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Air Charter Service - Specialists in providing all types of aircraft for your private air charter requirements

Specialists in providing all types of aircraft for your private charter requirements...

Current news

» January, 2012 - Air Charter Service raises significant amount for charity

» December, 2011 - Air Charter Service’s Aviator Ball raises money for charity

» November, 2011 - Sunday Times HSBC Top Track 250 2011

» October, 2011 - ACS competes in 2011 Great River Race

» September, 2011 - Ulster Rugby signs exclusive agreement with Air Charter Service

» August, 2011 - ACS experiences year on year growth worldwide

» July, 2011 - First of many charters to world's newest country

» March, 2011 - ACS in Sunday Times Top 100 Best Companies To Work For

» March, 2011 - Japanese evacuations become latest in ACS’s relief operations this year…

» February, 2011 - Air Charter Service - Libya evacuation update

» February, 2011 - Wendesday 23rd - Air Charter Service begins evacuation charters from Libya

» February, 2011 - Egypt crisis update


Air Charter Service raises significant amount for charity January, 2012 In 2011 leading aircraft charter firm Air Charter Service raised more than $77,000 for their chosen charities; HEAL, Cancer Research UK, The Shooting Star Children’s Hospice, The Willow foundation and The International Youth Arts Foundation. ACS supports a selection of chosen causes, with a dedicated committee helping to organise an array of fund-raising events. All the money raised by their staff is matched by the company, doubling the total amount. One of the charities that benefitted from the money raised, HEAL, provide shelter, support, education and healthcare to some of the world’s poorest children, with the aim of helping 10,000 young people ‘escape the poverty trap’ by 2015. One of the highlights of the company’s fundraising year took place in September: an 18-strong ACS dragonboat team – named ‘No Plane No Gain!’ – took part in this year’s Great River Race down the Thames, completing the gruelling 21-mile course in a respectable time of just under three hours, raising $9,000 for HEAL along the way. Among a host of other charity functions, a raffle was held at ACS’s European staff’s Christmas party at The Aviator Hotel, Farnborough, garnering more than $21,000 for their chosen causes. ACS funded the building of an IT block within HEAL’s new self-sustaining village for orphans in Thotapally, India. Chris and Tina Leach, respectively ACS Chairman and Company Secretary, recently visited the site and described what they saw as “absolutely inspiring”. Looking forward to 2012, Tina, who heads up the ACS charity committee, is confident that ACS can provide yet more support to HEAL and the company’s other charities: “We are immensely proud that we can contribute to such wonderful causes. 2011 was a brilliant year for ACS, but I believe we can do even more this year.” You can watch a video of Chris and Tina’s visit to the Paradise Village by visiting the company’s YouTube channel, www.youtube.com/ACSPLC.

Air Charter Service’s Aviator Ball raises money for charity December, 2011 Air Charter Service’s staff Christmas party, ‘The Aviator Ball’, has raised £14,014 for charity, thanks to the generosity of the company’s employees, who bought raffle tickets and bid on items kindly donated by the event’s sponsors. The Aviator Ball, a 1940s aviation themed party, was held at The Aviator Hotel near Farnborough Airport. ACS staff from the Russian, German, French and UK offices celebrated the festive season along with guest of honour Erik Lindberg, grandson of pioneer Charles Lindberg, who flew over from the US especially for the event. Staff members and their partners came dressed in vintage 40s attire, including 40s air force uniforms and ball gowns, as well as enjoying a champagne reception, three-course dinner and festive fun that lasted well into the early hours. The night’s entertainment included music from the ACS band, as well as speeches and presentations about the company’s charitable causes, including a talk and video about ACS owners Chris and Tina Leach’s recent visit to the HEAL children’s village in India. HEAL, Cancer Research UK and The Shooting Star Hospice are the three charities that will benefit from the money raised. So far this year ACS has donated thousands to its chosen charities, partly thanks to the company’s policy of matching however much their staff raise.

