Looking to strengthen its position as a true one-stop-shop for business jet service in North America, BizJet International (Booth No. 5152) has founded a new coast-to-coast partnership network.

At NBAA, the wholly owned subsidiary of Lufthansa Technik, has announced that members of the new partnership network include: Penta Aviation Services, Vancouver, B.C., Canada; Western Jet Aviation and Thornton Aircraft Co. of Van Nuys, Calif.; Palwaukee Service Center, Wheeling, Ill.; and FirstFlight of Elmira, N.Y.

“Being based in Tulsa,” said BizJet president and CEO Bernd Kowalewski, “we had a market gap from the East and West Coasts. By combining our strong points with our partners’ strengths, BizJet aims to simplify aircraft and engine maintenance by shortening aircraft downtime with local, experienced partners.”

BizJet International itself is part of Lufthansa Technik’s Platinet network designed for quick response to aircraft-on-the-ground situations worldwide. The new affiliates in the Partnership Network for North America will not be part of the Platinet program, but Kowalewski said such an inclusion might be a consideration in the future.