April 23 - Air Charter Service (ACS) reported growth across its commercial airliner, group travel and cargo, and private jet divisions during its 2014 financial year.

The company's overall turnover grew by 14 percent year-on-year to USD470 million for the year ending January 31, 2015.

ACS chairman, Chris Leach, commented: "Our cargo department has recovered well from 2013, which I think everyone in the industry would agree, was a bad year for the overall market and, after a slow start to the year, revenue was up almost 21 percent in 2014.

"The results show a group increase of 14 percent in revenue and 22 percent in charter numbers, and the growth appears to be continuing this year following a strong start to 2015, as we near the end of the first quarter," he added.

The company's EBITA more than doubled year-on-year from GBP2.2 million (USD3.3 million) in 2013 to GBP5 million (USD5 million).

Leach said the strong performance was down to investment in global infrastructure, new IT systems, and the opening of its new office in Houston: "It is very pleasing to see these investments pay off and we are planning three more offices to be opened in 2015."

Chris Leach

www.aircharterservice.com