Opened First Office In Heidelberg In 1957 To Support Army
In 2007 Jeppesen has
noted a number of important anniversaries -- including the 100th
anniversary of founder Captain Elrey B. Jeppesen’s birth, the
30th anniversary of Jeppesen’s International Trip Planning
Services business, and the 50th anniversary of Jeppesen’s
European headquarters in Neu-Isenburg, Germany.
Located just south of Frankfurt, the office today employs over
400 people who manage source data collection and analysis, chart
production and distribution, products for pilot training, pilot
supplies, sales, customer service, and more. The office was
originally opened to fulfill a contract with the US Army, calling
for Jeppesen to supply charts to pilots in the European
theater.
Downtown Frankfurt was selected for its proximity to Army
headquarters in Heidelberg and for its major airport. Capt.
Jeppesen himself oversaw the opening of the office, which
originally consisted of two people -- a lawyer and a
printer.
Jeppesen’s business in Germany grew steadily beyond its
Army contract and original location, and for many years was the
central hub of international operations. Recent acquisitions have
expanded Jeppesen’s presence outside of the United States,
but the German office will continue to be a key part of
Jeppesen’s international reach.
In January 1999 the office moved to its current location in
Neu-Isenburg, and it continues to play a key role in
Jeppesen’s expansion into new services and new markets. Much
of the Jeppesen Marine business is centered in Neu-Isenburg,
including the marine data management team.
The German office has also played a key role in Jeppesen’s
digital transformation, as many of the first airlines to adopt
Boeing’s Class 3 EFB were European and Middle Eastern
customers serviced from this office.
"Our Neu-Isenburg operation and its colleagues have been an
integral and essential part of Jeppesen’s business for 50
years now," said Mark Van Tine, president and COO. "The worldwide
presence of our brand can be traced back to that original two
person office in Frankfurt that Captain Jeppesen himself helped to
open in 1957."
In 1957 the first airline customer for the German office was MEA
Middle East Airlines. Today the long list of customers include
names like Easyjet, Ryanair, Korean Air, Emirates, KLM, Air Atlanta
Icelandic, Turkish Airlines, South African Airlines, Aeroflot and
Cathay Pacific. Overall the Neu-Isenburg operation services
approximately 500 airlines with navigation and operations services,
plus business and general aviation, and military customers.
For more than 70 years Jeppesen has made it possible for pilots
and their passengers to safely and efficiently reach their
destinations. Today, Jeppesen is a subsidiary of Boeing Commercial
Aviation Services, a unit of Boeing Commercial Airplanes.
Bolen Gives Congress a Rare Thumbs-Up
See All