Sunday Times HSBC Top Track 250 2011 November, 2011 Leading aircraft charter provider, Air Charter Service, has been placed 158th in The Sunday Times HSBC Top Track 250 list published yesterday [16th October]. The list, produced every year since 2004, ranks Britain's top 250 Mid-market private companies by their turnover over the previous year, from published accounts. It is the first appearance in the league table for the company after previously being earmarked ‘One To Watch’ two years ago. Chairman Chris Leach commented: “This placing is recognition of our hard work and continued growth over the past few years, and we are delighted with our position.” Last year sales grew by 37% to £227.8 million, and further growth is expected again this year. 2011’s list contains household names such as Manchester United, Aston Martin and Selfridges. The 250 companies named have a total revenue of £71.2 billion, and make up approximately 5% of the UK’s GDP.

ACS competes in 2011 Great River Race October, 2011 Air Charter Service took part in this year’s Great River Race last weekend (18th September) and, in doing so, raised almost £6,000 for one of the company’s chosen charities, Heal. The first Great River Race took place 23 years ago and now attracts competitors from all around the world - more than 300 teams took part in the event this year. The race down the River Thames starts at London’s Docklands and finishes 21 miles later in the London suburb of Richmond, passing many famous London landmarks along the way such as the Houses of Parliament, the London Eye and Tower Bridge. ACS’s 18-strong dragonboat team – named ‘No Plane No Gain!’ – set about the gruelling course starting early in the morning in rainy conditions. The weeks of training paid off as they finished in a respectable time of just under three hours. The money will go towards the ACS-sponsored I.T. block of the new Heal Paradise village for orphaned children in Thotapally, India.

Ulster Rugby signs exclusive agreement with Air Charter Service September, 2011 ACS has secured a partnership with one of Ireland’s premier rugby union teams, Ulster Rugby, in a season long sponsorship deal. Air Charter Service will provide aircraft arrangements for the team as they travel around the UK to play their League fixtures and around Europe to meet their Heineken Cup commitments for the 2011-2012 season. Air Charter Service has extensive experience in charters for rugby teams and has already worked alongside Ulster Rugby for some time. Matthew Purton, Commercial Jet Director for ACS, said: “I am delighted that we have signed this deal and that we can continue our work with Ulster. We worked closely with the team last season, and they had a very successful campaign: finishing 3rd in the league and reaching the quarter finals of the Heineken Cup for the first time since 1999.” Purton continued: “We charter aircraft for many of the world’s biggest sports teams, so we have a great amount of expertise in the sector. It is the best way for the players to travel long distances and to prepare mentally for the game ahead – ensuring that the transit time is as short as possible and that they arrive in comfort.” Ulster Rugby’s Director of Rugby, David Humphreys added: “Matthew and his team at ACS offer a reliable and flexible service and we are delighted to work with them this year. The ability to fly directly to particular airports at time that suits us makes financial and, more importantly, rugby sense for us. We can make savings on hotel costs and many of the charges associated with commercial airlines, while the ability to fly home straight after a match allows the players to maximise the recovery period in between games which has become essential during an increasingly busy season.”

ACS experiences year on year growth worldwide August, 2011 Air Charter Service has reported yet another increase in both the number of charters and in total revenue for July 2011 compared to the same month last year, continuing an extremely strong trend of growth. The global provider of private jet, commercial airliner and cargo aircraft solutions has provided 20% more charters than this time last year and has recorded 30% more revenue. These figures build upon ACS’s year on year improvement and emphasises the company’s status as a market leader. Every regional office has reported growth; North America, South America, Europe, the CIS, Africa, the Middle East and Asia are all proving successful markets for company. Justin Bowman, Group Commercial Director commented, “Our consistent, impressive growth can be put down to our commitment to the service we offer. We believe that attention to detail and efficiency are the keys to providing our clients with the charter solutions they require”. He went on to add, “Our global network is allowing us to offer innovative solutions to clients worldwide. We have local knowledge on a global scale and customers recognise the benefits of using us, rather than a company without a similar network, or a phoney ‘network’, of fake offices and franchises”. While some of the growth can be attributed to the work ACS did helping evacuate people out of Libya and Egypt, the majority comes from a consistent level of improvement across all markets. Even without the situation in North Africa, the company would still have experienced a substantial rate of growth in turnover, charters and profitability. ACS has grown year on year since its inception in 1990. Two decades on the company has a turnover of more than $350 million, a figure already set to be surpassed by the end of 2011.

First of many charters to world's newest country July, 2011 ACS is always, one way or another, involved in ground breaking events. The world’s newest country; The Republic of South Sudan, celebrated its independence at midnight on the 9th of July and ACS proudly transported VIP guests to the celebrations in Juba, the country’s capital. Becoming a member state of the UN five days later, South Sudan may well become a popular destination for executive and cargo charters, as businesses look to make good of trade opportunities that the country could present. CEO of ACS Asia Pacific Gavin Copus, certainly believes that South Sudan will become a popular destination for charters; “I foresee much activity coming both in and out over the next few months. Politicians and businesses obviously have a vested interest in the county’s development and we look forward to providing charter solutions to those investors. Southern Sudan may well prove to be a hotbed of business activity.”

ACS in Sunday Times Top 100 Best Companies To Work For March, 2011 Leading aircraft specialist Air Charter Service has once again been included in The Sunday Times Best Companies To Work For 2011. It is the second time that the company has featured in the list in the past three years – this year obtaining a 2 star accreditation and finishing number 58, the highest of any aviation company. The company’s particularly special attributes were for personal growth, the staff being excited as to where the company is going and for giving something back to the community – ACS matches all staff’s sponsorship money for charity events such as The Great River Race, the 3 Peaks Challenge and the upcoming Comic Relief day. Tony Bauckham, Managing Director at ACS, said: “This is a great achievement, and to know that our staff enjoy working for us is particularly pleasing. That is reflected in their dedication and hard work which has supported the company’s growth over the past 12 months – more than 30%. Also, it is apparent that our commitment to charities is held dear by everyone.” Air Charter Service is a global leader in the supply of aircraft charters, ranging from private jets, to airliners to cargo aircraft. Last year turnover was over £225 million and more than 5,000 charters were arranged, consisting of tens of thousands of flights, across the company’s worldwide offices.

Japanese evacuations become latest in ACS’s relief operations this year… March, 2011 Air Charter Service’s Hong Kong office has completed its first few staff relocation flights out of Japan after fears over the extent of radiation leak heighten, and has arranged more. Gavin Copus, CEO of ACS Asia Pacific, said: “On Tuesday we chartered a 400 seat Boeing 777-300 to relocate a corporate client’s staff from Tokyo to Hong Kong. Their office in Tokyo was having problems with intermittent power and the company was worried about their staff’s general well-being following the radiation leaks. We also chartered a Boeing 747 that landed yesterday. It’s not going to be the last of these sort of flights either – we have a few more booked, all flying over the coming days from the Tokyo area. Both Haneda and Narita Airports to the north of the city are open, but most people are migrating to the south and heading towards Osaka and Nagoya. We will also be repatriating various different nationalities in the coming days.” Copus then added: “2011 is fast becoming a very busy year for evacuations. I know that some people across our worldwide offices have been working seven days a week! Since the uprisings in Egypt and then Libya, it has been non-stop for more than six weeks.” Egypt Air Charter Service evacuated almost 2,000 foreign nationals after the uprising began on January 25th 2011. ACS arranged 26 charters in total from both Cairo and Alexandria. Libya The situation in Libya was on an even greater scale – ACS evacuated more than 6,000 people from Tripoli and Sebha in the country across 34 flights. Amongst these was the last British governmental flight out of Tripoli carrying the FCO workers and final remaining Britons. ACS was not, however, involved in the heavily criticised first few British evacuation flights. The company had people on the ground in the region including in Malta where an airbridge was set up by ACS from Tripoli (only one hour away by air) to enable a speedier evacuation process. Tunisia ACS then conducted a further 13 flights from neighbouring Tunisia, after many people fled across the border from Libya. ACS flew more than 2,000 foreign nationals from the Tunisian airport of Djerba. The company’s cargo departments chartered aircraft into Tunis that brought in over two hundred tons of aid including tents, blankets and food. New Zealand Following the earthquake near Christchurch, ACS arranged an American governmental aid flight carrying search and rescue teams, as well as 65 tons of relief cargo. Totals (excluding Japan): Time scale: 6 weeks Flights: 75 People: 10,000+ Cargo: 300 tons

