ASL Group introduces a new innovative concept, ASL FLY EXECUTIVE, and launches scheduled flights from Brussels to Ibiza before Antwerp-Innsbruck in 2021

With a careful restart of the aviation sector, ASL Group presents a new and surprising formula which combines the unique aspect of individual and qualitative service of private aviation with the best of commercial aviation.

This project is marketed under the name ASL FLY EXECUTIVE and offers the passenger a high-quality flight experience in an “All-in” package.

“Travelling by airliner has become uncomfortable and impersonal,” said Philippe Bodson, CEO of ASL Group and Air Charters Europe. “The question is, should this really be the case?” At ASL Group, we don’t think so. That is why we have developed a new and unusual concept that may turn the aviation industry upside down.”

ASL wishes to place this new project within the activities of ASL Private Jet Services, which operates as a charter company for private flights of up to 12 passengers in Belgium and the Netherlands. The group operates a fleet of 35 private jets spread over almost all airports in Belgium and the Netherlands. In 2018, a new airline, ACE (Air Charters Europe), was created, which also offers charter flights for groups. ACE operates these flights with Embraer ERJ135 (PH-DWS) and ERJ145 (PH-DWA) jets with a capacity of respectively 30 and 42 seats (although they are designed for 36 and 50 seats). ACE has adapted these aircraft to the needs and wishes of its customers.

“All of the plastic commonly found on airline planes has been removed and replaced with a leather interior, similar to what you would expect in a private jet. Each seat has its own power plug, the legroom between the seats is much larger than you would normally expect, the walls are made of ultra-soft leather and the individual tables and toilets are also finished with high-quality materials. The overhead luggage compartments have been removed, giving the aircraft a much more spacious feel, and additional soundproofing has been applied throughout the cabin, making the noise level in the cabin much quieter than during a normal commercial flight. The comfort is excellent, and the passenger experience is first class.”

To date, ACE’s activities have been extremely successful. Many customers from all over Europe such as football teams, companies, private incentives, governments, military agencies, the European community, etc. regularly use ACE services.

“These are the planes with which we will extend the fleet and which will be used in the new Fly Executive project”, continues Philippe Bodson, “Fly Executive will be placed somewhere between private charter flights and scheduled aviation. It will be a kind of regular service to which you can subscribe individually with one or more people, always with a unique character. And it can be the departure airport, the terminal, the period, the destination, etc.”.

All-inclusive

Fly Executive aims at what is today a niche market which can quickly become an important market segment with a clientele which clearly does not opt for a charter flight in a private jet but who wishes to spend a little more for a better experience of flight, personalised service and an “All-in” formula.

With Fly Executive, the slogan is: “everything is included”.

A drink before the flight, champagne (“Moët & Chandon”) during the flight, tasty snacks and sushi, spacious and safe seats, a mouth mask, 25 kg of luggage per person, the possibility of changing the owner of the ticket, a friendly and attentive crew which ensures that safety standards are respected with a smile and humanely taking care of passengers … the airline’s guests.

Relax and enjoy: “We fly, you are the captain“.

Cooperation

Today, low-cost airlines operate more than ever with the lowest possible fares, minimal service and an additional cost for each detail or additional service.

The Fly Executive offer is diametrically opposed to this. We are confident that the concept will be greeted with enthusiasm by a constantly expanding target group. Therefore, Fly Executive also wishes to develop an in-depth collaboration with travel agencies. This practice has been common for 20 years, but at Fly Executive, recognised travel agencies can count on a commission of 10% on the price of the ticket.

CO₂ Neutral

Aviation is responsible for 2% of all CO₂ emissions worldwide. And although opinions on the impact of the sector on the climate are divided, this question deserves our full attention. Climate change is and will remain the challenge of this century.

“We want to play a pioneering role with Fly Executive,” says Philippe Bodson, “and I am convinced that our target group is ready to take part in this role.” This is why a CO₂ compensation contribution is systematically included in the price of each ticket. Our mission is to voluntarily offset the CO₂ emissions for each flight in this program. For this, we have chosen to join the “Cookstoves” project, for which you will find more information in this press kit. It is a climate and ecological project that invests in local production and the sale of efficient cooking appliances. Today, more than a third of the world’s population cooks on a wood fire every day, usually indoors. This has a huge impact on the climate and on the health of people exposed daily to very harmful fumes. ASL Fly Executive wishes to work with the government to support new local projects in the future, while encouraging other companies to follow suit. “

Take-off… July 4

ASL Fly Executive will take off with a weekly flight from Brussels to Ibiza as from July 4, 2020. The all-inclusive price of a one-way ticket is €495.00. No supplement whatsoever!

Maxime Wauters, marketing manager for ASL Group, told Aviation24.be that bookings were already very positive, with most July seats already sold to the point that a second weekly flight could be launched on Wednesdays.

And an Antwerp-Innsbruck flight is already on the programme for the coming winter, starting in January 2021.

Fly Executive targets specific vacation and business destinations, events, fairs and sports competitions. Customers can always connect individually with one or more people without having to rent the full capacity of the plane as with a real private jet.

ASL prefers private terminals or small airports.

(Note: ASL stands for Air Services Liège, the place where the Group was founded. It is now headquartered in Hasselt.)

09 June 2020

A trip report showing the Fly Executive concept is available here: https://www.aviation24.be/business-jet-operators/asl-group/trip-report-asl-fly-executive-demo-flight-from-brussels-airport-to-antwerp-airport-and-example-of-post-covid-flight/