Cut out the middleman
Book direct and choose from over 600 aircraft
The best of all possible worlds
Financial centres, Venetian art fairs and
island homes
If you are a private jet charterer or owner it’s time to
THINK AGAIN
SAY GOODBYE TO FRACTIONAL OWNERSHIP,
JET CARDS, OPAQUE PRICES,
UNDISCLOSED COMMISSIONS
AND EXCESSIVE MARK UPS
01
VICTO R M AGA ZIN E
SAY HELLO TO VICTOR
THE WORLD’S FIRST MARKETPLACE FOR
PRIVATE JET CHARTERS
One global marketplace offering complete transparency,
bookings with over 110 certified commercial aircraft operators,
exceptional customer service, fixed booking fees and an everexpanding choice of over 600 aircraft
No upfront fees or commitment. Join now and fly smarter
WITH THANKS TO:
FMS for their creative design, planning and project management www.fms.co.uk
Nando Esteva for his truly creative brand photography www.nandoesteva.com
Andre Camara for his daring location photography www.andrecamara.com
Tel:+44 20 7384 8550 (UK)
+7 499 255 1793 (Russia and CIS)
+49 69 66 55 41 25 (Germany, Austria, Switzerland)
Matt Haysom for his creative retouching and telepathy www.matthewhaysom.com
The team at Victor for making it happen (again)
www.flyvictor.com
Contents//
14
04
STRIPPING THE MYSTERY FROM PRIVATE AVIATION
Private aviation took off in the 1960s, when it was the
preserve of CEOs and rock stars. Today Victor is leading
the democratisation of a rarefied industry
06
VICTOR AT A GLANCE
Last year Victor stormed the world of private aviation,
offering a game-changing new platform for booking private jets.
Over 4,500 customers later, Victor is advancing even further
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22
JET OWNER
If you own a jet, consider chartering it out through Victor
10
KEEPING GOOD COMPANY
The online booking system is backed up by a professional
team who are there to help members with their travel plans
12
Visit www.flyvictor.com today – quote ‘think again’
21
SMOOTH OPERATOR
It’s not just Victor’s flying members who benefit. Operators,
too, are discovering the commercial advantages
REASONS TO CHARTER
A private jet chartered with Victor gets you swiftly and
directly to overseas offices and meetings, sporting events and
leisure destinations
BOARDROOM IN THE SKY
When business calls for a time-saving private flight
Become a member //
18
CLIVE TALKIN’
Victor founder Clive Jackson on disrupting the
marketplace, integrity and going global
VICTOR & THE SQUADRA CORSE
Victor is partnering with Lamborghini as part of a
groundbreaking motorsport initiative. Alex Doak meets Dane
Fisher, the man behind the Squadra Corse
24
26
CHOICE & TRANSPARENCY
The partner operators, the planes, the safety certification:
the small print you want to know before flying
28
VICTOR’S COMMITMENT
VICTO R M AGA ZIN E
IN
VIEW
C OTER
N TEN
TS
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THE BEST OF ALL POSSIBLE WORLDS
Financial centres, Venetian art fairs and island homes:
all are easily reachable with Victor
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RUNWAY COLLECTION
Travelling privately via local landing strips and airfields gets
you closer to your destination. Here are four favourites
THE OWNER
There are two main ways to fly in private aircraft:
own one yourself or charter them from someone
else. Ownership is a big undertaking, involving
the employment of pilots and having aircraft
maintained. Owners commonly hand over this
responsibility to management companies, which
either operate the aircraft purely for the use of
the owner or seek to offset the ownership costs
by making them available for charter. Then there’s
the question of how aircraft values depreciate, and
in recent years this has generally not worked out
well for owners. Unless you fly at least 300 hours
per year, full aircraft ownership probably does not
make financial sense.
F R O M
Private aviation has been available as an alternative to commercial airlines
since at least 1960. It was thrown into the limelight after Elvis Presley
married Priscilla at the Aladdin Resort & Casino in Las Vegas in May 1967:
unutterably glamorous shots of them boarding their private jet beamed
around the world, firmly positioning private flying as the preserve of kings
17,000
Business aircraft worldwide
75%
of all private jets are on the ground
at any one time
45%
of all private jets in flight are
actually empty
2.8
is the average number of passengers
flying in each private jet
8%
is the approximate proportion of
empty positioning flights that
operators will genuinely sell
75%
of all jet charters are ‘arranged’
via a middleman (broker) and
mark-ups and commissions are
completely unregulated
VICTO R M AGA ZIN E
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TO RYEW
VICTO R M AGA ZIN E
HIS TO RY
S T R I P P I N G T H E M Y S T E R Y
P R I V A T E A V I A T I O N
THE STATUS QUO
Charter is the main alternative but even this is far
from straightforward. Clients still feel compelled
to go through brokers who inflate costs with
their commissions. Customers shop around by
getting quotes from multiple brokers who then
play operators off against each other. This results
in a self-defeating scramble to bid and rebid for
essentially the same flight booking. If private
aviation were a commercial airline it probably
would have gone bust by now. No airline could
survive with its fleet sitting idle for much of the
time, with cabins empty for almost one out
of two flights and only a small fraction of the
available seats occupied by paying customers.
AND NOW… THE WINGS OF CHANGE
Although finding empty legs is still in its infancy,
customers are sure to find a private jet travelling
to and from their favourite destination in the
summer or ski season, perhaps not on the day that
they want, but at a price point that makes it worth
thinking again about their travel plans.
The latest evolution is the use of the Victor
‘book and buy’ market where operators can upload
their empty aircraft flying to and from any number
of cities, allowing the customer to search, receive
alerts and book and pay online with the financial
security and comfort necessary to underpin a
global marketplace such as Victor.
By far the most telling fact of this shift in
chartering behaviour is the number of ultra high
net worth individuals, and increasingly companies
too, that have welcomed the transparency of a true
marketplace and now welcome the opportunity
to play the market to get the best deal with no
upfront fees or a need for pre-payment.
There is no membership fee or commitment,
and the success of the business is based on
providing open, honest and exemplary service
in order to retain customers. No wonder they
are talking about Victor as the next evolution in
private jet travel. Victor members are people who
are flying smarter – a fact borne out with over
82% of members booking their second and third
flights exclusively with Victor and no longer using
the traditional broker.
FACTS
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THE REVOLUTION
In 1986 NetJets tried to change this equation
by introducing fractional ownership — a form of
flying timeshare through which consumers get
guaranteed access to aircraft on fixed terms for
a specified number of hours each year. Later,
companies like Marquis Jet started remarketing
fractional ownership in blocks of 25 flight hours,
lowering the cost of entry so that an upfront
commitment of 120,000 euros would get you
started in private jet travel. While fractional
ownership reduces the acquisition cost and
spreads operating costs too, some customers
have become frustrated by rigid contracts that
can leave them out-of-pocket if they don’t need all
their allotted hours or when they want to opt out
of the scheme. On top of the purchase price for
their fractional shares, “owners” also pay monthly
management fees, other supplements (regardless
of how much they fly) and hourly costs for the
time they are airborne; and worse they pay for the
depreciation.
Many prospective charter customers likely ask
themselves why can’t they simply book flights
directly, as they have done with airlines for many
years now. Why can’t they go to one place and find
a good selection of available aircraft operators and
flight options?
Well, the answer is that now they can, thanks to
the arrival of an online marketplace.
“I love booking private flights with Victor because they offer easy online
access, flexibility and a huge choice of destinations and planes all for
considerably better value than others. Their Customer Service team is
on hand 24 hours a day from the very beginning right through to landing
helping to recommend the right aircraft for the trip, helping choose the
best Operator and ensuring the entire trip went smoothly. The Victor
model clearly is one that puts the customer first; I am sure others will
enjoy the same experience”
TIM RICHARDS: CEO AND FOUNDER, VUE ENTERTAINMENT
DARE TO CHALLENGE
In August 2011 Clive Jackson, frustrated with commercial air travel and the lack of first
class services across Europe, launched the world’s first marketplace for jet charters.
