Executive Jet Management has opened a new Charter Services office at the San Jose Center at the San Jose International Airport to serve the San Francisco bay area.

"While other charter companies are downsizing their staffs, we are expanding ours to meet the growing needs of our customers," said Jeff Cropper, EJM's vice president, charter services. "Last year we opened a new charter sales office at Teterboro Airport in New Jersey. We consider it very successful and it has helped to boost our business. Our customers appreciate the fact that we have a local presence on the east coast, and now we are duplicating that effort on the west coast."

Handling Executive Jet Management's west coast business will be Amanda North who joined EJM as a regional vice president of Charter Services and Beth Stebenne who will be EJM's charter service manager. Both will be based at the San Jose Center.

"The financial service firms, venture capital firms and private individuals are among the segments we will be targeting," Cropper said. "We are fortunate to have two veteran aircraft industry professionals who are familiar with the California territory and well-connected among senior executives throughout that region."

North's career has spanned 20 years in a range of executive strategy, marketing and business development roles for aviation and high tech companies. She formerly served as founder and CEO of Ascend Aviation, a charter brokerage firm providing aviation services to clients in Northern California. North has worked with leading venture capital firms to provide consulting services for the CEOs of their high tech portfolio companies.

EJM's wide variety of aircraft available for charter in California include a Citation V Ultra, Citation Xs, a Gulfstream IV, a Gulfstream V, a Falcon 900, Falcon 2000s, a Challenger, and the Boeing Business Jet.

Executive Jet Management's west coast office opening comes at time when the financial market is rebounding. Today, business and leisure travelers throughout Northern California have been turning to chartered aircraft as alternatives to the commercial airlines, as many carriers have reduced the number of flights, eliminated destinations, and as security concerns have increased airport check-in hassles.

Last year, Executive Jet Management handled more than 28,000 total flight segments including 1957 international flights. "We look for our new San Jose office to increase that business even further this year," Cropper said.

The company employs over 650 people nationwide to meet the growing demand for charter services and to provide supplemental lift requirements for the NetJets fractional aircraft ownership program.

Cropper said that the composition of Executive Jet Management's managed aircraft fleet has changed. "We are managing more aircraft that have the capacity to fly internationally. The addition of Gulfstream Vs, Gulfstream IVs, Falcon 2000s, and the Boeing Business Jet have contributed to that increase in our international charter flights."

In 2003, Executive Jet Management added 34 new aircraft to its fleet, and over a dozen new aircraft base-locations in the United States. These aircraft and others to be added to the company's fleet this year will be supported by a growing charter sales force that now exceeds 30 charter sales personnel.

"From a charter standpoint, companies offering a consistent national product are the ones that flourish. Charter clients are looking for stable business partners and our association with Berkshire Hathaway gives us a tremendous amount of financial stability. Furthermore, Executive Jet Management's uncompromising commitment to safety is evident in our aircraft maintenance and operating procedures is also the cornerstone for our strict security measures," Cropper said. "The security processes we adhere to guarantee the safety of our charter passengers are extensive."

FMI: www.ejmjets.com