Russian business aviation operator gets Falcon 8X

Chess Aviation Club will be operating its French business jet commercially and also leasing it out (Dassault Aviation)

Chess Aviation Club, a newly created Russian business aviation operator, has acquired a Dassault Aviation Falcon 8X. The company will focus on commercial operations, and will be renting out its so-far only aircraft, TASS newswire reports.

The operator was founded by Andrey Filatov, co-owner of Russia’s largest container terminal operator Globl Ports and of Globaltrans, a leading Russian rail freighter. Filatov also owns Tuloma Investment Company, the Art Russe winery and several logistic businesses. Commercial aviation is a new area for the entrepreneur.

Filatov comments that his interest in business aviation is driven by the current growth of the segment. Both the number of flights and their duration are on the rise, he says: “This enables us to forecast further market development, including long-haul flights, which are very popular with Russian clients. In my view, this segment is among the most promising ones in business aviation.”

The Falcon 8Х entered service in October 2016. It was certified in Russia in May 2017. More deliveries are expected within weeks, the OEM told Russian Aviation Insider.