OVERLAND PARK, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Tour operator and flying adventure company Air Journey successfully completed its first journey around the world utilizing the international fueling experience of U.S. Bank Multi Service Aviation. In support of the trip, Multi Service Aviation arranged fuel authorizations for all itinerary locations, and the Multi Service Aviation Card was selected as the fuel payment method of choice for all participating aircraft.

The trip lasted 71 days, from May 14 to July 28, and covered 24,000 nautical miles, visiting 23 countries including Greenland, Iceland, Norway, France, Morocco, Malta, Greece, Turkey, Egypt, Dubai, Oman, India, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Hong Kong, South Korea and Russia. Six aircraft participated in the trip, including a Conquest, a Cessna Mustang, a Pilatus PC12, two Socata TBM 700s and a Beech Royal Duke.

"All of this would not have been possible without the expertise, knowledge, connections and constant attention to details provided to us by Multi Service Aviation. Arrangements were so well-made that we barely had to show the Multi Service Aviation Card and payment never came into question in the transaction. For journeys to far away destinations, that is a tremendous weight off our shoulders as well as those of the participants," said Thierry Pouille, president of Air Journey. "Multi Service Aviation has provided exceptional attention and service incomparable to any other company. Air Journey and Multi Service Aviation work very well as partners, and I can't imagine any journey to any part of the world without their constant attention and overlooking our wings."

During the planning stages of the trip, Multi Service Aviation worked closely with Air Journey to help determine the itinerary based upon locations where fuel would be available and offered price quotes to help Air Journey examine which locations offered the best economic choices. Multi Service Aviation made use of its extensive international merchant network, putting Air Journey in touch with experienced merchants who assisted in arranging handling and other services the group would need throughout their travels in advance.

Multi Service Aviation handled all of the pre-advisal for fuel, offered price quotes and identified where fuel was available to help determine an alternate travel course during the trip when slight changes to the itinerary were caused by weather and permit issues in Southeast Asia.

Since the Multi Service Aviation Card was chosen as the preferred method of payment for fuel during the trip, all participants were briefed by Multi Service Aviation staff members on the card program and what they could expect during their international operations.

"We were excited that Thierry and the Air Journey team chose Multi Service Aviation to handle their fuel arrangements and the Multi Service Aviation Card as their payment during this extraordinary trip," said Diane Criswell, vice president of Multi Service Aviation. "This was a great opportunity for us to leverage our international network to the fullest extent, and from all of Thierry's reports, there was not a single instance where another payment method had to be used or any aircraft being denied fuel at any point on the trip, even in some of the most remote locations they traveled."

The 2009 Journey Around the World will take place from May 13 to July 22 and will cover 25,000 nautical miles, visiting 26 countries and 35 different destinations. Air Journey has already decided to utilize Multi Service Aviation in the same capacity. For information on the 2009 Journey around the World, visit www.airjourney.com.

About Air Journey

Since 1998, Air Journey has shared its joy of adventure with fellow pilots, showing them the joy of flying in small groups to remote parts of the world. Air Journey has led pilots everywhere from the Bahamas, the Caribbean Basin, Canada, South America, the Galapagos, to all the way Around the World. Air Journey adventures are all-inclusive and guided by a world experienced Pilot/Journey Director. Their journeys range in length from four to 70 days and visit anywhere from one to 24 countries. Air Journey, the flying adventure journey specialists wish their participants Blue Skies and Tail Winds Always. For more information regarding Air Journey, visit their website at www.airjourney.com or call 561-841-1551.

About Multi Service Aviation

For over 25 years, