Business class only airline Silverjet’s load factor for June was 70 percent as it carried 3,654 passengers on its daily service between London Luton to New York Newark.

The airline’s chief executive Lawrence Hunt said it was a ‘very strong month of passenger statistics with a record load factor…resulting in a fifth consecutive month of growth.’

Full statement

New aircraft: Silverjet, the British exclusively business class, long haul airline, today announces that, on 1 June 2007, it entered into a letter of intent to acquire two British maintained Boeing 767-200 extended range aircraft with Thomsonfly Limited. The letter of intent provides for delivery of both aircraft to Silverjet during March 2008. This brings the number of Boeing 767-200 aircraft either in Silverjet’s possession, under binding contract or letter of intent to five.

Both of the new aircraft are the Boeing 767-200 Extended Range (ER) variant and, in common with Silverjet’s other aircraft, are powered by General Electric CF6 engines, in these cases the more powerful CF6-80C2B4F type. This provides greater take off performance, allowing Silverjet to operate on most long haul routes from its excellent base at London Luton Airport.

These aircraft have an operational range of over 9,600 kilometres (6,000 miles) from London Luton Airport, Silverjet’s base, and therefore, in addition to New York Newark, its existing destination, will be capable of operating, for example, to, Delhi,  Johannesburg, Mauritius, Shanghai and the West Coast of USA carrying 100 passengers.

No announcement has been made as to what routes these two further aircraft will operate on. Silverjet has a further 30 routes under consideration, other than the London Luton to New York Newark route currently operated.

A further announcement concerning the arrangements for financing the acquisition of these aircraft will be made prior to the delivery of the first aircraft.

May 2007 Passenger and Traffic statistics: 1 - 31 May 2007

Revenue seats? flown: 3,628

Load factor: 62.6%

On time departures: 83%

Second daily London to New York service

The airline has decided to delay until late July the introduction of its second daily service from London Luton to New York Newark while its first aircraft undergoes its C-check, a standard 18 monthly maintenance service.

The Company has decided to bring forward the C-check on its first aircraft to July, as this is traditionally the quietest month for transatlantic business travel.

The airline took delivery of its second aircraft, which has recently undergone its C-check, on 27th April. A comprehensive fit out of the aircraft, including 102 6 ft 3 in beds, is in progress. The first flight from London Luton airport departs at 10:00 and arrives at 13:00. The return flight from New York Newark airport departs at 19:30 and arrives at London Luton at 07:20. The second flight will depart Luton at 16:45 and arrive in New York at 19:45 and return departing New York 21:45 and arriving in London Luton at 09:45. All times are local.

Lawrence Hunt, Chief Executive of Silverjet, said:

“We are delighted to have secured a letter of intent for two further long range aircraft for delivery in March 2008. With these five aircraft we are on track to operate ten aircraft within three years as set out at the time of our IPO. These aircraft have the more powerful engine type which will enable us to fly to destinations in India, China, South Africa as well as the West Coast of the USA with 100 passengers from our unique terminal facility at London Luton Airport. 

“We are also pleased to announce very strong passenger and on time statistics for May, maintaining the high level of load factor we reached in April of this year. This is now our fourth month of growth and our forward bookings continue to be ahead of the Board’s initial expectations. We have again delivered an impressive on time performance on London Luton to New York Newark daily service.

“Our second daily service will now come into full operation in late July to allow our first aircraft to receive its full C-Check. We have decided to bring this forward to July as it is the quietest month for transatlantic business travel and will cause minimum disruption for our customers. 

“We have received fantastic feedback on our award winning business class product including 3 travel industry awards.  We are delighted with our strong load factors and on time statistics and look forward to offering our exclusively business class product on additional routes.”

Silverjet is being nominated for the World Travel Awards green award this year.
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