This innovative online platform disrupted an antiquated industry by effectively cutting out brokers
and middlemen. Identifying that 45% of private jets fly empty at any one time, Clive seized the
opportunity to utilise this spare capacity. Suddenly, he was offering customers access to a form of
travel that was once the preserve of the rich and famous – and aircraft operators the chance to sell
their returning empty aircraft. The daring part was the complete transparency: allowing people who
wanted to charter a jet to see the full details of the aircraft operator. If they chose to, they could
bypass Victor altogether and book direct – but they haven’t. Two years on, there are over 4,500
members.
22:00 EST/03:00 GMT
VICTOR AT A GLANCE
LAST YEAR VICTOR STORMED THE WORLD OF PRIVATE AVIATION, OFFERING
A GAME-CHANGING NEW PLATFORM FOR CUSTOMERS TO BOOK PRIVATE JETS.
OVER 4,500 CUSTOMERS LATER, EVERYONE IS LOVING THE CONCEPT – INCLUDING
THE JET OPERATORS THEMSELVES. NOW VICTOR IS ADVANCING EVEN FURTHER,
AS ITS MEMBERS REALISE THAT CHARTERING A JET IS THE FASTEST, MOST
EFFICIENT WAY TO GET TO THEIR DESTINATION, BE IT A SPORTING EVENT, A
SECOND HOME OR AN IMPORTANT BUSINESS CONVENTION. A PRIVATE JET BOOKED
WITH VICTOR OPENS UP A WORLD OF POSSIBILITIES, ANY TIME, ANYWHERE
THE CLEVER PART
If a member chooses, he or she can sell any surplus seats to other members, either sharing their
cabin or offering seats on the returning ‘empty leg’. The member receives 70% of the seat sale,
which can effectively almost halve the original cost of their jet charter. This system works particularly
well on the popular charter routes such as Mallorca – where Victor first started flying – Nice, Ibiza
and Geneva.
THE DETAIL
If members are following certain routes, they can receive alerts when flights become available.
Victor’s booking system offers security: payment goes into an HSBC client deposit account, which
keeps it safe in the event of a financial problem with the operator.
THE NEW WORLD
Victor effectively opens up the world of private jets to a whole new market – those who may never
have considered flying privately before – because the seat prices can be equivalent to business class
fares. The arrival of Victor is effectively democratising private jet travel, making it more accessible
and affordable than ever before.
YOU CAN GET A QUOTE AND
BOOK WITH VICTOR 24/7;
IT’S EASY
et charterers; don’t waste your J
time benchmarking the market when Victor will do this for you with a few short clicks
It’s pay as you go, rather than pay in advance. With Victor you don’t need to commit yourself to a pre-paid jet card or get tied to JUST one supplier
If there is an empty aircraft available, Victor will match it to your quote request
With over 600 aircraft at your
disposal, Victor will match the best aircraft type and quote for every occasion
It’s quick; quote request to booking
and take-off in less than 2 hours
Enjoy exceptional customer service
every step of the way
VICTO R M AGA ZIN E
VICTO R AT A G LANC E
THE CHOICE
Victor members can fly to and from almost any airport worldwide – 40,000 different airports with a
choice of over 600 different aircraft.
07
THE JET CHARTER PROPOSITION
The reasons people choose to charter a jet with Victor are the ease of use, professional service, the
choice, transparency of information and the price. First of all, membership is free. Members register
online and are verified by Victor’s member services team. They can then request quotations, using
the simple online process, which they will start to receive within 60 minutes. The quotations cover
the all-inclusive price and photographs and details about the aircraft they are booking. They can
book online, and there is always an expert in flight operations or a travel concierge at the end of the
phone to offer advice and assistance. Jet charterers often need to make last-minute bookings, and
Victor can turn around a booking within two hours of departure.
REASONS TO CHARTER
MANY JET CHARTERERS ARE SWITCHING TO VICTOR
THANKS TO THE TRANSPARENCY, CHOICE, SERVICE
AND PRICE. IF YOU CURRENTLY CHARTER A JET AND PAY
UPFRONT AND OVER THE ODDS, THINK ABOUT MAKING
A MOVE. VICTOR IS ON STANDBY WITH A PLANE
CELEBRATIONS
Weddings, honeymoons, birthdays and
anniversaries are just a few reasons to take
the trip of a lifetime. For those contemplating
a luxury cruise, an iconic train journey, the
ultimate safari or a visit to one of Europe’s
historic palace hotels, why not consider the
destination in style – making the journey as
faster and provides access to airports closer to the
BUSINESS OVERSEAS
resorts. There are no excess baggage charges to
worry about (subject to size of jet) and there are
The Ryder Cup is undoubtedly one of the greatest occasions in world sport. For pure
sporting theatre the raw emotion of this incredible tournament cannot be matched.
Victor’s unique private aircraft offering provides golfing enthusiasts with the ultimate
travel experience to the 40th Ryder Cup at Gleneagles.
Flying privately with Victor is the perfect option for time-poor individuals who want to
maximise their time at the event – from the 1st tee-off to the final round – without losing
valuable hours travelling.
All VIPs flying with Victor will be provided with ground transfers in accredited vehicles
from airports in Scotland to Gleneagles.
Individual day-return seats are available from London Luton to Dundee Airport
for £1,800 per person on each of the three Ryder Cup match days; Friday 26th,
Saturday 27th, or Sunday 28th September 2014. To make a reservation please email
[email protected] with the date you wish to fly on and the number of seats you require.
Subject to demand, large group packages on Fokker 50 airliners (with 50 seats) are
also available for £810 per person for a same day return - Luton to Dundee - on all three
match days.
To request bespoke private charter quotes please contact the Victor Team by email or
on +44 20 7384 8550. Victor can charter aircraft from all suitable airports worldwide to
Dundee or Edinburgh Airport.
specialist jets with capacity to carry ski equipment.
International Businesswoman Sally Roberts
Airports such as Sion for Verbier and Samedan for
explains why she benefits from being a member:
St Moritz take skiers straight into the heart of the
“I have a business in the UK and a hotel, Quinta
resorts, by-passing the busy commercial airports
Jacintina, in the ‘golden triangle’ of Portugal,
and dramatically reducing transfer times. The time
in the Algarve near Vale do Lobo and Quinta do
saved by travelling to the ski resorts by private jet
Lago. I fly once every 10 days to Portugal from
can add an extra day’s skiing – a bonus any powder
Bristol, Oxford or Gloucester. Sometimes I base
hound or ski bunny would welcome.
TEFAF
England for weekends. In winter the commercial
options between the UK and Faro become
significantly reduced and I have a complete
SHOOTING TRIPS
For the shooting enthusiast, travelling by private
Flying privately can get you in and out of airports that are nearer your final destination,
avoiding all the stress and delays associated with congested commercial airports. Victor is a
partner of the world’s leading art and antiques fair, TEFAF, setting the standard for excellence
in the art market. The fair will take place from 14 - 23 March 2014 bringing together some
260 of the world’s leading art dealers from 20 countries. With Maastricht less than one
hour from London by private plane, you can book a special direct flight with Victor and
avoid the long taxi or train journey from Brussels. Victor can also provide full charter quotes
to Maastricht airport from airports worldwide. We advise that you book early in order to
secure your landing spot. Attendees flying with Victor have access to the invitation-only
preview event on Thursday 13 March and will enjoy a complimentary limo transfer direct to
and from the fair, courtesy of BMW*
* Subject to availability.
jet enables you to reach your favourite country
shoot locations even faster, landing at the smaller
airports nearby. Unlike scheduled flights, flying
To find out more, please visit www.flyvictor.com/ryder-cup-travel-services.
myself in Portugal for spells and fly back to
privately means you can take your guns and your
dogs on board with you.
To book a flight, join now and send a flight enquiry to the Victor Team or call us
+44 20 7384 8550 or to find out more, visit www.flyvictor.com/Tefaf_2014
www.tefaf.com
aversion to Gatwick or Heathrow.
