A Q&A with Air Partner's Maximilian Bleakney
Managing our Private Jet operation in Germany & Switzerland, Maximilian Scott Bleakney is responsible for maintaining relationships with leading operators and airports, ensuring the availability of the most suitable aircraft for
each client’s needs, and delivering on Air Partner’s commitment to excellence – something he, and his team, achieve with unwavering focus. Here we caught up with Maximilian to chat about where his love of aviation stems from, how he ensures only the very best for his clients, and where his bucket list destination of choice would be
What attracted you to the aviation industry?
I describe myself as second-generation aviation devotee as my mother committed her life to aviation, and by the age of ten I had visited every continent and was already fascinated by how our industry connects the world. I personally didn't want to go down the pilot route, but I love the challenge of finding solutions, so private jet brokerage was a great fit. It’s a fast-paced and demanding industry, and it’s our job to ensure each of our client’s individual requirements, which vary greatly, are always met.
Tell us about your role at Air Partner.
Based in Munich, I'm responsible for the Private Jet operation that looks after German-speaking territories throughout central Europe. Our key markets are Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and Switzerland.
The team I head consists of seven aviation experts that deal directly with our network of leading operators and leverage their industry relationships to not only provide the best available aircraft based on the customer’s needs, but to negotiate the most competitive market pricing. My promise to our clients is that we’ll always align with Air Partner’s commitment to providing the very highest service, meaning we hold ourselves to the highest standards and deliver beyond expectations.
You mentioned you operate on a worldwide basis. How challenging is that?
I'll be honest, our core knowledge is obviously in the European market, and we know that space exceptionally well. But when customers want us to construct bespoke itineraries to North or South America, Africa, the Middle East or Asia, we reach out to our Air Partner colleagues based in those regions and utilise their expertise. Getting that local perspective of which airline, operator or airport would be the very best fit for any particular project is invaluable.
Do you collaborate with other Air Partner teams?
Yes, we do frequently. For example, some of our regular private jet customers sometimes travel with a larger number of passengers and therefore require a larger aircraft, so we immediately reach out to our Group Charter team and ask them to find the best solution. We've also had instances where customers have forgotten their passports or critical documents, and we can make a quick call to our colleagues in the cargo department who’ll arrange an onboard courier in no time. It's all part of the service we're proud to offer.
Are relationships with clients meaningful?
In order to really understand our clients, we aim to be as close to them as possible so that we can deliver the best possible product. Communication is a crucial part of the delivery, and when you know your customer well, you instinctively know whether it's most appropriate to convey information via WhatsApp, an email or whether they appreciate the personal touch and you reach for the phone. I believe that most of our relationships are very robust, after all, many customers have been relying on us for decades.
We're not the only players in the market, and, once in a while, customers might decide to explore other options. But they always seem to come back to us, and I believe that's down to trust, the quality of the customer experience and the relationships we build. They know we're 100% transparent, we don't play any games, and we deliver on our promise to find the best possible solution for their needs.
What sets Air Partner apart?
It always surprises me when I see organisations that want uniformity across their teams. At Air Partner, it's almost the complete opposite. We want to build diverse, multicultural teams that fit the profile of our clients. We want the best people committed to supporting our customers' rapidly changing needs and demands.
Of course, it helps that we have a heritage and expertise that stretches back over 60 years, so we have access to and relationships with thousands of airports worldwide that are not served by scheduled services. It's that knowledge and experience that helps us offer the premium service our clients expect and deserve. But these are just a few of the many things that we do differently at Air Partner.
Where would your dream destination be if you could take a private jet trip?
First, my aircraft of choice would be a Challenger 350, an 8-seater with plenty of space. As for the destination, well, for me, it has to be Jordan. It's an outstanding country with endless possibilities for exploration, culture and fun! And, with a flight time of 3 1/2 hours, it gives me, my family and close friends time to enjoy the luxurious comfort of this exquisite aircraft. Heaven!
We hope you’ve enjoyed getting to know Max. If you’d like to find out more about our Private Jet offering in Germany, please get in touch with us.
