JetFlite International Forms JFI Russia With Moscow-Based Operator Best-Jets LLC

LONG BEACH, CA October 10, 2011 –JetFlite International, a/k/a JFI, a worldwide provider of aircraft management and charter services, has entered an agreement with Moscow-based Best-Jets LLC to help JFI develop its business aviation interests in Russia. The new venture is called JFI Russia.

At the National Business Aviation Association Convention in Las Vegas, JFI also announced three major organizational changes with the promotion of Harold Henderson to Long Beach base manager from director of operations; Damon Danneker to director of operations from chief pilot; and Dan Kokosenski to chief pilot from assistant director of operations.

In addition, Honeywell has selected JFI to be a launch customer for Honeywell’s Mechanical Protection Plan (MPP). “For nearly 15 years we’ve used Honeywell services initially its Maintenance Service Plan (MSP) on our Garrett engines and on our Gulfstream APUs and more recently we used the Global Design Center (GDC) and Honeywell Avionics Protection Plan (HAPP),” said Bill Cripe, JFI’s chief executive officer. “We are delighted that we’ve been chosen as a launch partner to use MPP to protect our environmental and controls systems on our Gulfstreams. Environmental and cabin control systems are a big investment, an investment worth protecting. The Mechanical Protection Plan is a great extended warranty program for these systems.”

JFI was awarded a Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR) Part145 Repair Station Certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) (Certificate Number K55R584L). The certificate was issued to the JFI JetCenter at Long Beach Airport (LGB) on October 5, 2011. The new Repair Station Certificate will allow JFI to perform scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, repairs, and alterations on a number of aircraft models that are well represented within the JFI fleet.

Regarding JFI Russia, JFI has been utilizing Best-Jets’ handling services and aircraft for the past five years. “With JFI located in California and New York, trying to get a foothold in Russia is nearly impossible without having people and staff located there,” Cripe said. Best-Jets was established in 2006 and has quickly become one of the most experienced Russian companies in aircraft crewing services, technical support, and aircraft management. We will now have sales, handling and dispatch, and new business lead support in Russia.”

Last month JFI expanded its Moscow presence by adding a Challenger 601 based at Vnukovo Airport and adding to its sales and dispatch staff there.

“From our perspective Moscow is an emerging market and there is a lot of opportunity there,” Cripe said. “This summer in Moscow we flew one of our airplanes over 80 hours a month in charter. We have expertise that is unique to a US operator working in Russia. We have been offering a Gulfstream G200 out of Moscow and were confident enough that we moved another airplane, a Challenger 601 there. There is a good chance we will be adding a Gulfstream GV there.” Cripe said JFI has three major hubs of aviation, New York, Moscow, and the West Coast where it has operating bases.

Carrie Simpson, JFI’s vice president sales and owner relations, said, “the Moscow market is going to prove key to JFI’s operations in the coming months and years.” “Our customers fly out of Moscow to throughout Russia and Europe, the United States, the Galapagos Islands, Seoul, Korea, Asia, even Kabul, Afghanistan.”

JetFlite International has been a premiere provider on demand charter and aircraft management as well as aircraft sales and acquisitions for more than 20 years. JetFlite International was formerly known as Air Rutter International.

JetFlite’s growth continues to be fueled by its increasing worldwide charter business. JetFlite’s growth this year has been spurred by its international flights which account for more than 50 percent of our total aircraft charter business, according to Cripe. Last year JFI flew to more than 35 countries including Algeria, Brazil, Chile, China, Czech Republic, France, Georgia, Israel, Morocco, Russia, Ukraine, and Vietnam.