For me, chartering a plane is a huge time-saving
element. Cost is a consideration, but at times
the benefits of flying somewhere fast and direct
outweigh that. The time you save getting from
home, through an airport and onto a plane is
fantastic. You are met at the airport and in 15
minutes you are up and away.”
VICTO R M AGA ZIN E
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VICTO R M AGA ZIN E
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unforgettable as the holiday itself.
Travel by private jet gets skiers to the slopes
RYDER CUP
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added luxury of a private jet to take you to your
SKIING
BOARDROOM IN THE SKY
* Eurocontrol statistics – Business Aviation in Europe.
VICTO R M AGA ZIN E
BU S INESS
VICTO R M AGA ZIN E
BU S I NESS
The large number of airports accessible by private jet means you
get closer to your end destination and avoid the inconvenience
of airport queues and connecting airports; it is as close to a time
machine as you can get.
Victor can provide you with a flight on a private aircraft from
or to almost any airport in the world, offering maximum flexibility
and saving you valuable time. Fast-tracking through from your car
straight onto the aircraft ensures you can focus on your business
meeting ahead, whether that’s reading, writing and preparing
through to just taking time to think and reflect, uninterrupted.
For many large corporations and governments, Victor provides
a fully transparent charter option that negates the need for any
upfront payments or commitment to purchase a prepaid jet card.
Victor’s transparent approach provides a fully open audit trail
demonstrating the competitive process to obtain the best possible
deal – good corporate governance, almost a pre-requisite in today’s
economically challenged and politically sensitive world.
For large corporate fleets, Victor’s online marketplace provides
an opportunity to demonstrate a willingness to utilise better
an asset that sits uncomfortably as a balance sheet liability, and
instead helps it pay for itself.
Above all, the overriding benefit will be the extra hours of
productivity by sending your best people via their own travelling
boardroom in the sky – a smarter way to fly.
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THREE TIMES THE NUMBER OF ROUTES
ARE FLOWN ON BUSINESS JETS IN EUROPE
VERSUS COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT*. CLEARLY
SOMEONE HAS DONE THE MATHS TO SATISFY
THEMSELVES AND THEIR BOARD THAT
A PRIVATE JET IS NOT A LUXURY, BUT A
COMPETITIVE NECESSITY IN TERMS OF SHEER
SPEED AND EFFICIENCY – PARTICULARLY
WHEN YOU HAVE THREE OR FOUR EXECUTIVES
TRAVELLING TOGETHER OR NEED TO VISIT
MORE THAN ONE COUNTRY IN A DAY
“It was a shared passion for motorsport and a chance conversation
with Victor’s founding CEO Clive Jackson that contributed to Squadra
Corse’s gestation, as well as Victor’s partnership”
It may seem an unlikely leap from heading up pre-owned and financial
services at Automobili Lamborghini SpA to managing the Italian supercar
company’s new commercial motorsport division, Squadra Corse. But once
you appreciate Dane Fisher’s deepset passion for motorsport, you begin to
realise how easy a transition it must have been for this astute businessman.
When he answers the call from his boardroom at Bologna HQ, he’s tangibly
excited about the forthcoming weekend, attending the Barcelona Grand
Prix with friends and family. As he talks about his background, he even
admits to having raced Suzuki Swifts at national level back in his homeland
of New Zealand. It was, in fact, a shared passion for motorsport and a chance
conversation with Victor’s founding CEO Clive Jackson that contributed to
Squadra Corse’s gestation, as well as Victor’s eventual partnership.
“Clive’s Autotorq business was building Lamborghini’s online preowned car locator at the time,” explains Fisher, “but Clive and I were
kindred spirits from way back; businessmen with a passion for cars and
particularly motorsport.
“We were brainstorming the idea of our ‘perfect day’ and dreamt up
the idea of a flight from London to Bologna on a Lear Jet booked through
Victor, a day spent driving the Imola racetrack in a race-tuned Lamborghini,
a nice evening… then a flight back to London the following day.
www.squadracorse.lamborghini.com
VICTO R M AGA ZIN E
IN TR O DUC IN G SQ UA DR A C O R SE
VICTO R M AGA ZIN E
IN TR O DUC IN G SQ UA DR A C O R SE
Victor partners with Lamborghini’s Squadra Corse: an unusually exciting, truly innovative
new motorsport initiative from the Italian supercar manufacturer which celebrated its 50th
birthday in 2013. Evolving its firmly-established, one-make Blancpain Super Trofeo race
series, Squadra Corse introduces a global, tiered programme of high-octane thrills, from
one-day ‘Esperienza’ events for the mildly curious or novice Lamborghini driver, all the way
up to fully blown FIA GT3 professional racing – the first time the Fighting Bull has engaged
its rivals on the world-class stage in its five decades. Lamborghini’s new commercial
motorsport manager Dane Fisher tells ALEX DOAK why Squadra Corse not only places the
Fighting Bull at the cutting edge of pro motorsport, but how it could discover a whole new
generation of hotshot drivers.
a bit of time, but the unique thing about Lamborghini customers is that,
from 21 year olds to people in their eighties, as with no other marque,
the thing that binds them is genuine individuality. So it is completely
conceivable that we can take them – admittedly from the younger end
of that spectrum – right through the Squadra Corse process. My boss,
Stephan Winkelmann, likes to joke that, for our first 50 years, there wasn’t
a lot of motorsport at Lamborghini. But going into the next 50 years, with
a dedicated racing team to build on, we’re catching up fast. We certainly
won’t rest until we’re considered one of the best motorsport marques
in the world.”
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VICTOR & THE SQUADRA CORSE
“Then we realised that, between us, the dream was closer to reality
than we thought. This partnership isn’t about promoting each other’s
brands, it’s about bringing to fruition what Squadra Corse is all about.”
So what exactly is Squadra Corse all about?
Since 2009, ‘the world’s fastest single-make race series’ Lamborghini
Blancpain Super Trofeo has been firmly established on the global circuit,
with Europe, Asia and now the US running seasons for privateer teams
and their lightweight Gallardo LP 570-4s. But either side of Super Trofeo,
what Fisher wanted was more customer engagement at racing’s entry
level and, for the first time in the Fighting Bull’s half-century, a bona fide
works team racing at the elite GT3 level.
“Lamborghini has already established an unbelievable platform for
motorsport,” Fisher explains. “To create, from scratch, a successful race
series like the Super Trofeo is a huge challenge. But from my point of view
it has always been a sort of side project; it has been done from the R&D
side of things, rather than the commercial.
“Because of my racing background, and perhaps a little too much
passion, I started looking into it… and saw a significant commercial
opportunity. I envisaged building a funnel, or pathway for our customers,
which starts with ‘Esperienza’ – taster driving days at racetracks around
the world.”
The next step was building a brand to take Lamborghini’s customers
further along this pathway. So in 2013, Fisher’s team rolled out ‘Academy’ –
one or two-day programmes that hone your skills for driving your Gallardo
or Aventador in icy, racing or track conditions.
“It really is exciting. For the ice part, we started in Cortina, Italy in
February, and at another point we’ll be 36 hours away on the other side
of the planet in New Zealand. What’s more, two of our Track Academy
weekends last year were linked with the Super Trofeo race meetings. This
way, our Academy customers have the opportunity to see what could be
ahead of them – the next part of the pyramid, if you like. The absolute
objective being to take someone all the way.”
The basis of the so-called ‘Lamborghini GT3’ is Reiter’s GT3 car. Says
Fisher: “This is the first time our R&D department has worked with Reiter
Engineering, but they were the logical choice. In the past Lamborghini
has provided components – the chassis, engine, the bones of the car –
and the car has proved itself on the track by winning races. But we now
have our own stipulations: better aerodynamics, brakes endurance over
24 hours… as well as the design language, so it’s more in keeping with the
roadgoing Gallardo.”
And, as Fisher attests, the GT3 class is the logical class to go for –
it’s more relevant than any other class because it’s the most competitive;
virtually every other manufacturer is there.
Sure enough, despite the factory’s racing infancy, results have been
immediate. At Belgium’s Zolder Circuit in April, the new Lamborghini
Gallardo GT3 claimed victory on its FIA debut. The Lamborghini Blancpain
Reiter team of Peter Kox and Stefan Rosina delivered a near-perfect weekend
in the new car, securing a breakthrough victory in Sunday’s main race.
