World Cup helps Air Charter Service score in first half of 2018

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Air Charter Service CEO, Justin Bowman


Half-year revenue for Air Charter Service (ACS) is up 23 per cent helped by strong cargo growth and FIFA World Cup traffic.

In the six months ending 31 July, revenue was up from £195.2 million in 2017 to £240.5 million this year, with cargo flights increasing 21 per cent so far in 2018, compared to airfreight industry growing four per cent.

Chief executive officer Justin Bowman says ACS had a “stunning first six months of the financial year”, especially considering last year’s figures were beyond its most optimistic projections and included a number of one-off events.

He also says: “We revamped our onboard courier division three years ago and that also enjoyed a good year so far, with job numbers also increasing by 21 per cent.”

The 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia helped all business sectors, with ACS arranging 254 contracts for the tournament covering group charters, private jets, travel and concierge, cargo flights and onboard couriers.

Bowman says: “We flew everything from team kits, to tens of thousands of football fans, plus many of the teams themselves. Our Russian offices played a huge part in enabling us to win so much business over June and July.”

This year, ACS has opened offices in Manhattan and San Francisco, as well as a dedicated OBC operation in Frankfurt, and another new office will be opened in the coming weeks.

Bowman says: “There is an exciting second half of the year in store here, with some brilliant new technologies that we are working on – including an improved OBC tracking system – as well as a focus on further improvements in customer service.”