The private aviation company DAL Aviation has received its own air operator certificate from the Austrian aviation authority Austro Control. Under certificate number A-180, Salzburg-based DAL Aviation GmbH now conducts its flights independently and in accordance with the regulations of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency.
Until now, the company, founded in 2016 and headquartered in Geneva, handled its operational flight operations under the license of its German partner ProAir Aviation GmbH.
The certification is the result of an 18-month review process by the Austrian regulatory authority. As part of this process, all operating manuals, crew training programs, maintenance procedures, and the safety management system had to be adapted to the stringent legal standards for commercial passenger transport. Initially, two Cessna Citation CJ2+ aircraft have been registered. The remaining three aircraft in the existing fleet are expected to follow in the coming months.
Industry analysts view the move as a logical consequence of the growth process for smaller charter providers, but also point to the associated risks. Establishing its own operational organization with dedicated personnel for flight operations, training, and airworthiness significantly increases the company's fixed operating costs and administrative burden. DAL Aviation now has to compete in a highly fragmented and fiercely competitive European market for business travel without being able to rely on the administrative structure of a larger partner.
The operational management of the Austrian subsidiary will henceforth be in the hands of Stefan Wuske as Managing Director, while the overall company will continue to be managed from Geneva by its founder, Nicolas Trefeil. Last year, the service provider logged approximately 1.500 flight hours with a fleet of five aircraft, transporting more than 2.000 passengers. Management plans to expand the fleet with a sixth aircraft in the near future and to further develop its aircraft management services for third parties.