So could a customer become a Lamborghini GT3 driver? “Yes, of
course,” says Fisher, “the opportunity is potentially unlimited. It may take
GT3 FAST FACTS
The new Lamborghini Gallardo GT3 variant developed
jointly by Automobili Lamborghini and Reiter Engineering
represents a cornerstone in the marque’s burgeoning
engagement in motorsport.
FOR THE LONG-HAUL
Based on 2013’s new V10-powered Gallardo sports car,
a focus of the new GT3’s development is on long-distance
performance and includes ‘24-hour’ brakes, improved
engine cooling and reduced fuel consumption.
CUTS LIKE A KNIFE
The car features a highly efficient aerodynamics kit, a new
shovel-like front splitter and the same carbon-fibre rear
diffuser as the Gallardo Blancpain Super Trofeo car.
POWER UP
The new racecar boasts an overall improved power-toweight performance, with the GT3’s weight reduced by
25kg over the previous Gallardo GT3.
[1 ]
[ 2]
[3 ]
[4]
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VICTO R M AGA ZIN E
C O O L AIRP O RT S
VICTO R M AGA ZIN E
C O O L AI RP O RT S
R U N W A Y
C O L L E C T I O N
There are times in your life when you deserve the very best. Amongst the many
delights of travelling by small private jet is the avoidance of the queues at airport
check-in desks and being able to step straight from your car onto the plane. At the
other end, you know that the minute you step off your aircraft, your bags are there,
ready and waiting and a car will whisk you straight to your final destination.
It’s almost as close to perfection as you can get…
1. ST BARTS: GUSTAF III
(airport code SBH)
2. ST TROPEZ: LA MOLE
(airport code LTT)
3. LONDON: CITY
(airport code LCY)
4. ABU DHABI: AL BATEEN
(airport code AZI)
The most famously chic destination in the
Caribbean, St Barts is sunny, hot, green,
and beautifully manicured. The short, 2,170
foot runway is actually on a slight slope
which, coupled with the typically turbulent
wind patterns means that the airport is
only accessible by small, turbo-propelled
aircraft. It’s a stunning arrival, over Mount
Tourment and the turquoise waters of
St Jean beach, landing on the downhill
slope of the runway.
Fifteen kilometres west of St Tropez,
La Môle’s quiet airfield is the smart
alternative entry to the French Riviera.
The quaint artisan village was once the
home of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, French
aristocrat, writer, poet and pioneering
aviator who flew reconnaissance missions
at the outbreak of World War II. He
describes La Môle in his most famous
novella, Le Petit Prince.
In prime position, City airport provides
fast, efficient 15-minute access to the
heart of London’s financial district, Canary
Wharf, as well as the Docklands and the
Olympic Village. Take off and landing is
an edgy thrill, between some of London’s
most iconic buildings – the O2 stadium,
St Paul’s Cathedral, the new Shard and
the London Eye.
The second largest city in the UAE,
Abu Dhabi has its own state-of-the-art
executive airport with luxurious lounges
and its own conference facility. Al Bateen
is the region’s only airport dedicated
exclusively to private jets, bringing you
straight into the heart of the city.
Alternatively: take the hour’s boat crossing
from St Maarten where big jets land and
hope that the crossing is not too choppy!
Alternatively: risk the peak season
nose-to-tail traffic for a two-hour drive
along the coast road from Nice airport.
Alternatively: a limo can take up to an
hour-and-a-half to drive from London
Heathrow Airport.
Alternatively: the journey from the main
international airport, although only 35km,
can take up to one-and-a-half hours in rush
hour traffic, not to mention the 45º heat.
“How about Venice during the
Art Biennale? There’s always
something magical about arriving
by boat from the airport – but how
much more magical if you have
just flown in on a private jet and
wafted through immigration in a
matter of minutes”
WHERE CAN VICTOR TAKE YOU THIS SUMMER? Or, put another way, where would you like Victor to take you? On
a private jet, you can fly to just about anywhere you want to go and at a time to suit you. No interminable queuing at
airlines’ baggage drops; no waiting at the luggage carousel for suitcases that are winging their way to Delhi; and
no fighting your way through the airport because six low-cost flights have arrived at the same time as you.
Victor connects its members with a wide selection of private jet operators, offering more than 600
aircraft, serving 40,000 airports worldwide. The beauty of Victor is that you simply search the company’s
website for empty leg availability on existing routes or request a quote for your preferred destination. Just
decide where you want to go.
To whet your appetite, how about a romantic weekend for two in glamorous Saint Tropez – but with two
minor adjustments. Instead of flying into Nice, 100km from Saint-Tropez, fly privately into La Môle, 15km
south-west of the port.
Then, rather than staying in busy Saint-Tropez itself, opt for Ramatuelle, a peaceful Provençal village just
outside the port. Here, set in a seven-acre stone pine forest, you will find the delightful Villa Marie, a small
five-star hotel with stunning views over the Bay of Pampelonne. You are, of course, still within easy reach of
Saint-Tropez’s beaches, bars, clubs and restaurants – but how much more romantic to be strolling through
Villa Marie’s peaceful gardens, sipping a glass or two of local rosé as the sun sets?
You could fly from Biggin Hill to Nice airport in July on a seven-seater plane, pick up a hire car (rent an opentop sports model – very Grant and Kelly) and in less than an hour be sipping a glass of rosé and wondering
PETS ON JETS
Jack steps into the cabin of his private jet
and makes his way up the aisle to his seat. His
companion straps him in for take off then gives
him a dog biscuit. He’s a Jack Russell and he’s a
pet on a jet.
For many dog-owners, a holiday isn’t a holiday
without their faithful companion. Similarly, those
who divide their time between the UK and a
property abroad wouldn’t dream of leaving their
four-legged friend behind. But what could be more
distressing than watching your beloved pet being
crated up and consigned to the hold of a plane?
It’s enough to put you off flying altogether.
TRAVEL BRIEF
Victor (+44 20 7384 8550; www.flyvictor.com)
Villa Marie (+33 457 747 474; www.maisons-hotels-sibuet.com)
The Gritti Palace (+39 041 794 611; www.thegrittipalace.com)
Hotel Cipriani (+39 041 240 801; www.hotelcipriani.com)
Ackergill Tower (+44 1955 603 556; www.ackergilltower.com)
But Victor has the answer: take your dog into the
cabin with you. You simply search Victor’s website
for available flights, then all your dog needs is its
pet passport and its microchip and it’s good to go.
It doesn’t even have to travel in a container: it gets
its own seat, right next to you.
With Victor, the chances are your pet will get a
better seat than you do…
VICTO R M AGA ZIN E
TAK E YO U R S EAT S
VICTO R M AGA ZIN E
TAK E YO U R S EAT S
Movie locations, romantic medieval villages, Venetian art fairs, island homes, highland
fresh-air weekends all are easily reachable using Victor - and more affordable than you
might imagine
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THE BEST OF ALL POSSIBLE WOR LDS
why you haven’t been here before (or, indeed, why you haven’t flown from
Biggin Hill before – flying from a small airfield is like stepping back in time to
a more glamorous, less stressful age of air travel).
Or how about Venice during the Art Biennale which takes place between
June and November? There’s always something magical about arriving
by boat from the city’s airport – but how much more magical if you have
just flown in on a private jet and wafted through immigration in a matter
of minutes. In Venice, stay at the beautifully refurbished Gritti Palace, where
each of the rooms is filled with antiques, painting and frescoes and the
peerless Club del Doge restaurant looks out over the Grand Canal. Or check
into the glamorous Hotel Cipriani on Giudecca Island, four minutes from
San Marco square. It’s less grande dame than the Gritti, and more childfriendly with lots of outdoor space and a fabulous pool.
