DragonFly Executive Air Charter has formally welcomed a brand new Textron Beechcraft King Air 250 turboprop aircraft to its growing fleet.

This aircraft, which touched down recently at its new base at Cardiff airport, flew in from the Textron manufacturing facility in Wichita, Kansas, stopping at Montreal, Goose Bay, Greenland and Iceland along the way.

The aircraft is to be added to the company's air operating certificate and will then be made available for commercial charter.

Chief executive and managing director Howard Palser praised the King Air 250 as an aircraft that ticked all the boxes for private air travel: “It delivers excellent performance, the reliability afforded by jet engines and the turboprop's ability to take off and land from short runways. The aircraft are pressurised and air conditioned, and are certified to fly at heights well above inclement weather. I'm delighted to be able to offer clients the latest version of the aircraft with improved fuel efficiency, a faster cruising speed and the ability to operate up to 35,000 ft.”

Cardiff Airport commercial director Spencer Birns adds: “DragonFly has been a valued partner of ours for 15 years and it's great to see the business thriving. Our runway facilities are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year with no slot constraints, which makes our airfield ideal for executive air travel.”

He goes on to say: “Part of our long term vision is to create a sustainable airport for Wales by making best use of our current portfolio of products and services and identifying new ways to diversify our business. We welcome the addition of this new aircraft to the DragonFly fleet and look forward to continuing a successful relationship with our valued partner.”

Celebrating its 15th anniversary this year, DragonFly now operates a fleet of five business aircraft, comprising the King Air 250, three King Air 200s and a Nextant 400XTi.