Wijet (Paris Le Bourget) has begun winding down its UK-based operations as it prepares to reconfigure its business model and become a virtual carrier.

In a statement issued on Monday, July 2, the French business aviation specialist said as part of the transition, its Blink (Blackbushe) unit had entered into administration in the United Kingdom. The move comes just 15 months after Wijet acquired Blink UK, and against mounting uncertainty over the UK/EU's post Brexit ties.

"Owning an Air Operator's Certificate, especially in view of Brexit, is not a competitive advantage," Jean François Hochenauer, member of the Executive Board of Wijet Holdings, said. "Further, the competitive landscape is moving fast with new business models being introduced over the last 18 months. We had to adjust."

Other factors cited include Blink's poor performance, its aging fleet of aircraft, and a cost structure that does not bode well with ad-hoc charter operations.

As such, Wijet intends to focus its resources on the development of its European Union-oriented operations.

“The Blink brand will disappear, and the Group will refocus its resources to only the Wijet brand, a landmark in the European business aviation landscape since 2010. Wijet was first to introduce a fixed price per flight hour in business aviation," it added.