Pilot Nicola Flies High into Senior First Officer Rank

19 September 2025

Air Charter Scotland is thrilled to announce the promotion of Nicola Saunders to Senior First Officer rank. Nicola – who is a popular member of the team and has been with the company since 2021 – currently operates both the Embraer Legacy 500 and Embraer Praetor 600 known collectively as EMB550. 

These flagship models within our fleet are world-renowned for comfort and performance within luxury air travel. Conveniently, both are DEFRA-approved to allow our favourite four-legged friends on board.

As the Embraer private jets are capable of a much greater range, they are the ideal choice for not only to destinations within Europe but to favoured cities such as New York on the USA East Coast. One of Nicola’s first trips on the EMB550 was to the famous St Maarten in the Caribbean. Both models are stalwarts of our fleet given both their long and short range proficiencies and are firm favourites in our empty leg flights.


Having previously been a First Officer on the Citation CJ fleet, Nicola transitioned onto the EMB550 in December 2023. Nicola has now operated the EMB550 for just over 20 months, gaining valuable experience which has allowed the progression to Senior First Officer, giving her additional seniority on the fleet.

Nicola Saunders, Senior First Officer (Right), said, “I feel very grateful for the opportunities and support I have had from the company and excited to see what the future holds!”

Derek Thomson, COO at Air Charter Scotland said, “We all send Nicola our most sincere congratulations, her commitment and drive have been enviable and we wish her the very best of luck with whatever she chooses to take on next. The world literally is her oyster!”




Vote Air Charter Scotland in the Air Charter Excellence Awards 2025

22 August 2025

Air Charter Scotland is thrilled to announce our nomination in the Air Charter Excellence Awards 2025.

The Air Charter Association’s prestigious annual awards celebrate the very best that the private aviation industry has to offer. We’re proud to have been shortlisted in the category, Charter Operator of the Year – Executive Passenger Aircraft.

Air Charter Scotland would like to thank our incredible team for all their hard work behind the scenes which ensures the best possible service for our clients. We continue to be grateful to the Air Charter Association for the opportunity to celebrate excellence within the private aviation industry. This nomination serves as important recognition for our company’s efforts as we continue to provide world class service for all passengers who fly with Air Charter Scotland. 

Members of the Air Charter Association can cast their votes in this round until Thursday 18th September 2025, with the winners being announced at the Air Charter Excellence Awards 2025 Ceremony and Gala Dinner in November. 

Thank you to all who vote for Air Charter Scotland in the Air Charter Excellence Awards for their support.

Charting New Heights at Air Charter Expo 2025

10 July 2025

Air Charter Scotland is thrilled to once again exhibit at The Air Charter Association’s annual exhibition for aircraft charter and broker services, Air Charter Expo 2025.

ACE’25 will take place on September 9th 2025 at London Biggin Hill Airport, and will host over 100 exhibitors, 1500+ attendees, and 20+ aircraft.

You’ll find Air Charter Scotland’s team situated at Booth 181 throughout the event, on hand to discuss our charter opportunities, aircraft ownership and management, and fleet specifications with fellow attendees of the leading event in the UK’s private aviation sector.

Out on the apron, ACS representatives will be ready and waiting to welcome you aboard for an in depth look at one of our top-of-the-range jets in our growing fleet! We’ll be exhibiting our Cessna Citation Latitude, one of the most comfortable aircrafts in its class with a low altitude cabin and class-leading sound insulation for a relaxed and refreshing journey.

Air Charter Scotland looks forward to connecting and reconnecting with fellow aviation industry professionals and companies at this event to see how we can work together to provide high quality private charter services for clients across the UK.

Air Charter Scotland Add Bombardier Challenger 350

1 August 2024

Following the addition of a Cessna Citation CJ2+, we are thrilled to welcome our latest fleet member, the Bombardier Challenger 350. 

The Maltese registered Challenger 350 will operate under our European AOC and will be based in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. It becomes the second aircraft manufactured by Bombardier under Air Charter Scotland management and the 14th in total – with number 15 in the pipeline. 

Chief Operating Officer and Accountable Manager Derek Thomson says it’s an exciting time for all involved with the company. 

