Cobalt is delighted to announce the latest order, by Excel Airways (part of the Avion Group), of its proven CrewCall system for the co-ordination of cabin and flight deck crew movements. The powerful growth planned by the group during 2005 and onwards, means that streamlining its core processes, through automation, is vital. Cobalt's CrewCall system is already used by most large UK charter airlines.

Notes to Editors

The Avion name is currently little known in Britain but will this summer account for about 15% of all UK holiday flights, carrying passengers from its own tour operations and for other big holiday companies.

Formed when Excel Airways was taken private (after its biggest shareholder, the Cypriot tour group Libra was bought out) the group has recently expanded due to a merger in January 2005 with two Icelandic-owned airlines, Air Atlanta and Islandsflug. The merged group now has over 60 aircraft.

Excel had itself been established by a group of Gatwick-based charter-industry veterans, including Eamonn Mullaney, a former boss of British Airways' Gatwick operations, Phil Wyatt and Steve Tomlinson. Known as Sabre Airways prior to 2000, many of Excel's senior employees trace their personal career roots back to Dan Air.

The Avion Group plans to float in Iceland this year, and is expected to grow significantly. It is speculated that a US holiday operation is planned, which would provide an intensive programme of work for group aircraft during the European winter season, traditionally a slack period for charter carriers.

Link: Opening of Avion Group Headquarters, Crawley 24 Feb 2005