Jet Personales (Booth No. 957) is a newcomer to Spain’s growing business aviation industry and it claims to be the country’s first executive charter firm that owns all the aircraft it operates. Launched in December 2004, the operator, which is the exclusive sales representative of Bombardier Business Aircraft in Spain, is based at Madrid’s Torrejon Airport where it has an FBO and a fleet of five aircraft. The company expects to operate eight jets by the end of this year and 17 by 2009.

The firm currently operates two Learjet 60 Special Editions, two Challengers–a 300 and a 604–and a Gulfstream GIV. One of the Learjet 60s was ordered at last year’s EBACE show, along with the Challenger 604, which is used primarily to carry Jet Personales’ managing director on business trips. The 604 is expected to log around 500 flying hours per year.

The company expects to take delivery of a 15-passenger Challenger 850 next month, followed by a Learjet 60XR and a second Challenger 604 before the end of the year. It plans to receive its first long-range Global Express next April and has agreed to buy nine more Bombardier aircraft over the next few years. The latter could include the new Challenger 605, which made its maiden flight on January 22. The large-cabin business jet, able to carry up to 12 passengers over 4,000 nm, succeeds the 604 and is due to enter service during the third quarter of next year.

Facilities at Jet Personales’ 8,600-sq-ft FBO in Madrid include passenger and crew lounges; a “presidential” room; a 24-hour, professional kitchen offering a personalized menu; and an operations center. The company provides full handling for third-party aircraft and employs its own maintenance team on site.