A new name is entering the UK’s business jet charter scene. Fly Above Aviation Ltd has completed the acquisition and rebranding of Alto Aerospace, with the company now formally named Above Aero AOC Ltd, trading as above™. The start-up has secured its UK Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) through the purchase and is relocating its base from Bournemouth to Birmingham. Its first aircraft, an Embraer Phenom 100 very light jet (VLJ), is undergoing UK registration and maintenance ahead of a planned charter launch in Spring 2026.
Cleared for Takeoff
The rebrand to Above Aero AOC Ltd marks a strategic pivot for the company, transitioning its operational focus. A key milestone has been the UK Civil Aviation Authority’s formal acceptance of the company’s senior leadership team and nominated postholders. This regulatory approval underpins the next phase: adding the Phenom 100 to its AOC. The jet, previously registered in Germany as D-IAAS, was ferried to London Stansted in early December and is being prepared for its new UK role.
Home in Birmingham, Eyes on Europe
above™ is establishing its operational headquarters at Birmingham Airport (BHX), adopting a flexible floating-base model. The company aims to provide on-demand charter services across the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands, and near-Europe routes. Beyond executive travel, the start-up plans to offer aircraft-on-ground (AOG) support, medical evacuation, and organ transport services to UK-based carriers, with ambitions to expand into aircraft management in the future.
The Runway to Spring 2026
Founded with personal capital and local business investment, above™ is led by owner Vince Essex, formerly chief commercial officer at the now-defunct Cello Aviation. The company positions itself as a solution for charter brokers seeking additional UK-registered light jet capacity. With its regulatory foundations set and aircraft induction underway, above™ is poised to become a new player in the regional air charter market. All eyes will be on Birmingham as it prepares for a Spring 2026 takeoff.
Will a new specialist VLJ operator shake up the UK’s regional charter market? Let us know what you think in the comments.
