Spanish Operator Research — Customer Discovery Database¶

Purpose: Identify and profile Spanish Part-CAT operators for LuxBrief customer discovery interviews. Target: 1-5 aircraft operators, but also larger operators' dispatch teams for workflow insights. Status: Research phase — no operators contacted yet.

Tier 1: Primary Targets (Business Aviation / Charter)¶

1. Gestair Group (ICAO: GES)¶

• Type: Business jet charter, management, MRO, dispatch
• Fleet: ~12+ aircraft (Gulfstream G650/G550, Bombardier Global 6500/6000/Express, Dassault Falcon 7X/2000, Embraer Legacy 650, Cessna Citation Sovereign/XLS+/Excel, Pilatus PC-24)
• Bases: Madrid Barajas, Barcelona, Malaga, Valencia, Palma, Santiago, London City, Malta, Caen, Zurich
• Founded: 1977
• Ownership: GPF Capital (PE)
• AOC: Spain (AESA) + Malta
• Website: gestair.com
• Key Division: Gestair Aeroplanning — external flight dispatch services
• Flight dispatch services
• Trip support coordination
• Fuel management
• Post-flight services
• Key Contacts: | Name | Role | LinkedIn | Email/Phone | |------|------|----------|-------------| | Manuel Tirado | GM Aeroplanning | Search needed | ops@gestair.com / +34 91 627 56 51 | | Roberto Zapatero Corral | Commercial & BD Director | linkedin.com/in/roberto-zapatero-corral-71a1b76b | | | Rafael Melero | GM Aviation | Search needed | | | Carmen Munguia | Aircraft Sales Director | linkedin.com/in/carmen-munguia-41021512 | | | Carlos Gerico | CEO & Chairman | | corporate@gestair.com / +34 91 625 99 00 |
• Uses: TrustFlight Centrik for real-time ops management
• Why Target: Largest Spanish bizav operator. Aeroplanning division IS a dispatch team — exactly the user persona we need. Even though they're large (37 aircraft across managed + owned), their Aeroplanning team dispatches for multiple operators and can give insights into small operator pain points. Manuel Tirado is the #1 interview target.
• Interview Value: HIGH — will understand dispatch workflow, weather briefing process, compliance burden for multiple operators they serve.

2. Mayoral Executive Jet (ICAO: MYO)¶

• Type: Executive jet charter
• Fleet: Small (Dassault Falcon 200 confirmed, likely 2-4 aircraft)
• Base: Spain (airport TBD — likely Madrid area)
• Founded: 1985
• Callsign: MAYORAL
• Website: Research needed
• Contacts: LinkedIn search needed
• Why Target: Small executive jet operator, exactly the 1-5 aircraft profile. Founded in 1985 — established operator with decades of operations experience.
• Interview Value: HIGH — fits target profile perfectly.

3. Executive Airlines Spain (ICAO: EXU)¶

• Type: Executive charter
• Fleet: Small
• Base: Spain
• Callsign: SACAIR
• Website: Research needed
• Contacts: LinkedIn search needed
• Why Target: Small executive charter operator. Name suggests exactly our target market.
• Interview Value: HIGH — if still active.

4. Aeronova¶

• Type: Charter & management
• Fleet: 3-5 aircraft (estimated)
• Base: Malaga (LEMG)
• Website: aeronova.es
• Note: The original "Aeronova" callsign is now used by Air Europa Express (acquired 2016). Verify if Aeronova as a charter operator is still independent or was absorbed.
• Contacts: Website/LinkedIn
• Why Target: Malaga base, charter + management, small fleet.
• Interview Value: MEDIUM-HIGH — need to verify independence first.

5. Helity Copter Airlines¶

• Type: Scheduled helicopter service + charter
• Fleet: 3-5 helicopters
• Base: Malaga (LEMG), Ceuta-Algeciras route
• Website: helity.es
• Contacts: Website/LinkedIn
• Why Target: Niche but accessible. Helicopter operations are even more weather-dependent than fixed-wing. Short routes over water (Strait of Gibraltar) = high weather sensitivity.
• Interview Value: MEDIUM — different ops profile (rotorcraft) but high weather dependency validates product need.

