Malta-headquartered Luxwing has taken delivery of a Citation CJ1 with winglets. The factory-new aircraft is one of a number of jets that are due to join the operator's fleet over the next three months, including another Phenom 300 and two Phenom 100s.

Commercial director Daniele Guida performed the first flight on the CJ1 last month: “Having the winglets on it is quite rare,” he explains. “The winglets are active, so they can rotate during the flight; depending on the flight conditions they are flexible and adjust their position. This enables us to climb faster and saves fuel, so we can reduce the charter price on a plane that has six seats and a toilet, thereby ensuring it works as an entry level aircraft."

Luxwing's fleet features the CJ1, CJ2, Citation VII, Citation VI, XLS and Citation X. From Embraer it has six Phenom 100s and two Phenom 300s, one of which is coming in the next month. “We expect another Citation VII at the end of February, then another two Phenom 100s,” adds Guida.

“We use the Phenom 100 for short flights and in the midsize segment we can use the Citation VII or the XLS, sometimes even the Citation X.

“There is no limit to the number of aircraft that we can take on. A few of our aircraft are managed, but Luxwing owns most of its fleet and operates these aircraft exclusively for charter.

“We eventually hope to double our fleet. The year has started very positively. We can cover all of Europe at the moment, and we recently won some new business in southern Africa with our Citation X.”