Empresas y finanzas

JetBird Appoints Stefan Vilner as CEO



    JetBird AG ('JetBird' or the 'Company'), the first Pan-European,
    low cost executive jet operator, today announced the appointment of Mr
    Stefan Vilner as CEO. Mr. Vilner joins JetBird from Sterling Airlines,
    Europe's fourth largest low-cost airline, where he was Chief
    Commercial Officer (CCO). Stefan is also Chairman of the European Low
    Fares Airline Association (ELFAA).

    Stefan Vilner has been CCO at Sterling Airlines for the past four
    years where he was responsible for the airline's revenue and yield
    management, advertising and branding, distribution and product
    development. Mr Vilner headed the airline's commercial efforts as they
    turned a business with combined losses of EUR 120 million into a
    profitable company within one year. Stefan's achievements with
    Sterling include growing revenue by 42% over the past financial year
    and cutting distribution costs by 25%. Mr Vilner was also responsible
    for the migration of 95% of Sterling's sales to its online booking
    platform. Europe's fourth largest low-cost airline, Sterling Airlines
    was formed in 2005 by the merger of Sterling Airways and Maersk Air.
    Sterling Airlines is Scandinavia's largest low-cost carrier.

    The ELFAA, of which Mr Vilner is Chairman and a former President,
    was established to represent and protect the needs of low cost
    airlines and their customers. Its members include Europe's two largest
    low cost carriers, Ryanair and Easyjet.

    Domhnal Slattery, Founder & Chairman of JetBird, commented "We are
    delighted to announce the appointment of Stefan Vilner as CEO of
    JetBird. JetBird's business model utilises the operating principles of
    successful low-cost commercial carriers to deliver a premium private
    jet experience at a significantly lower price point than existing
    players. Stefan's knowledge and track record in the European low-cost
    airline industry will be key to delivering compelling value for our
    customers."

    Mr Slattery added "Web based sales will be JetBird's preferred
    method of distribution, and Stefan's expertise in this area will be
    extremely beneficial as we come to market. Stefan will now lead the
    JetBird team to bring Europe's first low-cost on-demand private jet
    operator to our first flight in April, 2009."

    Stefan Vilner, incoming JetBird CEO, added "I am delighted to be
    joining Domhnal and the team at JetBird. We have a very exciting
    proposition that will revolutionise the private jet market marking the
    private travel experience widely available to the corporate travel
    market and the mass affluent."

    Mr Vilner concluded "JetBird now has best-in-class aircraft, a
    management team with significant private and commercial aviation
    expertise and the knowledge and ability to replicate the low-cost
    model in private aviation."

    About JetBird

    Commencing operations in April, 2009, JetBird will become Europe's
    first true low cost private jet airline, offering a private jet
    experience at up to 50% less than current branded operators. With
    aircraft based at a number of demand centres around Europe, JetBird
    will offer on-demand private jet charter at a price that offers true
    value for money, thus making private jet travel affordable for middle
    and senior level executives and the mass affluent.

    About Stefan Vilner

    Prior to joining Sterling, Stefan was the Chief Executive Officer
    at DTF Travel, a Scandinavian tour operator with subsidiaries in
    Denmark, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Spain and the UK. During his time at
    DTF Travel, Stefan increased the company's revenue from EUR 8 million
    to EUR 25 million. Stefan also established an online customer database
    for DTF that grew to 350,000 members. Previously Mr Vilner served as
    Director of Travel & Transportation at Valtech, an international IT
    consulting group and as Head of International Sales & Marketing at Go
    Fly Ltd., the low cost carrier launched by British Airways in March
    1998. Stefan Vilner is an avid linguist and is fluent in seven
    European languages.

    About Sterling

    Sterling is Europe's fourth-largest low-cost airline, and the
    largest in Scandinavia, operating both charter and scheduled flights
    to more than 80 routes across Europe. The company has a fleet of 25
    Boeing 737-800s, 700s and 500s. Sterling is based in Copenhagen and is
    part of Northern Travel Holding. Both in 2005 and 2006 Sterling was
    awarded "Best Low-cost Carrier" at the Danish Travel Award by Danish
    consumers.

    About Claret Capital

    Claret Capital, founded by Domhnal Slattery in 2005, is a private
    investment firm based in Dublin, Ireland. Claret Capital manages the
    assets of a small number of ultra high net worth individuals and
    families and has a global investment mandate. The firm has completed
    investments in the Private Equity, Real Estate, Media and Technology
    sectors. Claret Capital has also founded a number of new ventures
    including Blue Ocean Wireless, a company focused on expanding
    communication capability in the merchant maritime sector. Blue Ocean
    Wireless provides, for the first time, GSM connectivity for seafarers
    in deep ocean water, where no other network exists.