Blue sapphires are unparalleled specimens of nature’s beauty. Long ago, some people believed that the firmament was an enormous blue sapphire in which the Earth was embedded. Although found in the ground of our ‘blue planet’, sapphires really are the jewels of the sky. When the sky is blue, it means good conditions for flying. The colour Blue is a symbol that is strongly linked with feelings which belong to qualities that prove their value in the long term. It is the colour which fits in with everything that is constant and reliable.

Pegasus was the original symbol, creative spirit and power of the Muses of Greek mythology that brought inspiration and beauty to the lives of all it encountered. The winged stallion symbolizes strength and purity. The characteristics and positive messages related to these precious symbols inspired me to determine that the Sapphire Pegasus Award for Business Aviation was the most appropriate name for recognition of outstanding achievement.

The Sapphire Pegasus Award recognizes and honors outstanding performances by companies and individuals in Business Aviation. In total 115 nominations were received this year which represents an increase 32% over last year. Most of nominations were for companies; several were for individual professionals. I am pleased about this year’s high turnout. The significant increase in nominations clearly indicates that the Award has earned its respect and value in the industry. There is also a wide geographic spread for the nominations. Of the twelve different award categories, ‘FBO & Service Providers’ and ‘Innovations’ were the highest in demand. 

We have created the Sapphire Pegasus Business Aviation Award to honour the elite of Business Aviation. After receiving the nominations, it was a challenging task to objectively review and validate excellent nominees and reward the most outstanding performances of companies and individuals. An opportunity for public on-line voting has been provided. The public vote was combined with the evaluation of a panel of business aviation experts from different segments of the industry and with different perspectives; they had the final word on the selection of the award winners. We honour all the nominees and at the same time express our gratitude for their service to the industry and its clients. 

We congratulate the award winners and let it be known that receiving a Sapphire Pegasus

is a great achievement and recognition of the highest level of excellence.

Wishing you wonderful evening!

Antónia Lukačínová

Sapphire Pegasus Awards Founder

Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Austria, GlobeAir takes pride for being the first mover in the Air Taxi sector in Europe and among the fastest growing private jet charter operators. With the world´s largest fleet of modern Citation Mustang jets, GlobeAir offers the finest lifestyle solution for the modern luxury travellers by ensuring a direct access to those airports typically inaccessible to commercial airlines and larger private jets, with greater flexibility and premium quality service.

In today‘s fast pace environment GlobeAir is focused in providing time-saving flight solutions aimed at increasing business productivity and efficiency. The term “Air Taxi” in fact illustrates perfectly the core business of GlobeAir and the advantages of flying with a private jet on-demand in Europe, with a very short notice, being in complete control of your own schedule.

Stratajet is the world’s first real-time private jet booking platform using the power of technology to give its passengers total control and freedom. The company was founded in 2010 by Jonathan Nicol, an ex-commercial pilot who realised the archaic and inefficient state of the modern private jet business and decided to do something about it.

The technology behind Stratajet is exceptionally complex – hence taking five years to build – while Stratajet’s inventory management software integrates seamlessly with an aircraft operator’s existing system. The software includes advanced quoting and CRM tools, allowing Stratajet to show operator availability and prices direct to the public without manual interaction.

By providing access to aircrafts in this manner, Stratajet is helping operators achieve increased revenue and efficiency, whilst helping to bring down costs for the consumer. Founded in 2011 by Jonathan Nicol, a pilot-turned computer scientist-turned commercial pilot-turned entrepreneur who, frustrated by the archaic and inefficient state of the modern private jet business, decided to do something about it.

Euro Jet Intercontinental is the world’s leading provider of both flight and ground support services.

We can provide ground handling support, permits, fuel, flight planning, hotel arrangements, crew transportation, and catering. We also provide credit and pre-payment. Euro Jet handles 8,000 flights a year on Executive Jets, Commercial, Cargo, and Military aircraft. Our 24/7 Operations Control Center and over 200 staff are ready to assist you anytime with your request.You cannot afford to have anything go wrong, and it is our job to ensure your flight goes perfectly.

Every day Euro Jet handles multiple flights all across Europe and around the world. We have a wide range of customers who have all experienced our high level of commitment to providing the best aviation flight and ground support. Euro Jet prides itself on making a complicated logistical process appear seamless to our customers. Our clients span governments, corporations, individuals, executive operators, major airlines, and other flight support companies.

London Oxford Airport (OXF/EGTK – Kidlington) is the Thames Valley area’s primary regional and business aviation airport – the only commercial airport between London Heathrow (LHR) and Birmingham (BHX). Located in the heart of one of Europe’s fastest growing and most prosperous regions, Oxford lies 40 miles to the north-west of the Greater London area, halfway to the UK’s industrial heartland of the Midlands. The airport has been the fastest growing for private and business aviation in the UK since 2007.