Alternatively, you could combine your trip with a small luxury cruise with
an Aegean and Adriatic Highlights itinerary that departs from Athens and
ends in Venice 10 days later. And unlike most luxury cruises, which finish with
a less-than-luxurious low-cost flight back to the UK, you’ll be cossetted all the
way home. But perhaps you’re planning a family holiday in Mallorca or have
a second home there? If it’s the latter then you’ll know that the worst part of
the journey is always Palma de Mallorca airport (where the crowds provide
a happy hunting ground for pickpockets). With Victor you’ll be flying into
a private terminal, and at less crowded times (and if you’re renting a villa,
this could mean no more driving up and down unlit country roads in the dark
trying to find your accommodation, while the children squabble in the back
of the car).
If you’re planning to head to Scotland this summer for a spot of salmon
fishing or perhaps to bag a munro, then Victor will fly you – and your party – to
Inverness. If you’re not fishing (or even if you are), head for Ackergill Tower,
a five-star castle hotel by the sea near Wick. Stay in the tower itself or, as
a snug alternative, book The Smiddy, a gorgeous little cottage overlooking
the beach. What are you waiting for?
IN WHAT WAY ARE YOU CHALLENGING THE STATUS QUO
OF THE INDUSTRY?
The vast majority of business transactions for private jet charters go
through a broker and brokers are there to charge commission, usually
as much as they can rationalise. Customers don’t really know how
much their charter is being marked up by and up till now they have had
to accept the fact that private jet chartering is not regulated at all, or
particularly transparent. As a new and disruptive entrant to the market,
we have inevitably experienced a lot of resistance from the broker
industry. It was a bold move to launch a completely transparent service
that openly publishes the details of all suppliers’ quotes along with their
phone numbers and addresses. I believe that a flat 5% booking fee
for an online booking is fair, provided we deliver a high quality service.
Unsurprisingly brokers thought it would never work – they thought
our customers would bypass us to save 5% but we’ve found that our
members are willing to pay what they believe to be a reasonable fee in
recognition of the value, choice and customer service we offer.
The early 1990s saw the dawning of a digital revolution – an opportunity that Clive Jackson, CEO and founder of Victor, seized
with both hands. Launching digital web design and marketing company Global Beach in 1993, he successfully steered the business
through global expansion and 20 years of consecutive profits, leading to Jackson’s place as an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of
the Year finalist in 2002 and 2004 as well as APAX Technology CEO of the Year finalist in 2003. Victor is the company every
entrepreneur wishes they’d dreamt up, but it is Jackson who has ventured into uncharted territory to shake up the private jet
industry and provide its customers with a transparent, innovative and global online service.
HOW HAS YOUR BACKGROUND LED TO THE CREATION OF VICTOR
AND SHAPED YOUR VISION?
My background in branding, marketing and technology has put me in an
ideal situation to figure out how to engage those who fly by private jet –
the ultra-high net worth community – and how to create a brand that would
appeal to that community of users and develop a technology platform to
support our business model. Victor is my ninth company so I’m used to
the challenge of building a business from scratch. Running Global Beach
taught me some important lessons – mainly that it’s all about understanding
what the customer wants and to continue to deliver, surprise and delight.
I made a conscious decision to put my name at the forefront of the Victor
brand – after all many of our customers are captains of industry and
entrepreneurs themselves and I think they will relate to what I am trying to
achieve, and the fact that I am willing to put my name to the brand.
WHAT OBSTACLES HAVE YOU COME UP AGAINST SINCE
THE LAUNCH?
So many in the aviation industry said those using or booking private
jets wouldn’t use technology to organise their travel schedules and
charters. When I started I knew nothing about private aviation so it
was a steep learning curve. However, I knew how to engage customers,
and if you start with the customer, understand what they want, and
build something that delivers what they want, then you are starting
from a good place. And the proof of the pudding is that our customers
are now actually transacting online. In the first three months
of operation, 20% of our customers were doing so, and 2 years
later this has risen to 85% which proves it works. Since our launch,
over 4,500 people across Europe and now the Americas have signed
up to Victor. When you bear in mind that signing up isn’t just typing
in your email address, but involves a member induction call with
Victor’s member services team, this is a significant accomplishment.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ARE THE SERVICES THAT ARE INSPIRING
YOUR CUSTOMERS TO USE VICTOR?
Firstly, for an online business, they need to know there are real
people there to support them – we have a highly experienced flight
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE TECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY
IN THE UK TODAY?
Our industry is a powerful driver of innovation and business
development in the UK. I was a judge on the Daily Mail Made in Britain
Awards and it is clear that we have a lot of creativity and technical
know-how in Britain: if we had access to the right level of funding,
we could change the world. I do, however, think that the government
could do more to help stimulate investment at the early stages to help
small and medium-sized businesses develop; and as importantly we
need to encourage venture capitalists back into the market.
YOU’VE RECENTLY BEEN SELECTED BY WALPOLE AS ONE OF THIS
YEAR’S INNOVATIVE BRANDS OF TOMORROW. HAS INNOVATION –
PARTICULARLY IN TECHNOLOGY – ALWAYS PLAYED A KEY PART IN
YOUR SUCCESS?
Spotting the potential impact of the internet in 1992 helped me ride the
first wave of the internet revolution. Back then, people didn’t think that
desktop PCs could be used for anything more than word processing,
but I felt that if you could take that PC and turn it into a communication
station like an interactive TV, which is what our iPads are today, then
brands could engage and interact with their customers in a much
more dynamic way. Smart technology is about making this happen
more efficiently, faster, and reducing cost and innovation is a constant
journey and opportunity.
VICTO R M AGA ZIN E
INT ERVI EW
VICTO R M AGA ZIN E
IN TER VIEW
‘THINK AGAIN’, VICTOR ASKS OF ITS TARGET AUDIENCE – A MARKETING MESSAGE THAT UNDERLIES ITS
MAIN PREOCCUPATION – TO REINVENT THE WAY IN WHICH THE PRIVATE JET INDUSTRY SERVICES ITS
CLIENTS. CEO AND FOUNDER, CLIVE JACKSON, HAS THE KNOWLEDGE, THE DETERMINATION AND SKILL
TO MAKE IT HAPPEN. IN FACT, IT ALREADY IS
WHAT ABOUT YOUR PLANS TO GO GLOBAL?
Victor is a global marketplace by nature of the fact that the product
we’re providing allows you to go to and from any destination in the
world. Our platform offers 400 million different route combinations
making it a truly global offering. The challenge of taking the brand
global is ensuring that your primary market is either profitable or close
to profitable then adapting your go-to-market strategy for different
territories. With the business analytics to prove you’re on the right
path, it’s about finding the right people, resources – and the funding.
We’re also fortunate to have a shareholder base comprised mainly of
Victor members, who not only use our service, but want to actively
help the business expand.
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C L I V E TA L K I N ’
WHAT’S THE THINKING BEHIND THE VICTOR BRAND?
We’re trying to create a brand that reframes how the entire industry
works and challenges the thinking around it. We have created a visual
brand that places a small jet directly into a location as near to where
our members want to be, such as a luxury hotel or outside their office
on Wall Street – a visual metaphor for cutting out the middleman
and implying that Victor gets you directly to where you want to go.
It’s fun, different and makes people stop and think. We want to
challenge convention. Although we are leading the market, I am sure
many more will follow our example; however, there will only be one
Victor, so let’s hope our investment in the brand pays off.
management and travel concierge team always available to help
our members. This creates comfort and reassurance. It’s also about
the honesty, trust and integrity that Victor strives to deliver to our
members, in a world that, up until now, has been shrouded in mystery.
“So many in the industry said it couldn’t
be done. They said the high net worth
market wouldn’t use technology to
organise their private jet travel. When
I started I knew nothing about private
aviation so it was a steep learning
curve. However, I knew how to engage
customers, and if you start with the
customer, understand what they want,
and build something that delivers what
they want, then you are starting from a
good place”
WHERE NEXT...
1
Expand across Europe and then the
emerging markets, including South-East
Asia, the Middle East and North America.
The Moscow office opened in
September 2013.
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We must integrate with travel and
leisure partners, and merge our service
proposition with their business objectives.
