The Air Group has expanded its fleet of planes at Van Nuys Regional Airport. The company added a 14-seat Gulfstream G550 and Legacy 600, two mid-sized planes that can accommodate more than a dozen passengers each. The planes will be based at Van Nuys; the company also added a Falcon 50 aircraft for its operations in Reno, Nev. Air Group President and CEO Jon R. Winthrop said expanding the fleet makes sense economically as the business experiences growth. “The trend toward private jet ownership continues strong,” he said. “With the economy growing stronger every month and commercial airline travel more difficult and unpredictable, we expect 2007 will be a banner year for private jet sales and chartering.” The Legacy is a mid-sized jet that can seat 13 and travel more than 3,000 miles. The Gulfstream has a maximum range of 6,000 miles and can hold 14 passengers. It is the latest of several additions to The Air Group fleet in recent months. The company, which has operations in eight cities and in Japan, last year added a Challenger and Citation SII in Van Nuys. The Air Group broke ground last month on a new private jet terminal and corporate headquarters at Van Nuys. The complex will include an 86,000-square-foot hangar and maintenance center and approximately 12,000 square feet of office space. The company is also building a new East Coast terminal in New Jersey slated to open this month. , Chris Coates
