Managing Director George Galanopoulos of LEA

London Executive Aviation, one of Europe’s largest business jet charter operators, is adding three new aircraft to its fleet: a Bombardier Challenger 300; an Embraer Legacy 600 and a Legacy 650.

LEA’s managing director George Galanopoulos says: “With clear signs of an economic recovery, we are entering 2014 with a positive outlook for the business aviation industry as a whole. This will begin to filter into our own business and the addition of these aircraft is part of our continued drive to provide the very best options for our clients. By the end of this year, we are aiming to add an additional three aircraft to our fleet.”

The Challenger 300, tail number G-VCAN, is based at Bristol airport. At the end of 2013 the aircraft undertook a three-week tour of Asia, including Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam), Siem Reap (Cambodia), Yangon (Myanmar) and the Maldive Islands, on behalf of one of LEA’s Norwegian clients.

The Challenger 300, which can seat up to nine passengers plus two crew and a cabin attendant, is a technologically advanced, high-performance business jet with intercontinental range. It features ‘fly by wire’ avionics, highly efficient Honeywell HTF7000 engines and a state-of-the-art cabin entertainment system (including a DVD player, iPod Control Integration,  two large monitors with in-flight map display and full hi-speed wireless internet).

The 3,600 mile range allows passengers to fly non-stop from Bristol to destinations such as Moscow, Jeddah, Lagos and Dubai. The aircraft can operate from runways as short as 1,300 metres.

The Embraer Legacy 600, tail number G-PEPI, is a new and refurbished addition to the LEA fleet. The aircraft is equipped with a state-of-the-art entertainment system including two large screens, an Airshow cabin information system, complete with a moving map display, a satellite phone system, with three handsets and full high-speed wireless internet. The full galley provides full catering services to those onboard. The aircraft can fly as far as the Middle East and Africa from its London base, with a range of 3,600 miles.

The new Embraer Legacy 650 is the first LEA aircraft to be registered in the Isle of Man. The aircraft has a maximum range of 4,400 miles. Both the 600 and 650 can seat up to 13 passengers in comfort.

Galanopoulos continues: “We look to provide the most cost-effective, yet comfortable and functional, aviation travel arrangements for our clients. All aircraft meet our passenger expectations for comfort, space, reliability and above all safety.”

In addition LEA’s Challenger 300, tail number G-LEAZ, has been fully refurbished to create an advanced intercontinental jet complete with high-speed internet access to passengers while onboard.