European Aviation (Bournemouth) has added a second VIP aircraft, an ACJ318-100, following the recent acquisition of a B737-700(BBJ), the company's first executive jet.
"The aircraft will complement the recent acquisition of a BBJ, enabling us to offer both long-range and shorter-range options," European Aviation managing director Trevor Whetter said in a LinkedIn post.
The newly acquired ACJ318 is currently registered in the Cayman Islands as VP-CKS (msn 3238). Whetter told ch-aviation that the jet is planned to be reregistered in Guernsey, like the company's BBJ. Configured for up to 23 passengers, the ACJ has been parked at Kemble since May 21, 2024.
Until that date, it was operated by Kalair (Riyadh) and based at Riyadh. The aircraft was later acquired and remarketed by component firm AJW Group, which also acquired a B787-9(BBJ) from Kalair that has been stored at Kemble since 2015.
Whetter said that the ACJ318 is expected to enter service in early 2026, similarly to the BBJ, following "maintenance requirements and exploration of utilisation opportunities." He confirmed that there are no plans to refurbish the cabin or add extra fuel tanks. The aircraft will be placed on a third-party air operator's certificate (AOC), but the operator has not yet been selected.
