Dane is chosen to pilot JetBird

JetBird, the fledgling Dublin-based, low-cost executive jet airline, has chosen Dane Stefan Vilner as its first chief executive.

Mr Vilner is the chief commercial officer of Sterling Airways, Europe's fourth-largest low fares carrier. He is also chairman of the European Low Fares Airlines Association, whose members include Ryanair and EasyJet. Mr Vilner's appointment will be announced today.

JetBird is backed by Claret Capital, a private equity group headed by Clare-born businessman Dómhnal Slattery.

The airline plans to launch in April 2009 using Phenom 100 jets manufactured by Embraer in Brazil. JetBird has placed an order for 50 of these planes with Embraer and has options for an additional 50 that Mr Vilner said would probably be exercised.

"The response we have got from the market so far means it looks like we will need the other planes," Mr Vilner said. "By 2013, the idea is that we'll be fully deployed for the 100 aircraft."

Mr Vilner, who is moving to Dublin to run JetBird, said his first task would be to secure an air operator's certificate from the Irish Aviation Authority, which could take nine to 12 months.

He will also seek to secure deals for the airline's first two airport hubs. These are likely to be in London and in the Ruhr region of Germany, probably one of Dortmund, Düsseldorf or Cologne, he said.

"This is 95 per cent decided and the first two hubs will be announced during the summer," Mr Vilner explained.

Claret has agreed to underwrite the venture with up to $60 million (€44.4 million).

Mr Vilner has spent the past four years with Sterling, where he was responsible for revenue and yield management; advertising and branding; and distribution and product development. Sterling runs scheduled flights from Denmark, Norway and Sweden and carries about four million passengers a year.

The Dane also spent three years working with Go, a low-cost carrier set up by BA.

Commenting on the appointment, Mr Slattery said: "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."