For over 20 years, Comlux has been providing bespoke services for VIP customers, catering for their private aviation needs. These include aircraft sales and acquisitions, aircraft operations and charter management, and cabin completions, maintenance, and upgrades.
The last 15 years have been a period of rapid growth for the company, achieved under the management of Richard Gaona, Comlux’s Executive Chairman and CEO, an experienced international manager with wide-ranging technical and leadership experience in the sector.
After 25 years at Airbus where he launched and led the ACJ division, he joined Comlux – at that time a small VIP operator – to create a business entity with a broader focus. The result is today’s Comlux Group that consists of three complementary business lines – Comlux Aviation – the original core business, Comlux Completion focused on cabin completions and maintenance services, and Comlux Transactions, providing aircraft acquisitions and sales. “Concentrating all these closely related activities under a single umbrella not only made sense, it also helped to foster customer loyalty in the longer term,” he reflects.
This strategy has worked well. Over the 15 years since Mr Gaona joined the company Comlux has achieved more than 100 transactions that have included Airbus and Bombardier aircraft and has become one of the largest aircraft management and charter companies worldwide with a versatile fleet of business jets and wide body aircraft.
In addition, Comlux has also become an approved Airbus and Boeing cabin completion and service centre and the exclusive completion centre for the first 15 cabins of the Airbus AJC TwoTwenty aircraft business jet.
Daring to be different
Although continuing to be headquartered in Zurich, Comlux operates from several locations around the world, with hubs in Malta, Dubai, Indianapolis, and Almaty. “Today there are some 15 companies in total globally that represent Comlux. We employ around 600 people and run a varied fleet of aircraft from the Boeing Dreamliner 787 to the Pilatus PC24,” Gaona says, adding that Comlux operates under three AOCs.
The three businesses are well interconnected, and the Group works like one team, he further affirms. “This comprehensive offering is welcomed by our clients and is also one of our key differentiators. There are many brokers who do trading, and many companies that operate small fleets but there aren’t many that do both. From day one, my strategy has been based on diversification. If we had focused on just one market and one type of activity, Comlux would have probably disappeared during Covid-19.”
That clearly did not happen, and today Comlux is capitalising on its resilience, adaptability, and reputation, having recently scored another win – it was the first aviation company in the world to enter an exclusive partnership with Airbus within its all-new business jet programme for the first 15 ACJ TwoTwenty aircraft cabins, to be completed by Comlux Completion in Indianapolis.
Besides collaboration on the completion side, Comlux has also brought its knowledge and expertise to the programme as a worldwide VIP operator of large business jets and became a launch customer for the ACJ TwoTwenty with 2 aircraft orders, including an ACJ TwoTwenty demonstrator.
Bigger and greener
The first aircraft entered service in 2023, bringing a new dimension to the business jet world, allowing up to 18 passengers to travel in comfort and luxury on long-haul flights. The aircraft is now operated by Comlux, demonstrating the company’s ability to combine its cabin outfitting and aircraft operation capabilities.
In February 2024, Comlux announced a successful completion of the second ACJ TwoTwenty cabin. This was a significant achievement, says Gaona: “Just 10 months after the first ACJ TwoTwenty left the Comlux centre and entered service, the second one is being delivered to the end client now, while cabin outfitting of the third ACJ TwoTwenty is in full swing and planned to be finished by the end of 2024. The fourth ACJ TwoTwenty arrived in Comlux Completion in February and from 2025 onwards, we are targeting to deliver between 4 and 6 ACJ TwoTwenty cabins per year.”
Adding the ACJ TwoTwenty to its fleet will enhance Comlux’s sustainability profile. “The aircraft comes with 25% less fuel consumption than traditional ACJs. But having a ‘greener’ fleet is not the only focus. We are also striving to reduce the carbon footprint at our completion and maintenance centres. For example, the brand-new, ultra-modern facility which we are just about to open in Dubai will be fully equipped with solar panels allowing it to generate 100% of the electricity required for the company’s activities.”
He remarks that opening the Dubai VIP facility, spanning 12,000 m2 and boasting a 5,000 m2 hangar, in addition to hosting an adjacent building spanning 2,250 m2 across three floors, which includes a new design showroom for the ACJ TwoTwenty, is another milestone in the development of Comlux worldwide, specifically boosting its position in the Middle East.
The drive for success
Looking back, Richard Gaona can be rightfully proud when looking at Comlux today. “Over the last 20 years, we have increased staff numbers 20-fold and have multiplied turnover by the same number. We have significantly expanded both the fleet and the facilities, and further growth is in the pipeline. Many of our suppliers have grown with us, such as RCO Engineering, the accomplished prototype builder, testing expert and comprehensive production specialist.”
“Needless to say, such growth can only be achieved by committed, motivated people. I’m proud to say that we have a great, diversified global Comlux team consisting of 35 nationalities. This diversity means better understanding of our international clients, laying the foundation for solid further development.”
“Comlux also believes in supporting young people, the next generation that will grow the business. Four years ago, we introduced a ‘Young Talent’ programme to identify and train young individuals who show great potential, and the first batch is now taking up leading positions. We let the young assume greater responsibility, giving them a chance to grow professionally early on.”
“This may be different from our competitors, but I believe that if you want to be successful in the long term, you have to be different. You also have to have a vision and walk the talk. When I joined Comlux all those years ago, I was given a chance to make it one of the best business aviation groups. I believe we can be really proud of what we have achieved.”
