Dokia Air (DKA, Bucharest Baneasa) is planning to expand into the long-range business jet segment, chief executive Florin Susanu told ch-aviation in an exclusive interview. "We are aiming for an aircraft with a range of up to 6,000 nautical miles, a long-range business jet, not necessarily an ultra-long-range model," he revealed.

The company began operations with a brand-new Falcon 2000LXS, YR-NDV (msn 412), and secured a Romanian air operator's certificate (AOC) in October 2024. However, the aircraft, with a range of 4,000 nautical miles, has proven insufficient to meet all demand. “After starting with a super-midsize jet, we realised there’s a need for a longer-range aircraft, not especially in Romania, but mainly in Europe,” Susanu noted.

While Dokia Air does not rule out other manufacturers, the new aircraft will most likely be a Dassault Aviation. "We’ve built a solid relationship with Dassault, and after nearly a year of operating the Falcon 2000LXS, we’ve found the product to be very good,” Susanu said.

The company is also focused on further growth. "We didn’t set out to operate just one aircraft," Susanu said, adding that while new jets are preferred, used aircraft are also considered. "We have CAMO managers and can perform all necessary checks, provided it doesn't compromise flight safety."

French ties influenced Dassault decision

Dokia Air was founded by a Romanian businessman with strong ties to France, driven by a lifelong passion for aviation. "The owner was eventually in a position to start his own aviation business," Susanu explained. "From the beginning, our goal was to grow and become a serious player in VIP and corporate aviation. I built the team and secured our AOC, and that’s how Dokia Air was born."

The owner's connection to France was a key factor when selecting the Falcon product. "Dassault had been looking to enter Eastern Europe for some time, and we’re proud to be the first to operate the brand-new Falcon in this region," Susanu said. According to him, one of Dassault's strengths is having a robust European support network. "There are other good manufacturers, but accessing their services can be more difficult," he added.

Dokia Air’s Falcon 2000LXS is primarily maintained at Dassault Falcon Services in Paris Le Bourget, though the company also has maintenance contracts with providers in Geneva, Istanbul Atatürk, Nice, Nuremberg, and Vienna. "Given our relationship with Dassault, there’s potential for us to grow technically in Romania," he noted.

Susanu shared that Dokia Air's AOC process went smoothly with the Romanian authorities. "It was a normal procedure under EASA regulation. If you have the right people and qualified postholders, it’s quite easy," he said.

The company's Falcon 2000LXS was ferried from Little Rock in the United States to Paris Le Bourget on August 24, 2024. "We spent time creating manuals and procedures, but once the aircraft left Little Rock it only took a few months to get the AOC on October 8," Susanu explained.

Regarding future AOCs, Susanu confirmed that there are no plans for additional certifications at this stage.

Aircraft management in the pipeline

Looking ahead, Dokia Air plans to introduce aircraft management services. “We’ve had discussions with individuals interested in placing their aircraft under our AOC, and we’re open to providing this service,” Susanu said. While most prospects are individuals based in Romania, "we are also open to non-national clients, given that we operate under an EASA AOC," he added.

He believes Dokia Air's new AOC and new Falcon aircraft provide a competitive edge in the market. "Since October, we’ve flown almost 250 hours without any issues," he said. "Our strength lies in the fact that we’ve established a new AOC with a Dassault aircraft in a jurisdiction that previously didn’t have one - and we’ve succeeded."

Dokia Air currently operates purely as a private jet charter operator, not as a flight department for any other company. Susanu revealed that the Russian invasion of Ukraine has increased challenges for the Romanian charter market.

"The charter market was growing, but issues arose from the war in Ukraine, with whom we border directly," he said. However, there are signs of recovery, with more passengers visiting Romania and a rise in private jet charter flights from operators like NetJets Transportes Aéreos and VistaJet Group Holding.

With the Falcon 2000LXS based in Bucharest Baneasa, Susanu sees the airport as an ideal location for Dokia. "It's close to the city and can be considered a boutique airport, with increased business jet activity and aircraft coming in for maintenance."

To further capture demand in Central Europe, Dokia Air avails its aircraft via Avinode, a platform for air charter brokerage. "We can fly from anywhere, not just Bucharest," Susanu said. The company’s charter flights are evenly split between individual and corporate clients, with a similar balance between nationals and non-nationals. Nice, London, and Paris are among the primary markets where Dokia Air operates.