“We are a people-oriented company,” proclaimed Tim Maystrik, vice president of Air Routing International (Booth No. 2236) during his speech Monday at NBAA’06. “There is no doubt that technology is important, but more of our clients want to see a body on site.”

The idea of personal service from actual people is practically antiquated in this age of Google and high-tech solutions. But the network of 70 “Special Agents” covering 109 countries that ARI has developed is what gives the 28-year-old company, in Maystrik’s words, “Our edge.” This year, agents have been added for Milan, Italy-area airports, Hong Kong and Macau.

ARI agents book hotels, provide crew transportation, arrange and coordinate catering, coordinate security guards through sister company ASI Group, and ensure that the correct fuel service is being used through affiliate Air Routing Fuel. “At ARI, agent means the dedicated individual who provides customer support services.”

While stressing personal service, the biggest announcements from ARI at this NBAA concern technological advancements. Enhancements to its online aviation weather resource, AiRMET, have added high-resolution satellite pictures for much of the world, including Europe and the Middle East. More than 30,000 animated global weather maps and images are generated every 24 hours for the browser-based service, and aircraft passengers can have access to a seven-day weather forecast while onboard.

The company unveiled Global Trip View, a new feature of the Flight Manager Web application, overlaying trip and planning information onto satellite photos.

The new Domestic Flight Watch Program can send flight plans via Flight Manager to Air Routing Operations for submission to the FAA’s ATC system and the NBAA General Aviation Desk.