“We’re incredibly proud and very happy to welcome this beautiful Challenger 350 to our fleet. Bombardier has a reputation for manufacturing excellent business jets and we’ve seen that with our existing Challenger 350.”

Thomson continued:

“It’s a time of growth for us and being able to add aircraft such as the Challenger to our already fantastic list of jets is a testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone at Air Charter Scotland.”

An outstanding dispatch reliability, low direct operating costs and increased efficiency alongside sleek interior styling and flat floor deliver high style make the Bombardier Challenger 350 one of the best-selling business jets in the world.

With a range of 5926km (3200nm), a cruising speed of 889km/hn(552mp/h) at a maximum altitude of 45,000ft, the Canadian made Challenger promises comfort, luxury and exclusivity for those looking to charter the nine-seater business jet. 

The Bombardier Challenger 350 is available for charter in August. 

Sustainability – Reducing Paper Use with Electronic Flight Bags

3 July 2024

At Air Charter Scotland, we have always placed sustainability at the heart of our business. As part of our partnership with South Pole for example, we have made significant investments towards global sustainability projects around the world. These have seen us offset almost 13,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions through 2024 alone.

Despite this, we understand that change has to come from within. For us it’s just as important to build an environmentally conscious culture from the inside out. A key aspect of that is reducing our reliance on paper – starting with our use of Electronic Flight Bags.

What is an Electronic Flight Bag?

An Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) is a digital system used by flight crews to manage and access flight-related information and documentation. EFBs can be hardware devices (like tablets or laptops) or software applications that replace traditional paper-based reference materials and flight documents. By using EFB across all of our charters, Air Charter Scotland can replace up to 50 pounds or more of paper documents per flight, translating to significant annual savings in paper use and more importantly, a positive environmental impact.

What Information is in an EFB?

EFBs contains electronic charts and maps, including navigational charts, approach plates, and airport diagrams; flight plans and logs, with itineraries, routing, and historical data; real-time weather updates and forecasts; aircraft performance data, such as performance charts, fuel calculations, weight, and balance; operational manuals and documentation.

They have become a key communication tool for messaging between flight crews and dispatch,
as well as a one stop shop for regulatory documents including compliance materials, safety information, and certification documents.

What are the benefits of EFB’s?

For an airline operating multiple flights daily, the use of EFBs could mean saving thousands of pounds of paper annually. The use of EFBs can also drastically aid weight reduction on flights. By keeping weight to the minimum possible, fuel savings can be made.

EFBs efficiency and convenience to pilots and staff, allowing for quicker communications and a greater level of safety in an emergency situation. Utilising EFBs across the entirety of the Air Charter Scotland fleet is part of a company wide mission to reduce paper-use where possible and to create an environmentally conscious culture throughout the business – both in the air and on the ground.

Click here to to see more on our sustainability efforts

Air Charter Scotland add CJ2+ to our growing fleet

21 May 2024

Air Charter Scotland were delighted to welcome a new addition to the fleet, with our Cessna Citation CJ2+.

Our CJ2+ is our 13th aircraft and promises comfort, safety, luxury and exclusivity synonymous with Air Charter Scotland.

It is a popular jet option for business and short European flights; the CJ2+ has a maximum distance of up to 1,780nm or 3,298km and seats up to six. This aircraft is the perfect addition to our fleet, alongside our Citation CJ1 and twin Citation CJ2 jets.

Take a flight from London to a range of destinations around Europe in less than three hours. This aircraft joins us at the perfect time, with a busy summer of sporting entertainment ahead.

June sees the Monaco Grand Prix and the beginning of UEFA Euro 2024. Make sure your plans are set for the 17th edition of Europe’s continental football championships taking place across Germany, with the hosts taking on Scotland in the opening game in Munich on the 14th.

The following month of July, sees France taking centre stage as over 10,000 of the world’s greatest athletes head to Paris in pursuit of gold.

Whatever your reason for crossing the continent, Air Charter Scotland’s fleet – including our Citation CJ2 can get you closer to the action across Europe and with the increased air traffic, we recommend securing your charter as early as possible. Our operations team are ready to navigate any challenges this summer. 

Our client services team can also arrange onward ground or helicopter transfers, plus a host of concierge services at your destination. 

Contact our charter desk today to discuss your requirements.