October 3, 2024
After flying Taylor Swift and Julian Assange, VistaJet was in the spotlight at the 9th FOCAC meeting in Beijing.
Taylor Swift, Julian Assange, and African Heads of State are helping re-enforce VistaJet’s position as a global private jet flight provider.
Most recently, the Vista Global unit flew business leaders, heads of state, and governments to and from the 9th Forum of China-Africa Cooperation, known as FOCAC.
The event was held in Beijing from September 4 to 6.
The FOCAC summit alternates between China and Africa once every three years.
It aims to expand and deepen China-Africa cooperation and relationships.
According to the IMF, China has become Africa’s largest trading partner through programs such as the Belt and Road Initiative.
Around 20% of Africa’s exports now go to China, and about 16% of Africa’s imports come from China.
Total trade hit a record high of $282 billion in 2023.
In touting its role in flying the leaders, the private jet flight provider said, “Growing the private aviation network in both China and Africa, VistaJet plays a crucial role to foster business ties and help drive mutually beneficial economic growth and development in the regions.”
“The role of private aviation does not stop at air mobility. Not only is it the safest and most efficient way for point-to-point travel, but it also brings the world together and opens the door to deep collaborations and exploring new opportunities,” says VistaJet President of Europe and Africa Philippe Scalabrini.
He continued, “Every day, VistaJet is trusted by world leaders because it focuses on what it does best—providing the most rigorous safety and security, upholding its commitment of guaranteed aircraft availability for its members to fly anywhere at any time, and offering maximum efficiency in private travel.”
According to the company, VistaJet recorded 35% year-on-year growth in Africa in 2023 and will continue to rise in 2024.
The most requested aircraft are its Challenger 605 for flights within Africa and the Global 7500 for intercontinental flights.
In February 2023, Vista Global Chairman Thomas Flohr said he could base up to 25 private jets in Africa.
Earlier this year, VistaJet held a road show on the continent.
Its unique Program jet card offers fixed one-way rates with 48 hours to book and cancel worldwide.
VistaJet was in the news leading up to the Super Bowl.
It flew Taylor Swift from Japan to attend the Big Game, where her boyfriend Travis Kelce played for the Kansas City Chiefs.
The red stripe was also visible when WikiLeaks Julian Assange flew home to Australia.
The operator flew him from the U.K. via Saipan, where he agreed to a plea deal with the U.S. government.
VistaJet’s distinct livery was displayed at Joint Base Andrews (see above).
An aircraft in its livery flew American prisoners held by Russia back to the U.S. after a swap.
However, that aircraft was an ex-VistaJet airplane sold several months earlier.
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