The 2006 World Cup final in Berlin was a nightmare for private jet operators. Air traffic control could not cope. The corporate jets, hired to fly in the rich and privileged with the minimum of inconvenience and hassle, were caught up in delays of up to 12 hours.
NetJets’ European subsidiary, part of Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway group and by far the biggest operator of private jets in Europe, learned the lesson. From its operations centre in Lisbon it began planning for this year’s European Champions League final in Moscow nine months in advance.