Air Charter Service - Libya evacuation update February, 2011 Air Charter Service has now evacuated over 4500 passengers from Libya in one of the largest and most complex evacuation operations the company has ever faced. So far the company has chartered 26 flights out of Libya with more charters yet to fly with passengers from many nationalities including, Turkish, British, American, Portuguese, Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese and Thai. According to reports, the number of foreign nationals looking to be evacuated in total is around 100,000. By this rationale, ACS has evacuated at least 4% of the total number of people needing to leave Libya. As many of these foreign nationals are crossing the land borders and being evacuated by ferry, ACS has played and extremely significant role in the air evacuation. The first ACS charter out of Tripoli departed on Wednesday and was one of the first civilian charters to do so following the crisis. Members of many ACS offices including Dubai, Spain, London and New York worked together as a team to ensure the successful operation in the most difficult and chaotic of circumstances. ACS had staff on the ground in Malta to ensure smooth transit of over 1000 passengers who we evacuated from Tripoli to their final destinations in Bangkok and Hanoi (see picture). ACS Dubai’s Dmitriy Korshunov was also in hand in Dubai International airport to greet Chinese passengers from our evacuation flight from Shebha in Libya. On Saturday, ACS had a member of staff in Tripoli who recorded the scene in the airport which can be found on youtube. click here to view

Wendesday 23rd - Air Charter Service begins evacuation charters from Libya February, 2011 Leading aircraft charter specialist, ACS, has had its first flight depart troubled Libya on Wednesday. The violent demonstrations in the African country have caused many to fear for their lives and flee by any means possible. With virtually no flights departing from Tripoli and with Benghazi airport closed, this is proving difficult. Matt Purton, Commercial Jets Director at ACS, explains some of the difficulties: “Yesterday afternoon [22nd Feb] only 2 landing permits for chartered flights out of the 457 registered had been granted. Our Dubai office managed to obtain one yesterday evening and has operated our first flight out of the country, on an Airbus A320, carrying almost two hundred Turkish citizens to Antalya this morning. And we now have permits for four more flights, all to operate today. Across our worldwide offices we have bookings in place for more than 3,000 people and are just waiting on those permits. We are pushing these through diplomatic channels as this appears to be the only way at the moment. “Following the violent protesting in Egypt we have helped evacuate more than 2,000 foreign nationals on chartered flights so far. As with the situation there, we are looking to take many people out of Libya to nearby safer havens such as southern Europe or the Middle East, and to continue their travel from there. Some are flying as far as the States and Asia though. “We’re just here to help get as many people out of the affected areas as we can.” Air Charter Service arranges more than 5,000 charters every year, incorporating tens of thousands of flights, on all aircraft - private jets, larger widebody airliners and cargo aircraft.

Egypt crisis update February, 2011 Air Charter Service has already booked or flown charters carrying more than 2,000 foreign nationals out of Cairo, as the violence in the Egyptian capital escalates. Although there has been reports of increased security searches on all aircraft leaving the country causing massive congestion at Cairo Airport over the weekend and during the course of the week, ACS has operated both large airliners carrying groups of passengers for embassies and tour operators, as well as businessmen on executive jets. Jon Thompson, Director at ACS, said: “Many people are realising that the most efficient way of leaving Egypt is on a chartered aircraft. We have seen huge demand over the past week. Cairo Airport has gone as far as to bring in the army to assist with security checks, clearances and aircraft slots. “Along with the flights that we have already performed we have many scheduled to depart in the coming days from Cairo, Alexandria and Luxor. Fortunately the situation at the airport seems to be improving and the backlog is beginning to clear a little. Whilst some of the aircraft are flying to more ‘local’ safe havens such as Dubai, Turkey and Greece, others have flown as far as the States.” Air Charter Service arranges more than 5,000 charters every year, incorporating tens of thousands of flight legs, on all aircraft - private jets, larger widebody airliners and cargo aircraft.