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Titan Airways, the UK’s leading VIP charter airline, announced the purchase of the Satellite Travel Group. Satellite Travel Group, based in Sutton, Surrey, has been offering seat only charter flights for over 25 years. The company embraces Satellite Travel, which specialises in summer flights to Preveza in Greece and ski destinations in the winter; Satellite Aviation – one of the biggest providers of air charter capacity to the ski market and Snowjet, a rapidly expanding ski flight operator.
The deal gives Titan, which is marking its 21st birthday this year, a new dimension in its aviation activity and its first direct sales channel. Through STG it will actively sell flights to popular ski airports such as Chambery, the gateway to the French Alps and will be launching some exciting new destinations that will be announced shortly. These will be sold under the Snowjet brand and Titan will this winter operate a number of aircraft in the Snowjet livery.
All of the experienced STG team members in Surrey will be retained and Satellite’s former owner Barry Lewis will stay on as a consultant to assist the new management team. Effective this month, David Lacy, currently a Director at Titan Airways will become Managing Director of Satellite Travel. Two members of the Titan management team, Mike Cooper and Rob Platts will also join the Board of Satellite Travel Group.
“We have been looking for some time to acquire a reputable travel company that has the right fit with our expansion plans and Satellite Travel, with its strong focus and experience in the winter ski market is it,” said Titan Airways Managing Director Gene Willson. “The company will benefit with strong financial backing from a financially sound airline and this is a great strategic fit,” he added. While the majority of Snowjet flights will now be operated by the Titan Airways’ jet fleet, the Satellite Travel Group will also work with other airlines, he stressed.
“This year will be a milestone year for us – when we accept our first wide-bodied Boeing 767-300ER aircraft, due to arrive in December this year.” With a maximum range of approximately 6,000nm, the 767-300ER will be capable of long-haul operations (for example London to Denver, or London to Vancouver direct). The aircraft is ETOPs capable and will have just 265 leather seats in a 2/3/2 configuration, featuring individual passenger in-flight audio/visual entertainment.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
