This website uses cookies
More information
Marsh Brothers Aviation
Marsh Brothers Aviation

See more information from the Business Air News Handbook

SAC Swiss Aviation Consultants

Ops Consultancy

Aircraft Sales/Acquisition

Press Release

Issued by SAC Swiss Aviation Consultants.

November 20, 2015

Swiss Aviation Consulting celebrates 10th anniversary

On 14 November 2005 SAC Swiss Aviation Consultants was founded in Rotkreuz (ZG) by Daniel Lütolf. Today “Swiss Aviation Consulting” is a well-established brand name for a comprehensive range of advisory and management services to the aviation industry. In particular, its aircraft asset management service package for the aircraft financing and leasing industry is widely recognised amongst lessors, banks, export credit agencies, insurance companies and private aircraft owners. Having started off with a team of two, the successful group of companies now operates offices in Europe (Zug, Switzerland with a representative office in Bristol, UK) and in the Middle East (Abu Dhabi, UAE) and is in the process of expanding into Asia and Africa.

SAC is headquartered in Hünenberg (ZG) in the heart of Switzerland. Following the requirements of its globally operating clients, SAC started its first step of expansion by establishing a subsidiary in the UAE in 2011. In 2015 SAC began venturing into opening new offices in South East Asia and Africa. On top of its fully employed staff SAC can rely on a strong network of professionals anywhere in the world. The company is able to conduct projects in a variety of languages including German, English, French, Italian, Arabic, Chinese and Russian. “I am very proud of our multicultural staff and the fact we have been able to provide our clients a consistent, global service based on our background in Switzerland and the values associated with it,”, says chairman and founder Daniel Lütolf. “It is very challenging to operate such a small undertaking with a 25 strong team of employees and freelancers around the globe. And at the same time assure that the entire team shares the same values in delivering the service.”

In an interview with the chairman and ceo, Daniel Lütolf, outlines the experience and status of this Swiss company in the world as well as how the future looks and how this company differentiates itself from other providers.

Interview with the chairman and ceo Daniel Lütolf

- What services does your company offer in the aviation industry?

We cater to the requirements of our clients to aligned service packages that build on our various competencies in the aerospace industry. Our employees understand how to build and lead aviation companies, how aircraft of various types are operated, maintained, financed, insured and sold and how documentation should be structured and tracked. Thus, within the company, we have technical, operational, legal and financial know-how.

- Who are your business partners?

Our clients are mainly companies from the aviation industry itself. These are mainly aircraft finance companies, airlines, private or utility aircraft operators and maintenance providers. Many of the internationally operating banks, leasing companies and export credit agencies are among our customers as well as renowned airlines, insurance companies and owners of business jets.

- Is a Swiss company with the strong Swiss franc internationally competitive at all?

The aviation industry is generally extremely cost conscious. By the nature of the industry we are always exposed to international competition. Both factors are extremely challenging. They force us to keep structures lean and very flexible. We have employees stationed around the world to produce our services cost-effectively and to minimise the travel time. The development of information technology in recent years allows us, with modest costs whenever necessary, to communicate internationally and to keep all company data centrally while having employees located worldwide. Besides this efficiency, we try to work very closely with our business partners to integrate our service into their processes and to work excellently.

- Has something changed fundamentally in aviation in the past decade?

Perhaps, more fundamentally, nothing has changed in the last ten or twenty years. But there have been strong, irreversible developments. Firstly, there is the global cost and price pressure on all those involved. The consumer wants and can fly to London for CHF 30 or to Tokyo for CHF 500. This is only possible if all costs in the global value chain are trimmed to the lowest cost to still be effective. On the other hand we see the huge and ever-growing regulatory density as a challenge to the industry. The legislators have enacted thousands of pages of laws and regulations for aviation. There is probably no more regulated industry in the world. For our clients, it is very difficult to orient themselves in it and to move on. Finally, the sector is also characterised by large, global growth with a focus on Arabia and Southeast Asia.

- What attracted you the most in your career?

Enthusiasm comes to me from the fact that aviation is international in nature. I have had the chance to meet different cultures and people, and spend time in various climatic regions around the globe. And we are all one big family in aviation.

- What would you like to achieve?

In the last 25 years in aviation I have seen pretty much everything and achieved much. Personally, I have no great ambitions other than the company I have.

- How do you see the company Swiss Aviation Consulting in the next decade?

The nature of our business is global and our clients are looking for a global partner. To manage the changing demands of our customers we set up Swiss Aviation Consulting. We see ourselves as a small, yet global, business, which is clearly dominated by Swiss values. Thus we will make steps in South and North America having just begun expanding into the Asian and African markets.