Whilst most of us have to scrimp and save to travel with budget airlines such as Ryanair, Ken and Suzannah have clocked up the air miles in a much more salubrious fashion. So what do we know about the Bates's private airline of choice 247jet?

According to their website www.247jet.biz, the luxury of a private jet is no longer the domain of senior executives, it argues that "air travel is no longer a pleasure" and cites horrors such as "long queues", "lost luggage", "passport control" and "immigration" a subject close to Ken's heart. More than often, he banged the drum about the cancer of asylum seekers and immigrants sponging off the British taxpayer, a much maligned collective he has long-since bowed out from being a member of hence his residence in Monte Carlo.

So if Ken doesn't want to be a British Taxpayer then why should he be forced to stand in immigration queues where god forbid, he may come into contact with immigrants?!

"Privacy" is another USP as far as 247 Jet are concerned, they fly to "smaller airfields" so you don't suffer "the unpleasant hassle of large airports." The last time I spoke to Ken he gave me some mild ribbing about the amount of kids I have got (five, although I understand he has sired five himself!) but kids are a bloody noisy nuisance around airports so I will give him that one!

The jet of choice for 247 Jet is the Cesna Citation Bravo 1/2. According to the ad-men it "...enjoys an excellent safety record and offers good comfort at an affordable price. It is ideal for journeys up to four hours. Our cabin allows for up to eight passengers with luggage. It has hot and cold beverage facilities and flights can be catered as clients require." So not a stale pre-packed sandwich and overpriced tiny can of warm lager in sight.

Based at Hanger 2 at Southend Airport, 247 offers a "rapid response service" which caters for "crisis or trauma flights, special part shipments or aircrew repositioning."

With three crews and one on permanent standby, 247jet can be relied upon if you need to make a sharp getaway at very short notice. Presumably this also extends to the hard-working, honest, decent tax-exiled businessmen when your "sixty-days" are almost up!

Photo: Action Images

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