which currently bases three aircraft in Asia, would increase the fleet available to serve the China market. The aircraft will be registered in China and flown on Beijing Airlines’ air operator’s certificate. Flohr said both parties have agreed to all terms of that agreement, which awaits only government licensing approval before consummation.


The agreement also covers joint marketing agreements, sales and operational opportunities between VistaJet and Beijing Airlines. Switzerland-based VistaJet operates an all-Bombardier fleet of 31 wholly owned aircraft, and has $2 billion worth of aircraft on order, which will expand its fleet to more than 60 Challengers and Global Expresses by 2015.

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