We are already seeing good results
from our partnerships with luxury yacht
companies, hotels, luxury car brands and
art fairs.
4
In less than five years, consumers will
probably be conducting 95% of all their
transactions either on their phone or
their wrist watch. People will be accessing
information on the move, any time,
any place – mobile is a digital revolution.
5
We have an enviable shareholder list;
captains of industry – 100% of our
investors use our service.
SMOOTH OPERATOR
For the 2,600 private jet charter operators around the world, there is a revolution
under way, where everyone can become a Victor
With roughly 75% of all business jet charter bookings arranged
by an intermediary – the broker – the majority of operators simply
cannot survive on their direct customers alone, resulting in an
unhealthy dependency on the middleman. There are few operators
that have fleets larger than 20 aircraft (the average number of
aircraft under management is less than four), thus they lack the
size to invest and develop a significant direct-to-consumer offering.
Victor offers operators the opportunity to list their charter
fleet free of charge in a global and truly transparent online market
place. Customers can request quotes and book with peace of mind
knowing exactly who they are dealing with, and trust that the
charter cost is not excessively marked-up. There is no regulation
over what a broker can charge, or whether they have to disclose
their mark-up.
For operators who use the Victor platform the value proposition
is clear – transparency and trust. They are confident knowing that
their quotation goes directly to the customer, that for full charters,
the booking fee is always a fixed 5% for all online customers, and
their terms and conditions must be accepted by the charterer. This
provides a consistent robustness of contractual engagement not
previously seen in the industry.
The marrying of supply and demand under one safe, secure
and direct-to-customer booking portal while underpinning every
transaction with an international financial settlement guarantee,
protects both the customer and operator; unique in such a
fragmented industry. Moreover, the identity of the operator and
details of their specific aircraft are always disclosed, providing the
customer with even more reassurance.
As an online market portal, Victor enables operators to post
‘empty’ returning or positioning aircraft on its ‘book and buy’
platform.
With no up-front costs for operators to list their aircraft or
for customers to book, Victor is focused on developing a trusted
consumer brand where all operators are treated equally and
where everyone can win.
VICTO R M AGA ZIN E
O P ERATO R BENEFI T S
VICTO R M AGA ZIN E
INT ERVI EW
3
Soon we’ll be introducing an option where
our customers will be able to make their
best offer on any empty flight – a bit like
eBay. We know high net worth individuals
love doing deals, so they have the option
to bid as well as ‘buy now’.
JET
OWNER
Chances are that if you’re a successful entrepreneur, captain of industry or movie
star, you may well own a private jet. If so, it’s time you took a look at Victor.
Many private jet owners, including dynamic entrepreneur Steve Perez, so enjoy
this experience of flying that they have made their planes available to others to
charter. But there’s also a sound business reason; if you’re a jet owner, talk to one
of Victor’s partner operators.
It can cost you £100,000 a year to manage a small jet and significantly more
for a mid to larger size aircraft. What would you think about the possibility of
making that back, to defray costs?
Interested? Here’s how Victor can help. Through Victor’s online booking
platform, ‘empty legs’ on repositioning flights are directly publicised to Victor
members, who can choose to take the whole flight or individual seats on it –
effectively making that flight pay. No hidden costs; no middlemen. So it’s more
efficient for owners, operators and charterers.
To take advantage of this, all you have to do is ask your operator to make your
jet available on Victor and list every positioning or empty leg for charter.
Steve Perez, founder of innovative drinks company Global Brands Ltd and a former CBI
‘Entrepreneur of the Year’, is already chartering out his jet via Victor. Here’s what he has
to say about it.
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HOW LONG HAVE YOU OWNED A PLANE? We’ve had the aircraft for two-and-a-half
years. It’s one of a kind, with a luxurious interior, and in immaculate condition.
WHY DO YOU OWN YOUR OWN AIRCRAFT? The aircraft has been used for a variety of
reasons. It’s fantastic for business, leisure pursuits and also chartering.
WHO TYPICALLY USES THE PLANE? We have a large variety of clients from F1 drivers
to Premiership footballers, golf players and a famous novelist. I also use the plane for
holidays abroad, my rally driving events and business meetings.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN CHARTERING IT OUT? We have chartered the aircraft for
over a year-and-a-half. The first year we used it solely for private flying, but I enjoyed
it so much that we decided to charter the aircraft and give others the opportunity to
experience private aircraft travel.
WHICH OPERATORS HAVE YOU USED? Our current operator, which also works with
Victor, is Hangar8 based out of London Oxford Airport.
HOW DID YOU FIND OUT ABOUT VICTOR? I read about what Clive Jackson was doing
and thought ‘why not have my jet listed?’ In the first two months the aircraft has made
£30,000 of bookings.
IS YOUR PLANE AVAILABLE TO VICTOR MEMBERS? Absolutely. We think that the Victor
concept of chartering jets is very innovative and we love being a part of it.
WHAT ELSE DO YOU LOVE, APART FROM PLANES? Running my businesses. I have an
independent drinks brand development business, Global Brands Ltd; I own the Casa
Hotel Chesterfield – voted the number four hotel in the UK on TripAdvisor; and I have
Walton Lodge Farm which supplies the organically-reared meat for my hotel’s restaurant,
and the catering for clients on my jet. I take part in rallies with my collection of historic
cars and was the 2010 BTRDA Rally Champion. I pilot my Eurocopter 350B3 helicopter,
which I also hire out to clients and I love skiing, great food – especially seafood, and
travelling the world.
VICTO R M AGA ZIN E
J ET OWNER
VICTO R M AGA ZIN E
J ET OWNER
“By selling one hundred charter hours,
my aircraft can generate £200,000
gross – who would say no to that?
INTRODUCING STEVE PEREZ
London-based Victor launched across Europe in August 2011
and worldwide routes were added in October 2012. It launched
with just over 100 members, and membership has grown to more
than 4,500 in just over two years. Although an internet-based
business, the brand has developed strategic partnerships with
some of the world’s leading luxury brands, such as Shangri-La
Hotels and Resorts, Burgess Yachts and Lamborghini. Members
are typically high net worth individuals with international lives;
the who’s who of the entrepreneurial world, business owners,
CEOs and captains of industry. In a recent survey of members,
the top reasons given for choosing to book with Victor were
the complete transparency, the ability to compare quotes and
exceptional customer service
C O M P A N Y
“To date Victor hasn’t really talked about the customer service element, as it is primarily an online business; but
in reality, when you are dealing with individuals spending large sums of money, then customer service is high up
the priority list.
Part of becoming an approved Victor member involves a telephone conversation with us. It is important to
know whether members have chartered a jet before and to find out their preferences. If this is the first time that
they have considered flying privately, we can answer any queries they have.
Sometimes, before members make their first booking online, they will have anxieties and questions which
they would rather discuss over the phone – and this is also where I come in. Safety is a key aspect here: they often
ask about the age and type of aircraft or have special dietary requirements or want reassurance about the online
process or to know more about taking a pet, and I need to make sure they are totally comfortable. In any case,
before they fly they receive an itinerary from us which includes a lot of detail, even down to the name of the pilot.
The other day I spoke to a new member who wanted to book a seat for herself and her dog to travel from London
to Mallorca – she was flying with another group of members who had already chartered the plane, so it’s important
for everyone that we know who we’re putting together. I’m there to make sure that all this runs smoothly.
I also deal with regular feedback from clients and this has influenced how we have evolved our business model.
This year we became the official partner for TEFAF in Maastricht – an important fine art and antiques event which
was hard to reach on commercial flights. We put on three flights from London, Geneva and Nice and members
flying with Victor were invited to the early private viewing.
I enjoy the interaction with the clients who are at the top of their game – smart and switched-on. They are
more concerned with value than cost, and because of our transparent system, they can see they are getting the
best rates in the market directly from the operator. We recently looked after someone who needed to fly from
London to Holland to Switzerland to Paris in 48 hours – it had nothing to do with the luxury of a private jet, it was
just that he was required to be in more than one place at a time. It actually cost under £10,000 – but allowed him
to do business effectively. Another client called us from his horse when he was out riding in Mallorca. He needed
to get to Corsica and then Milan and back to Mallorca within 48 hours. We forwarded the quotes to his PA in
New York and she booked for him, resulting in a great new relationship for Victor.”
