Naljets, operating from Newcastle International airport in the UK, has added a six-seat Cessna Citation CJ to its fleet of charter aircraft. Capable of cruising at up to 400 miles per hour and reaching destinations including Mallorca and Rome, the jet can be ready from booking to take off in under 90 minutes.

MD and chief pilot Craig McLeod says: “The Citation is a super handy little jet capable of flying anyone to anywhere within a 1,300 mile range in one go. The impact COVID-19 has had on scheduled flights all over the UK and around Europe has meant that non-scheduled on-demand charter has become a real alternative for business and professional people and this is why we have brought the jet to Newcastle. Charter is safe because passengers can travel in their own bubble and, because we fly direct to final destinations, an out and return trip that might have taken perhaps three days, can be reduced to one.”

In the 14 days after Naljets received approval to fly paying passengers from the UK Civil Aviation Authority, the jet was almost fully booked. The company is flying doctors, business people and specialist equipment all over the UK, Ireland and Europe.

McLeod continues: “A small jet like the CitationJet series is very cost effective compared with some of our bigger business jets and its flexibility, combined with our ability to clean and sterilise the entire interior after every flight, make it a highly desirable, safe alternative to other forms of travel.”

In 2016, Naljets operated six medium to large sized business jets for clients and corporations, with a combined value of over GB£100 million, before selling its AOC assets to Air Charter Scotland in 2019. Its latest acquisition marks a new period of investment and growth for the company, which has formed a strategic alliance with BookaJet, a jet charter and management company based in Farnborough. All Naljets' charter aircraft will fly and be operated under BookaJet's AOC, which allows for fee-paying passengers.