Global Reach Aviation (GAV, Billund) is hoping to return to profitability in 2018 following a tumultuous 2017 and the change in technical partner following the termination of cooperation with BackBone Aviation, Business Wire has reported.

The Danish business charter specialist has lost DKK1.76 million krone (USD280,000) in 2017. According to Global Reach Aviation's statement, the company suffered at least DKK2.7 million headwind owing to the termination of the contract with BackBone Aviation alone.

BackBone Aviation, an ACMI/charter specialist, proferred two CRJ200 aircraft to Global Reach Aviation and was the Air Operator's Certificate (AOC) holder for all operations of the virtual carrier. However, it struggled financially in 2017 before finally ceasing operations and voluntarily suspending its AOC in mid-January 2018.

Global Reach Aviation continues to operate two CRJ200s which are now provided by and operated under the AOC of ProAir Aviation (PAV, Stuttgart Manfred Rommel). The aircraft are operated on business charter routes across Europe and occasionally on ad-hoc wet-leases for other airlines, including ASL Airlines Belgium, Eastern Airways, bmi regional in recent months, Flightradar24 ADS-B data shows.

"During the second half of 2017 we were able to re-focus and market Global Reach Aviation directly in the industry towards brokers and other customers," CEO Jacob Rasmussen has said.