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER: TOBY EDWARDS
FOUNDER & CEO: CLIVE JACKSON
For the past twenty years Clive, a
serial entrepreneur, has been at the
very forefront of the digital revolution
developing innovative web services
for luxury brands, financial services,
technology and media.
Clive founded Global Beach, one of
the UK’s leading digital agencies, in 1993
providing design and build web services
to many Fortune 500 and FTSE 250
Companies, working with brands such as
Bentley Motors, the American Automobile
Association, Britvic, Canon, Casio, The Daily
Telegraph, The Financial Times, Hewlett
Packard, ITN Source, Jaguar Cars, The Law
Society and Unilever. In 2001 he spun out
Autotorq.com, a new business providing
bespoke dealer marketing and services to
automotive manufacturers and their dealer
networks across 26 countries.
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT:
STEFFEN FRIES
Steffen joined Victor in November 2013
and heads up the sales and operations
team. Holding a degree as an engineer in
machinery as well as an MBA, he began
his career at Lufthansa in 1990. In 2002
he moved to NetJets Europe as the Senior
Vice President for Germany, Switzerland
and Austria. In 2008 he joined DC Aviation,
formerly known as Daimler Chrysler
Aviation, where he was appointed the
CEO in 2009. In parallel he was the MD for
Aircraft Asset Management, managing a
portfolio of 31 aircraft with an asset value
of over USD 250m. In 2011 he joined the
former co-owner of DC Aviation and built
up a new operator in Munich, which today
manages 17 aircraft.
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT:
ALEXIS GRABAR
Alexis is responsible for Victor’s
international development in Russia and
France. He is the ex-CEO & Founder of
Avolus Ltd and AviaMediaTech Ltd, two
private aviation and consulting companies
in the UK. Alexis began his career in the
European aerospace & defence industry
with Eurocopter becoming their General
Representative in Russia/CIS in 1992 and
their Head of Strategic Development in
1996. He then moved to Airbus Industrie
as Regional Sales Director for 5 years
and Vice President Sales & Business
Development at Marquis Jet/Netjets in
London. Part of the merger in 2010 with
Avolus Ltd, he was General Manager of a
private jet operator in Eastern Europe for
2 years managing private jets. He worked
with more than 50 airliners and private jet
operations at Airbus and Avolus for music
tours, sports teams and governmental
delegations.
COMMERCIAL AND OPERATIONS
DIRECTOR: MIKE RYAN
With over 25 years’ experience in the
aviation industry, Mike heads up the
Victor Commercial and Flight Operations
team, responsible for the contractual
and operational processes for Victor
members. He spent 15 years with British
Aerospace selling and leasing aircraft on
the 146 Programme. In 2004 he became
the Marketing Director at a private aircraft
operator, and in 2006 he set up One
Charter, an operator taking advantage
of the new markets created by the Very
Light Jets. He has been with Victor since
its inception and provides invaluable and
experienced advice to the company and
members.
PRODUCT DIRECTOR:
JAMES FARLEY
James is responsible for defining the
Victor online strategy to ensure that both
consumers and operators enjoy the best
and most innovative experience available in
the marketplace. James has a background
in corporate finance and is a specialist in
business development strategy for TMT
ventures. As an investor in disruptive
offerings in this sector, he was involved in
securing early stage financing for Victor
and joined to help shape the business’s
consumer and trade offerings. James
brings a wealth of insights and knowledge
in areas of data, enterprise software, user
experience, social media and Web 3.0.
CLIENT SERVICES DIRECTOR:
JUNE SEBLEY
June joined Victor in September 2012. She
heads up the membership and customer
services team and has overall responsibility
for Victor’s strategic partnerships. Formerly
Director of Marketing Services at Bell
Pottinger, June has extensive knowledge of
business development, customer service,
corporate relations, networking and
management trends with previous roles
including Business Development Director
at YouGovStone and Director of Corporate
Relations at Henley Business School. She is
a Director of the London Press Club and a
Council Member of the Media Society.
PR AND COMMUNICATIONS
DIRECTOR: CHRISTINE GORHAM
Christine is responsible for all press
relations and external communications
across the business, luxury, lifestyle and
aviation sectors. Previously, she was a
founder member of MTV Europe as Vice
President of PR and Communications. She
spent 6 years in Formula 1 working for
teams such as Arrows and Jordan before
moving to Live Nation working on major
tours and concerts. She was most recently
Director of PR and Communications at F1
Rocks, the global entertainment platform
for Formula 1.
VICTO R M AGA ZIN E
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T HEERVI
C O MPANY
VICTO R M AGA ZIN E
T HE C O MPANY
G O O D
CHAIRMAN: ALEX SOZONOFF
With more than 40 years’ international
business experience and industry
knowledge in both Europe and the US,
35 of them spent at Hewlett Packard,
Alex brings a wealth of business strategy
and industry expertise to the board. He
was general manager of HP’s worldwide
channel business and subsequently vicepresident of customer advocacy where he
was responsible for building key strategic
partnerships around the world, creating
and directing its global sponsorship
programmes. Alex later served as senior
adviser to the CEO of Hewlett Packard.
In addition he has served on a number of
boards and, since 2001, has been chairman
of Victor’s sister company Global Beach.
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“
K E E P I N G
WHO’S WHO AT VICTOR
v
CHOICE AND TRANSPARENCY
Victor’s online marketplace connects you directly to over 110 accredited and approved commercial
charter operators across the globe, offering complete transparency and access to their fleet of aircraft,
including age and actual pictures and floor plans, terms of carriage, air operating certificate and
passenger liability insurance. Capacity ranges from the smallest turbo prop to the ultra long range
Global Express jets, AIRBUS 319 CJs and Boeing Business Jets.
