Club 328

Club 328 was a British air-charter brand focused on on-demand executive and private-aircraft operations. It was based at Southampton Airport and operated under the legal entity Club 328 Limited, a subsidiary of Corporate Jet Services Limited. The company’s business model centered on arranging or operating charter flights for customers seeking flexible travel on smaller aircraft rather than scheduled airline service. The business originated in 2002 under the name Calljet. It subsequently traded as Ourjet and Bookajet before being rebranded Club 328 in 2003. The sequence of names reflects the company’s development within the specialist business-aviation and aircraft-charter market, where operators commonly use separate commercial brands for brokerage, charter management, and flight operations. Club 328 also owned or was associated with a Geneva-based subsidiary called Club Airways International, extending the group’s presence beyond the United Kingdom. Club 328 held a United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority Type B Operating Licence. This licence allowed the company to carry passengers, cargo, and mail on aircraft below the applicable size thresholds: fewer than 20 seats and/or an aircraft weight below 10 tonnes. The licence placed the business in the small-aircraft commercial aviation category rather than the mainline scheduled-airline sector. Its reported fleet in March 2008 consisted of a BAe 125-800B and a Cessna Citation II, both types associated with business and executive charter work. The operator also arranged additional service for selected high-profile customers. It signed an agreement with security provider Veritas International Consultants to supply chaperones for some of those customers, indicating an effort to differentiate its charter proposition through privacy and personal-security support as well as aircraft access. In October 2007, Club 328 was purchased by PlaneChartering, an operator and broker based in the south of France. The acquisition connected the British charter operation to a broader aircraft-chartering and brokerage business. PlaneChartering later entered bankruptcy in June 2008. Following that failure, the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority revoked the relevant Air Operator’s Certificate, and Club 328 ceased operating as an active airline brand. No current website, public listing, or continuing operating business is identified in the supplied reference material.

Club 328 developed within the United Kingdom’s small-aircraft charter and business-aviation sector. The operation was established in 2002 as Calljet and later used the trading names Ourjet and Bookajet. In 2003 it adopted the Club 328 brand. The successive names suggest a business that evolved its commercial identity while serving the specialist market for privately arranged flights and executive aircraft. The operating company was Club 328 Limited, which was a subsidiary of Corporate Jet Services Limited. The group also owned or operated a Geneva-based subsidiary named Club Airways International. Club 328’s base was Southampton Airport, an airport with a significant role in business and general aviation in southern England. From this base, the company provided on-demand charter services rather than scheduled airline routes. Club 328 held a United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority Type B Operating Licence. Under that licence, it could carry passengers, cargo, and mail using aircraft below the relevant regulatory thresholds, including aircraft with fewer than 20 seats and/or weighing less than 10 tonnes. This regulatory position matched the company’s focus on smaller executive aircraft and differentiated it from larger scheduled airlines requiring the operating permissions associated with higher-capacity aircraft. The aircraft reported in the Club 328 fleet in March 2008 were a BAe 125-800B and a Cessna Citation II. Both were established business-jet types suited to private passenger charter. The company’s offering was not limited to aircraft transport: Club 328 signed an arrangement with Veritas International Consultants under which security chaperones could be provided for some high-profile customers. This service indicated a focus on discretion, customer handling, and security in addition to aircraft availability. In October 2007, the company was purchased by PlaneChartering, an operator and broker headquartered in the south of France. The acquisition occurred shortly before the acquiring business experienced financial failure. PlaneChartering went bankrupt in June 2008. The United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority subsequently revoked the Air Operator’s Certificate associated with the operation, bringing Club 328’s aviation activities to an end. Club 328 is therefore recorded as a defunct British charter operator rather than an active passenger airline. The available reference material does not identify a current successor brand, continuing website, publicly traded parent, or surviving scheduled route network.

• 2008

  Operations ended after certificate revocation

  [1]Club 328en.wikipedia.org

  Following PlaneChartering’s bankruptcy, the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority revoked the relevant Air Operator’s Certificate, ending Club 328’s operations.

• 2007

  Acquired by PlaneChartering

  [1]Club 328en.wikipedia.org

  PlaneChartering, a southern French aircraft operator and broker, acquired Club 328 in October.

• 2003

  Rebranded as Club 328

  [1]Club 328en.wikipedia.org

  After operating under the names Ourjet and Bookajet, the company adopted the Club 328 brand.

• 2002

  Established as Calljet

  [1]Club 328en.wikipedia.org

  The business that later became Club 328 was established in the United Kingdom under the name Calljet.

A boutique British business-aviation and on-demand charter operator offering flexible executive flights on small aircraft, with additional security-support services for selected clients.

• Passenger charter · 2003

  Executive air charter

  Club 328 provided on-demand charter flights using small executive aircraft. The service was designed for customers requiring flexible private travel rather than fixed scheduled airline routes. The operator’s reported fleet included a BAe 125-800B and a Cessna Citation II, both suitable for business and private passenger missions.

• Customer support service

  Security-supported charter service

  Through an agreement with Veritas International Consultants, Club 328 arranged chaperones for some high-profile customers. The service added a personal-security and client-handling element to the company’s executive-charter proposition.

• 2007

  Sale to PlaneCharteringM&A

  Background

  Club 328 operated as a British small-aircraft charter business within Corporate Jet Services Limited.

  Action taken

  PlaneChartering purchased Club 328 in October 2007.

  Aftermath

  The acquiring group subsequently entered bankruptcy, and the relevant operating certificate was revoked in 2008.

  Source

• 2003

  Adoption of the Club 328 brandStrategy

  Background

  The business had operated under the names Calljet, Ourjet, and Bookajet since its establishment.

  Action taken

  The company rebranded as Club 328 while continuing its specialist charter-aircraft activities.

  Aftermath

  Club 328 became the principal operating identity used in subsequent descriptions of the business.

  Source

1. 1Club 328en.wikipedia.org