This is due to some major contracts operated in both the commercial airliner and executive jet divisions, with contributions from many of the company’s overseas offices in particular Asia and America, which continue to exploit the emergent opportunities in their respective regions.

The company readily accepts that the noticeably subdued market for aircraft charter in Europe and the UK is very competitive at present however 2012 has already produced some large contracts out of the automotive industry and major sporting events including the Olympics and Euro 2012.

Jamie Martin, director said “ Despite the acknowledged economic difficulties in Europe our more focused approach on the high level commercial and service delivery skills embedded in our broking teams has obviously struck a chord with the market.

“At this early stage in the year I am pleased to note that several of our divisions are operating ahead of last year and we anticipate we can continue to make steady progress during a challenging 2012.”

The year was a positive one for this established air charter organisation as they not only celebrated their 25th anniversary but also acquired Premier Aviation, Europe’s leading air charter specialists for the rock and pop music tours industry.

In addition, Hunt & Palmer finished the year with a full company rebrand and a new marketing campaign which included the launch of their new website.

The change comes as the company celebrates 25 years of bespoke air charter and the business drives ahead to maintain its position as one of the leading air charter brokers internationally, with a high-end customer service offering.

Alongside the new look the brand statement “Above All” defines Hunt & Palmer’s point of difference referring to the certain standards and certain way that they approach their business fulfilling clients’ needs.

Mark Jenkinson, director, Hunt & Palmer commented:

“As one of the longest established air charter brokers in the UK our experience in the industry means that we offer our clients certainty in the service we provide and integrity in everything we do on their behalf.

“Our clients demand exceptional quality, the utmost discretion, and want flights that fit in around their schedule.  So “Above All” reflects this as a promise and an ethos to both existing and potential clients.  It’s a statement that sits at the very core of our business challenging everything we do and keeping us customer service focused.

“We are looking forward to the response it creates from clients, suppliers and buyers at the exhibition and over the coming weeks as we roll out the new communications.”

The brand strategy and design was created by UK branding and communications agency TDG Integrated.

Hunt & Palmer’s revamped website www.huntandpalmer.com has also been launched alongside a corporate video and sales brochures.

The company, who are celebrating 25 years in the industry this year, have seen a growing trend towards clients making requests to ensure that the flight time is utilised effectively and to enhance the whole event experience.

Simon Edwards, Director of Commercial Aviation commented, “When it comes to group air charter the requests from clients for bespoke services, facilities and entertainment has risen over the years.  The flight is now an integral part of the experience and quite often work begins as soon as delegates’ check-in at the airport.   If you have a captive group located in one place for a set period it’s an ideal opportunity to brief and inform, show corporate films and distribute corporate or product material.

“When it comes to chartering the whole aircraft the plane can be fully branded or themed and extra touches added so that a trip is consistent from the very start to finish.”

Hunt & Palmer’s Flight Services division was established solely to cater for clients’ in-flight needs from dedicated check-in desks, to branded headrest covers, and special requests when it comes to in-flight catering or entertainment.

Simon Edwards concludes: “There is very little we can’t do to create a different flight experience for our clients.”

Premier Aviation was established in 1994 and has become highly respected in the music industry for their professional handling of the air travel requirement for many of the world’s leading performers, including such major artists as Bruce Springsteen, Eric Clapton, Sting and Roger Waters amongst their extensive clientele.

Hunt&Palmer chairman, Jeremy Palmer said, “Premier Aviation is a business that shares many of our goals and corporate values. The Company is an established supplier to the music industry and as this is a market we have not ventured into previously, the purchase opens the door to significant new opportunities for our group”.

Founder and former owner of Premier Aviation, Adrian Whitmarsh, who will remain as a director post sale commented, “I am delighted with the sale and see this as a very exciting development for both companies. Premier will benefit from the additional resources provided by the new parent company and I very much look forward to working with the Hunt&Palmer board as we move forward together”.

Jeremy Palmer said, “It is our intention that Premier Aviation will operate as a separate entity within our group and that the name of Premier Aviation shall continue to be the first call for those arranging international music tours. As far as we are concerned it will be ‘business as usual’ for the company”.

Adrian Whitmarsh added “The continuing relationship that we have with our clients is of primary importance to us and during the last few weeks I have spoken personally with many of our key accounts to explain about the sale, the benefits it will bring to them and to assure them that that they will still be dealing with me and the Premier Aviation team when booking their flights with us in future”.

Active in the Indian markets since 2007, the Group’s management has decided that the time is now right to expand operations in the country in order to meet the growing demand for private aviation there.

Speaking from the company’s offices in New Delhi, Hunt&Palmer Air Charter India’s Managing Director Aadesh Batra said, “These are exciting times for Indian aviation and the requirement for private aircraft charter has increased considerably over the last few years. By building on our presence in the region we aim to bring the Hunt&Palmer product to a far wider audience.”

