Pilatus strengthens presence in Germany with takeover

Pilatus Flugzeugwerke AG has announced the acquisition of Air Alliance GmbH, based in Burbach, Germany, in a company statement. The takeover follows on from a long-standing partnership between Pilatus and Air Alliance. The latter has been an authorized sales and service center for Pilatus aircraft in Germany since 2014 and is responsible for the sale and technical support of the PC-12 and PC-24 aircraft models.

With its own flight school and commercial flights using the PC-12 and PC-24, Air Alliance covers the entire Pilatus product portfolio. The direct integration of the German company is intended to further strengthen existing synergies and expand the market presence of Pilatus in Germany and Austria.

“Going forward, we will do everything possible to work together to provide our customers with the exclusive, first-class service they are entitled to expect as purchasers or owners of a Pilatus aircraft. We all look forward to building an even closer partnership in the future”, comments Pilatus CEO Markus Bucher.

All of Air Alliance’s approximately 120 employees are to be retained under the new ownership structure, with Managing Director René Petersen set to continue leading the company in a new role as CEO. The takeover remains subject to the usual regulatory approvals as well as the approval of the German Federal Aviation Authority.

According to information from the company itself, Pilatus Flugzeugwerke AG, which was founded in 1939, develops and manufactures unique aircraft and training systems to support the qualification of pilots around the world. The company is headquartered in Stans in the canton of Nidwalden, Switzerland, and employs around 3,000 staff. ce/ja