CHOOSE YOUR PREFERRED AIRCRAFT OPERATOR
FlexFlight
(Roskilde)
London Executive Aviation
(London Stapleford)
Starwings Luftfahrtges Gmbh
(Dortmund)
AC Aviation Charter
(Zurich)
Catreus
(London Biggin Hill)
Fly Comlux
(Zurich)
Longtail Aviation
(Bermuda)
Stuttgarter Flugdienst
(Stuttgart)
ACM Air Charter
(Baden-Baden)
Cello Aviation
(Birmingham)
Flyjet
(Warsaw)
Luxwing Ltd
(Malta)
Sur Aviation
(Madrid)
Aéro-Jets Darta
(Paris Le Bourget)
Centreline
(Bristol)
Fortune Air
(Johannesburg)
Lyon Aviation
(Pittsfield)
Swift Flite
(Johannesburg)
Aero Safin SA de CV
(Guadalajara)
ChallengeLine LS Gmbh
(Augsburg)
German Private Jet Group
(Dusseldorf)
MACH Airlines
(Frankfurt)
Sylt Air Gmbh
(Sylt)
Air Alsie
(Sønderborg)
Charter Jets, UAB
(Vilnius)
Gestair Private Jets
(Madrid)
Masterjet
(Paris Le Bourget)
Synergy Aviation
(Fairoaks)
Air Charter Scotland
(London Luton)
Cinco Air Charter
(Toronto)
Global Flight Solutions
(London Biggin Hill)
MHS Aviation GmbH
(Munich)
Tarkim Aviation
(Istanbul)
Air Charters, inc
(New York)
Classic Jet
(Vilnius)
GlobeAir
(Linz)
MJets
(Bangkok)
Transavia
(Speyer)
AirGo
(Mainz)
Corporatejets
(Barcelona)
GMR Aviation Pvt Ltd
(Bangalore)
Mountain Aviation
(Denver)
Ultimate Jets Europe
(Chester)
Air Hamburg
(Hamburg)
Deer Jet
(Beijing)
Grafair
(Stockholm)
NasJet
(Riyadh)
Unijet
(Paris Le Bourget)
Airlink
(Salzburg)
Dexter
(Moscow)
Hangar8
(Oxford)
National Jets Inc
(Fort Lauderdale)
Valair Private Jets
(Lisbon)
Air Independence
(Munich)
Diamond-Executive Aviation
(Gamston)
Hendell Aviation Oy
(Helsinki)
North Flying
(Aalborg)
WaltAir
(Stockholm)
Air Turks and Caicos
(Providenciales)
Doysa Air
(Istanbul)
Hesnes Air
(Oslo)
Omni Aviacao
(Lisbon)
Williams Aviation
(Chester)
Air X
(Salzburg)
DragonFly
(Cardiff)
Hyperion Aviation Ltd
(Malta)
Opera Jet
(Bratislava)
Worldwide Jet
(New York)
Amira Air
(Vienna)
E-Aviation
(Stuttgart)
Jet Edge International
(Los Angeles)
Pegasus Elite Aviation
(Los Angeles)
Xcel Jet Management
(Dallas)
Arcus Executive Aviation
(London Luton)
Elite Jet
(Johannesburg)
Jetflite
(Helsinki)
Premium Jet
(Zürich)
Zar
(Buenos Aires)
Argentina Jets
(Buenos Aires)
Euro Link Gmbh
(Munich)
Jet Fly
(Linz)
Prime Jet
(Los Angeles)
Zenair LLC
(New York)
Asia Jet
(Hong Kong)
Europ Star Aircraft Gmbh
(Klagenfurt)
Jet-Link
(Zürich)
SaxonAir
(Norwich)
Zenith Aviation
(London Biggin Hill)
ASL NV/BV
(Brussels)
Exklusiv Aviation Services
(London Luton)
JetNetherlands
(Amsterdam)
Silk Way Business Aviation
(Baku)
Zenith Air Charter
(Johannesburg)
Avcon Jet AG
(Vienna)
FairJets
(Paderborn)
JoinJet
(Billund)
SkyNight LLC
(Greeneville)
Aviation Beauport
(Jersey)
Fare-Share Ltd
(Philadelphia)
JOTA Aviation
(Southend)
Sonnig SA
(Geneva)
B-Air Charter Gmbh & Co KG
(Stuttgart)
Finesse Executive Ltd
(London Stansted)
Korean Air
(Seoul)
Speedwings Business SA
(Geneva)
Blink Ltd
(London Blackbushe)
FlairJet
(Oxford)
Livingston Executive
(Rome)
STAjets
(Los Angeles)
Victor continues to add new aircraft operators every week from around the world to its online marketplace. Victor’s aim is to extend the
range and choice of aircraft to its members and provide a genuinely transparent quote comparison, booking and financial settlement service,
with a promise only to hold client monies in its client deposit account administered by HSBC Bank.
Visit the operator pages for updated aircraft listings: www.flyvictor.com/aircraft-operators
10
30 157 53
HEAD OF STATE
ULTRA LONG RANGE
LONG RANGE
SUPER MID SIZE
AIRBUS CORPORATE JET,
BOEING BUSINESS JET,
BOEING 767
FALCON 7X,
GLOBAL 5000,
GLOBAL EXPRESS,
GULFSTREAM G550,
GULFSTREAM V
GULFSTREAM G450,
GULFSTREAM IV, LEGACY 600,
FALCON 2000, FALCON 900,
CHALLENGER 604,
CHALLENGER 605,
CHALLENGER 850
GULFSTREAM G200,
CHALLENGER 300,
FALCON 50,
HAWKER 1000,
CITATION SOVEREIGN,
CITATION X
117 145
51
80
MID SIZE
LIGHT
VERY LIGHT
TURBO PROP
LEARJET 45, LEARJET 55,
LEARJET 60, HAWKER 750,
HAWKER 850, HAWKER 900,
CITATION III, CITATION EXCEL,
CITATION XLS, IAI ASTRA SPX
BEECHJET 400A, CITATION BRAVO,
CITATION ENCORE, CITATION CJ1,
CITATION CJ2, CITATION CJ3,
CITATION CJ4, CITATION II,
CITATION V, CITATION VI,
CITATION VII, LEARJET 35A,
PHENOM 300, PREMIER I,
HAWKER 400XP
CITATION MUSTANG,
PHENOM 100
DIAMOND DA42,
EMBRAER 120,
KING AIR 90,
KING AIR 200,
KING AIR 350,
SENECA V,
PIAGGIO AVANTI
CERTIFICATION NOTE
Victor is licensed by the Civil Aviation Authority for ATOL License 10378 and is a
member of BACA (Baltic Air Charter Association), EBAA (European Business Aviation
Association) and RUBAA (Russian United Business Aviation Association)
VICTO R M AGA ZIN E
AIRC RAFT
VICTO R M AGA ZIN E
AI RC RAFT
Bluelink Jets
(Lidköping)
27
26
Advance Aviation
(Bangkok)
Offering you the choice of over 600 aircraft available for charter across the
world capable of flying your boardroom or entourage non-stop from New York to Moscow
or your family to your villa in Tuscany
re-inventing
private jet travel
28
ONLY CERTIFIED OPERATORS ACCEPTED
VICTO R M AGA ZIN E
T HE S MALL P RI NT
All Victor operators are audited by their relevant aviation authority in order that they maintain a
valid Air Operator Certificate, which is necessary to operate any aircraft for commercial charter.
These audits cover a wide range of operations and maintenance procedures including crew
training and aircraft maintenance as indicated below:
• A
ircraft documentation checks – to ensure all required certification and
approvals are valid
• Crew training records checks – to ensure that all crew are current and licensed
for commercial operations
• Crew flight time limitations record checks – to ensure that crew fatigue
avoidance is observed
• Flight checks – to observe and ensure that the correct flight operations and cabin
procedures are undertaken
• Maintenance and engineering compliance checks – to check compliance with
approved maintenance procedures ensuring aircraft are safe to fly
• Manual checks – validity of company operations manuals and documentation
• Management and financial robustness checks - to ensure CAA-approved
Postholder team is empowered and capable to undertake safe management of
the entire business.
• Ramp checks – assess turnaround of company aircraft at any given airport and
review operator auditing of handlers
• Operations checks – to assess expertise of aircraft operations staff to undertake
operational duties
• Quality checks – to ensure that internal auditing process is robust and compliant
CONSUMER PROTECTION
Victor provides all members travelling on a flight
booked with Victor the following consumer protection:
• V
ictor will only list aircraft operators on the Victor
booking platform that operate under a valid Air
Operator Certificate (AOC) and insurance certificate
• All payments for flights (less Victor’s fees) taken
from a Victor member and processed on behalf of
the operator they are booking with will be held via a
separate client deposit account with HSBC Bank plc
• Victor undertakes to pay the flight operator in
full at least 24 hours in advance of the departure,
subject to receipt of cleared funds
• Victor will always submit the operator’s quote as
received directly from the operator to its members
plus Victor’s fees
• Victor provides contact details of every operator
including the aircraft’s registration number and age
on the website
Victor displays an Air Operator Certificate (AOC), for every operator listed on
the Victor platform for members to inspect. In addition, Victor also publishes the
operator’s insurance certificates, so our members can verify the level of liability
insurance each aircraft operator carries on behalf of their passengers.
Victor finds you the best prices for private jet charters. You can compare quotes from more than 110
global, certified operators in one place. Book and pay online with financial protection from our HSBC
client deposit account. Whether your trip is for business or leisure, enjoy exceptional service from
enquiry through to landing for only a flat 5% online booking fee. It’s where the smart money is moving.
Register now at www.flyvictor.com
Victor is a proud member of BACA, RUBAA and EBAA. ATOL approved by the Civil Aviation Authority.
or call +44 20 7384 8550 - +49 69 66 55 41 25 - +7 499 255 1793
Victor is approved by the Civil Aviation Authority for ATOL Licence 10378
FLY SMARTER
www.flyvictor.com - +44 20 7384 8550 - +49 69 66 55 41 25 - +7 499 255 1793
[email protected]
Head Office: 522 Fulham Road, London SW6 5NR, United Kingdom
Victor is approved by the CAA for ATOL Licence 10378