07 July 2009

Charter seat-only firm sold

Charter seat-only firm Satellite Travel Group has been bought by Titan Airways.

The deal includes Satellite Aviation and ski flight operator Snowjet.

Satellite, based in Sutton, Surrey, has been offering seat only charter flights for more than 25 years.

Satellite Travel specialises in summer flights to Preveza in Greece and ski destinations in the winter.

The deal gives Titan its first direct sales channel and allow the carrier to actively sell flights to popular ski airports such as Chambery, the gateway to the French Alps.

These will be sold under the Snowjet brand and Titan will this winter operate a number of aircraft in the Snowjet livery.

All of STG staff in Surrey will be retained and Satellite’s former owner Barry Lewis will stay on as a consultant to assist the new management team.

Titan director David Lacy will become managing director of Satellite Travel. Two members of the Titan management team, Mike Cooper and Rob Platts will also join the board of Satellite Travel Group.

Titan managing director Gene Willson said: "We have been looking for some time to acquire a reputable travel company that has the right fit with our expansion plans and Satellite Travel, with its strong focus and experience in the winter ski market is it.

"The company will benefit with strong financial backing from a financially sound airline and this is a great strategic fit," he added.

While the majority of Snowjet flights will now be operated by the Titan Airways’ jet fleet, the Satellite Travel Group will also work with other airlines, he said.

"This year will be a milestone year for us - when we accept our first wide-bodied Boeing 767-300ER aircraft, due to arrive in December this year."

The 265-seat 767-300ER will be capable of long-haul operations such as London to Denver or London to Vancouver.