Cessna 560XL Citation XLS VistaJet
Registration: 9H-XOC Type: C560 Engines: 2 × PWC PW545A Serial Number: 560-5640 First flight: 2006
When Swiss entrepreneur Thomas Flohr purchased his first aircraft for personal use in 2003, he could hardly have imagined that two decades later his venture would grow into one of the world's largest charter companies. VistaJet's story began during the post-crisis aviation period, when business jet prices dropped sharply following the events of September 11th. Flohr saw this not as a threat, but as an opportunity–and he was right.
Founded in 2004 under the name Air Executive, the company chose a revolutionary model from the very beginning. Unlike traditional operators, where aircraft owners leased them out only periodically, VistaJet created a fleet with no "home base" that moved exclusively according to client needs. By 2023, the company's fleet numbered 360 aircraft and served routes to 1,900 airports in 207 countries. VistaJet's business model is built on the concept of "pay per flight hour" without the need to own an aircraft. The company offers several membership programs: from multi-year subscriptions with guaranteed access to the entire fleet to one-time charters.
The fleet's flagship is the Bombardier Global 7500 – an aircraft capable of flying up to 17 hours without refueling and offering three living zones with a full kitchen. A special place in the company's strategy is occupied by the Cessna 560XL Citation XLS – a mid-size aircraft that combines the economy of a light jet with the characteristics of midsize aircraft. Optimized for routes up to three hours in duration, the Citation XLS demonstrates exceptional versatility and allows service to small regional airports inaccessible to commercial airlines. In 2025, VistaJet significantly expanded this model's presence in the UK market through a partnership with Saxon Air, responding to growing demand for domestic flights.
The recognizable red "bird" on the company logo has become the company's calling card, symbolizing consistency and service quality. Flight attendants undergo training at the British Butler Institute and Norland College, ensuring the highest level of service. Onboard, there reigns an atmosphere where business meetings organically blend with exquisite cuisine at 45,000 feet–where ordinary passenger aircraft don't fly.
In 2018, Flohr formed Vista Global Holding, which united under one wing VistaJet along with later acquisitions XOJet, JetSmarter, and other companies. This made it possible to create an integrated private aviation ecosystem with flexible solutions for various market segments. Despite periodic financial difficulties and legal complications in recent years, VistaJet continues to maintain its position among the industry's world leaders, demonstrating steady growth in the number of subscribers and the volume of flights completed.
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