JetPort SPb offers its clients a full spectrum of services for business aviation atPulkovo Airport. The experience of leading Russian and foreign companies specializing in ground handling services of business flights was taken into account when the Company was founded and the first employees were recruited. Thus, the Company was able to incorporate its own Operations, Passenger Services, Ramp Services, Special Transport Services and Security Services. Department of Mutual Settlements and a number of other divisions providing continuous 24-hour services to our clients.

My Jet is an independent expert in private aviation that empowers jet owners across the globe by providing them with a revolutionary financial management and benchmarking tool to optimize time and money spent on their assets. My Jet’s revolutionary IT platform collects, digitizes, verifies, analyses and stores all financial information and allows instant access to the information that matters.

The concept of MY JET was developed in 2014 by two entrepreneurs specialized in private banking and private aviation. Since its public launch in August 2015, My Jet has convinced an exponential number of business aircraft owners in Europe and CIS. Today My Jet is a dynamic company evolving in the sectors of business aviation and financial management with headquarters in Switzerland and representative offices in Moscow and London. It currently employs over 50 experts, including in-house auditors, analysts and IT specialists.

Bernhard Fragner is the CEO and founder of GlobeAir AG. A passionate aviator himself, Bernhard is a strong believer in revolutionising short-haul travel, by applying an air taxi model, maximising aircraft utilisation and building strong IT support. With this in mind, it is not surprising that Austrian based GlobeAir, founded by Bernhard, was one of the first movers in the air taxi business, operating the world’s largest homogeneous fleet of Cessna Citation Mustangs since 2011. However, his main focus is on customer service and his personal mantra is ‘Passion into Profession’.

Bernhard has been a member of the Baltic Air Charter Association (BACA) and joined the board of Directors of Citation Jets Pilots (CJP) in August 2014. In early 2000 Bernhard joined charity organisation Round Table Austria and was active in several board positions until 2012.

Carol Cork is Sales & Marketing Director, PrivateFly. She launched online private jet booking platform PrivateFly.com with her husband in 2007 and the company now turns over £22 million.

With a variety of hand-on and management experience, Carol specialises in sales and marketing. Passionate about technology and brands, she has worked with many leading companies in the luxury and travel industries. Previously Carol worked at Condé Nast Publications, driving new revenues and corporate business wins for the publishing group for several of their brands, including working on launch strategies. Carol has previously been Head of Creative Solutions for Emap’s media brands (now Bauer).

Kate Sarsfield works as an excellent journalist and the criteria seem to be more for business. She’s been in the industry for 20 years and, as a fellow journalist, rate her as one of the best. Knowledgeable, courteous, a joy to work with and incredibly well-connected. The highest praise is to her work as source material as it is credible and trustworthy.

Stratus was established by pilot James Moon who achieved his pilot’s license at the age of seventeen after overcoming a series of setbacks that threatened to stop his lifelong ambition of becoming a pilot. Stratus was founded with just £30. James suffered a broken spine which was severe enough to stop him flying for good. Medical staff advised James that he would be unlikely to ever get back in a plane again. After breaking his spine, James went on to suffer a broken wrist, broken finger and burst appendix all within the same year after getting his wings.

All of these injuries made James appreciate life and realise that flying can have a massive impact on so many people around the world. He founded Stratus on that principle and he aims to help as many people as possible with Stratus around the world.

From saving sight, protecting against malaria, responding to natural disasters and helping fund flying lessons for ex-servicemen… Stratus is here to make a difference through the power of flight worldwide. Stratus has following Charity programs: Mission Malaria, Medical Repatriation, Little Wings, Save Our Sight and others…

VistaJet offers global aircraft services unlike any other company in business aviation. With unparalleled experience flying in to and out of the hardest to reach destinations, VistaJet has arranged for heads of state, corporate leaders, entrepreneurs and private individuals to fly to over 186 countries worldwide.

Every flight is tailored to ensure seamless travel with maximum efficiency so customers can be in more meetings or locations within the shortest period of time. VistaJet ensures its fleet is available to all its customers – with guaranteed availability, no asset risk or positioning costs for Program customers.

Signum Aviation specializes in providing operations support, flight planning, handling arrangements and overflight/landing permits to the corporate and business aviation sector.

Having begun in 2007 with just one client, Signum is now responsible for the handling of more than 7000 flights per year. They provide support for a wide variety of aircraft types from Citation Mustangs to Boeing 747s, and they manage missions ranging from short domestic flights to very complex long-range operations. Friendly and personal service enables Signum team to establish and retain excellent relationships with clients who decide to stay with them for one simple reason – Signum aviation has earned their trust by providing the quality they expect – every time.