Merkur Charter is gearing up to meet higher demand as clients prioritize safety because of the pandemic.

Merkur Charter is part of the Merkur Group, a leading conglomerate of aviation services in Turkey.

The company provides aircraft management solutions to the business aviation community, as well as support systems for different aircraft types.

The aviation division holds representation licenses granted by the State Airport Authority.

As general sales agents serving 62 airlines worldwide, and providing local representation services in Turkey, Merkur is determined to keep its competitive edge through its in-house handling team, which has full control of operations for a seamless customer experience.

“Our strategy is to maintain a clear goal in any business activity we have,” explained Halis Din, Merkur Holding and Group Companies general manager.

“We monitor the changing trends and events in the market and take prompt decisions, putting solutions into action before many others do. We have a good leadership and a very dynamic team. We are known for getting the job done with quality.”

The company’s fleet comprises a wide range of aircraft, including VVIP jets, to offer flexible, tailormade services in areas including business aviation, cargo and passenger charter, medical and humanitarian flights, and helicopter rental.

The private business jet segment is booming in Turkey and the air taxi concept is becoming trendy. Merkur recently took delivery of a new Hawker 400XP, to be based out of Istanbul and Athens. It aims at providing a cost-effective air taxi option for short-haul flights.

The company also welcomed a Learjet 60XR – SX-AEK (with VIP & ambulance configuration) in Athens in early February. With a range of 2,040nm, the Learjet can reach northern European countries and the Middle East without a fuel stop.

Merkur Charter also provides air services in unplanned circumstances, such as emergency evacuation and repatriation flights.

The future is looking good. The business aviation sector has recovered about 85% of pre-Covid flight activity in countries with large domestic markets, as well as the MENA region. Although cross-border flight activity has not reached these levels yet, Halis Din sees growth in numbers and is gearing up for the coming years.