This Months Featured client is Capital Air Charter based at Exeter Airport.
Established in 1991 by Lisa and Malcolm Humphries with a single aircraft and 2 employees they now have a fleet of nine aircraft and employ 35 people.
Since recession began, their business has doubled in its turnover, with hikes in fuel duty being passed on to a clientele that has been able to accommodate the costs within their budget.
Since its acquisition of land and a hanger at Exeter two years ago the business now also offers visiting charter aircraft companies hanger space and services such as shuttles to local hotels.
The airline provides services via its fleet of six and eight-seater aircraft to corporate clients for whom time is money, and freight deliveries that have seen it despatch goods from bank paperwork to “dangerous” cargo-such as car batteries.
Since it began the airline has also provided rescue – repatriation services on behalf of insurers, flying sick or injured holiday maker’s home all over the UK from European resorts.
Its air ambulance division now accounts for 60% of its business and in the past five years has seen it awarded contracts from Isle of Man and Jersey health authorities to repatriate patients from the islands to the UK for treatment.
Last year CAC invested £150,000.00 in medical equipment to upgrade its aircraft to facilitate in-flight emergency or intensive care.” We recruited a medical director and have a bank of around 50 medical staff from hospitals across the region” said Mrs Humphries
It also offers a VIP service to wealthy individuals looking to fly off to holiday villas.
Capital Air Charter is hoping to open out new “air taxi” routes to UK destinations that are no longer on a direct flight path from the West country due to the demise of Air Southwest and Plymouth airport.
Mrs Humphries believes that the UK’s network of smaller airfields could open up the opportunity for the small business to create scheduled services for West Country executives hampered by existing transport links. Last year it landed at 48 such facilities across the country.
“We are looking at Norwich, as an example, but will fly from either Exeter or Newquay to where demand takes us.
While a landing slot at Heathrow can cost £1,500.00 there are London alternatives such as Biggin hill which is just £200.00 and we can look at factoring in a road-shuttle service.
We hope to have routes scheduled within the next three months and if our six seaters are full we will invest in more aircraft or a bigger plane.”
For information on the services Capital Air Charter can offer please visit their website at http://capitalaircharter.co.uk/
