How air taxi operators survive during the crisis

Air taxi companies have boosted the number of promotional offers starting last year, when demand for these services started dropping as the budgets of companies, the main clients that rented the aircraft for business transportation, plummeted. "We have launched promotional offers starting last year and we're operated significant reductions (...)," says Cristina Mitchievici, a representative of Regional Air Services (RAS). On the other hand, Heni Haider, owner of Efly, handling aircraft rental, specifies that demand in the first quarter of 2010 rose from a year ago, but very few requests materialised eventually. "As regards large orders, for companies or businesspeople, their number is still low," Heni Haider says. The package that attracted individuals is flying over Bucharest, with prices standing at 500 RON per passenger for 20-25 minutes of flight. Direct Aero Services company, controlled by businessman Nelu Iordache, with a fleet of 3 aircraft and two helicopters, saw the number of clients go up against previous years, after acquiring jet planes. "The increase was a progressive one, though, taking into account the economic downturn," says Luminita Ivanici, marketing and communication manager with the company.