Group Director of Corporate Development, Jamie Martin commented “As a company already working the Indian markets we have been watching developments in the region with interest. The Asian economies are amongst the fastest growing in the world at present and we believe now is the time for us to increase our investment here.”

The Indian company plans to open further offices across the country as demand for its services increases.

Hunt&Palmer will arrange private helicopter transport for the 6-strong FIFA delegation as they undertake inspection tours of the various stadia across the country this month. Their assessment of the England bid will include visits to a selection of the 12 potential host cities, which range from Newcastle to London.

Neil Harvey, Hunt&Palmer Director of Executive Aviation, commented; “We are delighted to have been selected to fly the FIFA committee and consider it a great honour to be part of such a nationally important project.”

The England “Back the Bid” 2018 campaign has considerable high profile support, including the Prime Minister David Cameron and former England Captain David Beckham. A final decision as to which country will host the 2018 World Cup will be made by FIFA in December 2010 and should England be successful, FIFA will announce their choice of Host Cities by 2013.

Following four months of negotiations with the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), specialist aircraft charter and travel company, Hunt&Palmer (Pty) Ltd (Australia), was on hand to ensure the final leg of the asteroid’s journey went without a hitch, delivering the sample via a Global Express aircraft charter to its final destination of Haneda, Japan at 23.29 on 17 June.

The Hayabusa space-craft mission provided new challenges for Hunt&Palmer’s Australia office, with a vast array of licensing approvals required to carry an unknown cargo and doubt over whether the sample would even make it back to earth, with the mission compared to Apollo 13 for the series of technical hitches faced in its seven-year duration.

The Global Express aircraft used to transport the asteroid sample from the restricted military area of Woomera to Haneda, had to be contracted for a seven day period in case the probe did not land inside the pre-determined area within the 127,000 square kilometres of the Woomera Prohibited Area; a landmass roughly the size of England. Teams from NASA, JAXA and the RAAF were all on-hand to monitor the incoming capsule.

Peter Atkinson, Director of Hunt&Palmer (Pty) Ltd, based in Queensland, said “Our involvement with the mission was a test but hugely exciting for our Australia team who worked around the clock and within the restrictions necessitated by such an operation. The data will be studied by scientists from around the globe and pave the way for future missions and it’s fantastic to know that we’ve had a small part to play in its success.”

As the UK reaches the end of its second day as a no-fly zone, scheduled carriers rolling over their bookings will be faced with little to no capacity in the premium cabins once airspace re-opens, particularly to key European business hubs and the USA, whilst economy cabins are set to be overwhelmed with stranded leisure passengers.

Hunt&Palmer PLC, the specialist aircraft charter and travel company, is preparing for every eventuality with charter options on standby throughout the UK for domestic and international travel. For those seeking long-haul travel solutions, charters to alternative European hubs combined with onward scheduled travel organised by their in-house IATA Travel Agency will be available.

Hunt&Palmer PLC is also planning a number of dedicated ‘Volcano Express’ large charter services to key destinations, which will be available for individual passenger bookings.

Their international VIP car service is also on-hold for a surge in requests for transfers to secondary and business airports, where post ash cloud congestion is less likely to be an issue than at the UK’s major hubs.

Jamie Martin, Director Hunt&Palmer PLC said “This unprecedented situation requires flexibility and “out of the box thinking” to provide an innovative solution for corporate and leisure travellers and by combining our International Aircraft Charter capabilities with our scheduled service travel abilities we think we can provide the fastest possible travel solution to the UK market when the airspace opens.”

The move follows a trading performance for the organisation in 2009 that was notably ahead of expectations and it is seen as a significant move by the founding Directors to strengthen and enhance the Company’s senior management in order to implement their strategic plan for international growth of the business.

The new Directors are internal appointments drawn from the Company’s senior management team:

• Neil Harvey, who heads up Hunt&Palmer’s Executive Aviation division
• Simon Edwards, who leads the Commercial Aviation section
• Mark Jenkinson, Company Secretary and Group Resources Manager.

Each brings considerable experience to both their individual roles and to the Board. All
appointments are effective 1st January 2010. In making the announcement Chairman of the Board, Jeremy Palmer, commented “Like many businesses, Hunt&Palmer started 2009 facing some unpalatable but necessary decisions. Following a thorough restructure of our operations to meet the demanding financial environment in which we found ourselves, we were able to finish the year well ahead of expectations. For the future, we see several opportunities in both the established and emerging markets so we are positioning the Company to maximize the natural advantage we enjoy with our highly experienced team. We are delighted that Neil, Simon and Mark have all agreed to join the Board of Directors where they will undoubtedly make a significant contribution to the future of the Company.”