6. JetFly Aviation¶

• Type: Fractional ownership
• Fleet: 2-4 (PC-12, PC-24)
• Base: Ibiza / Palma de Mallorca
• Website: jetfly.com
• Contacts: Website/LinkedIn
• Why Target: Fractional operations, tech-forward, Balearic islands = weather-critical.
• Interview Value: MEDIUM-HIGH — fractional operators face same compliance burden.

Tier 2: Stretch Targets (Larger or Specialized)¶

7. Inaer (ICAO: INR)¶

• Type: Helicopter services (HEMS, SAR, utility)
• Fleet: Large rotorcraft fleet
• Founded: 1965
• Base: Spain
• Contacts: LinkedIn
• Why Target: Phase 2 (SAR/HEMS expansion). Too large for initial target but useful for understanding helicopter ops weather needs.
• Interview Value: LOW for MVP, HIGH for Phase 2 roadmap validation.

8. AlbaStar (ICAO: LAV)¶

• Type: Charter airline (737s)
• Fleet: Boeing 737 fleet
• Founded: 2010
• Base: Palma de Mallorca
• Website: albastar.es
• Why Target: Airline-scale but charter operations. Useful for understanding Part-CAT compliance in practice.
• Interview Value: LOW — too large for target market, but dispatch team could provide insights.

9. TAG Aviation Spain¶

• Type: Aircraft management (Swiss parent)
• Base: Madrid / Ibiza
• Website: tagaviation.com
• Why Target: Manages fleet in Spain under Swiss parent. Can provide insights into cross-border operations compliance.
• Interview Value: MEDIUM.

10. Swiftair (ICAO: SWT)¶

• Type: Charter + cargo
• Fleet: Boeing 737 fleet
• Founded: 1986
• Base: Madrid
• Why Target: Large charter operator. Too big for target market but established Spanish ops team.
• Interview Value: LOW — not target profile.

Tier 3: Pan-European Active in Spain¶

11. FlyingGroup¶

• Fleet: 42 aircraft
• HQ: Antwerp, Belgium
• Website: flyinggroup.aero
• Spanish routes: Active across Iberia
• Why Target: Large fleet but operates frequently in Spain. Could provide Belgium/Spain cross-border compliance perspective.
• Interview Value: MEDIUM for cross-border insights.

12. NetJets Europe¶

• Fleet: 70+ EU-wide
• AOC: Portuguese (LPPT)
• Website: netjetseurope.com
• Why Target: Way too large, but dispatchers here understand EASA compliance at scale.
• Interview Value: LOW — enterprise, not target market.

Research Methodology & Sources Used¶

Sources Checked¶

Sources Still to Check¶

• [ ] LinkedIn Sales Navigator — search for Spanish dispatch/ops roles
• [ ] OurAirports (ourairports.com) — filter for Spanish airports with bizav activity
• [ ] EBAA member directory (requires membership or EBACE registration)
• [ ] aviationjobsearch.com — job postings reveal which companies have dispatch departments
• [ ] ch-aviation.com — comprehensive airline database (may require subscription)
• [ ] Google: "Spanish business aviation operators" / "operadores aviacion ejecutiva espana"

Priority Outreach Sequence¶

Week 1 (March 6-12): 1. Manuel Tirado (Gestair Aeroplanning) — LinkedIn connection request 2. Roberto Zapatero (Gestair Commercial) — LinkedIn connection request 3. Helity — email via website

Week 2 (March 13-19): 4. Mayoral Executive Jet — LinkedIn/website research, then outreach 5. Executive Airlines Spain — verify still active, then contact 6. JetFly Aviation — LinkedIn outreach

Week 3 (March 20-26): 7. Aeronova — verify status, then contact 8. TAG Aviation Spain — LinkedIn outreach 9. Brok-Air / ATS Aviation — LinkedIn search

Week 4 (March 27-31): 10. Pilot Careers Live Madrid (March 28) — attend, network with COPAC, collect contacts

Key Questions for AESA Registry Access¶

Since the AESA website blocks direct access, alternative approaches: 1. FOIA/transparency request to AESA for list of Part-CAT AOC holders 2. EBAA associate membership — includes member directory 3. AESA physical office visit — Paseo de la Castellana, Madrid 4. Ask interview subjects — "Who else operates in this space?" at the end of every interview

Related¶

• Customer Discovery Interview Script — Interview questions
• European Contacts — Full European contact database
• Outreach Templates — Message templates
• Go-To-Market Strategy — Overall GTM plan