Newly-founded flYellow, based at Vilshofen airport near Passau in Germany, is about to commence commercial operations using a Cessna 208 Grand Caravan.

The aircraft will fly on the AOC of IAS Itzehoer Airservice, a fellow German Caravan operator specialising in parachute ops.

"With a project such as this, we had to think everything through, down to the very last detail," says MD and founder Harald Eichberger, whose other business Eichberger Reisen is one of the largest coach companies in Lower Bavaria and frequently collaborates with river cruise companies.

Passengers leaving the ship at Passau during day trips are brought to their destination by Eichberger Reisen. "Guests had been flying on a chartered four-seat helicopter to Kempten and Reutte to visit Neuschwanstein Castle," Eichberger continues. "It soon became apparent that a larger and faster machine had to be purchased due to rising demand and weather conditions. The future for us was a fixed wing aircraft. The Caravan brings Lower Bavaria and the region around Passau closer to the economic and cultural centres of Europe, which leads to great advantages for business customers."

Pilot Maximilian Schuster adds: "The Caravan offers many advantages over a helicopter and is the ideal device for our range of applications. Freight flights are possible, we are twice as fast, can now carry nine passengers, are ready for action in all weathers, require 50 per cent less fuel per passenger and can therefore reduce the transport price for our customers by almost 60 per cent. As well as this, thanks to the Caravan's modern four-blade propeller, it creates only half the internal and external noise of a helicopter."

The C208 offers short take off and landing capabilities and can operate in and out of strips as short as 800m. "This is hugely advantageous," Schuster explains. "We can land at smaller airports, which are often closer to the city centre than large international airports. Thus we offer our customers time and cost savings."

flYellow says that its Caravan is unusual in Europe as it is configured with the Oasis cabin, which includes fully rotating leather seats, a coffee machine and refrigerator. It also features weather radar, a full glass cockpit and de-icing.

The operator can arrange ground transportation for both departure and arrival. It currently employs four pilots. "Several times a year we train all conceivable scenarios on the machine, in good and bad weather, theoretically and practically," says Schuster. "Nothing is more important to us than a well maintained aircraft and pilot training at the highest level."