Opened First Office In Heidelberg In 1957 To Support Army

In 2007 Jeppesen has noted a number of important anniversaries -- including the 100th anniversary of founder Captain Elrey B. Jeppesen’s birth, the 30th anniversary of Jeppesen’s International Trip Planning Services business, and the 50th anniversary of Jeppesen’s European headquarters in Neu-Isenburg, Germany.  

Located just south of Frankfurt, the office today employs over 400 people who manage source data collection and analysis, chart production and distribution, products for pilot training, pilot supplies, sales, customer service, and more. The office was originally opened to fulfill a contract with the US Army, calling for Jeppesen to supply charts to pilots in the European theater.

Downtown Frankfurt was selected for its proximity to Army headquarters in Heidelberg and for its major airport. Capt. Jeppesen himself oversaw the opening of the office, which originally consisted of two people -- a lawyer and a printer. 

Jeppesen’s business in Germany grew steadily beyond its Army contract and original location, and for many years was the central hub of international operations. Recent acquisitions have expanded Jeppesen’s presence outside of the United States, but the German office will continue to be a key part of Jeppesen’s international reach. 

In January 1999 the office moved to its current location in Neu-Isenburg, and it continues to play a key role in Jeppesen’s expansion into new services and new markets. Much of the Jeppesen Marine business is centered in Neu-Isenburg, including the marine data management team.

The German office has also played a key role in Jeppesen’s digital transformation, as many of the first airlines to adopt Boeing’s Class 3 EFB were European and Middle Eastern customers serviced from this office. 

"Our Neu-Isenburg operation and its colleagues have been an integral and essential part of Jeppesen’s business for 50 years now," said Mark Van Tine, president and COO. "The worldwide presence of our brand can be traced back to that original two person office in Frankfurt that Captain Jeppesen himself helped to open in 1957."

In 1957 the first airline customer for the German office was MEA Middle East Airlines. Today the long list of customers include names like Easyjet, Ryanair, Korean Air, Emirates, KLM, Air Atlanta Icelandic, Turkish Airlines, South African Airlines, Aeroflot and Cathay Pacific. Overall the Neu-Isenburg operation services approximately 500 airlines with navigation and operations services, plus business and general aviation, and military customers.

For more than 70 years Jeppesen has made it possible for pilots and their passengers to safely and efficiently reach their destinations. Today, Jeppesen is a subsidiary of Boeing Commercial Aviation Services, a unit of Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

FMI: www.jeppesen.com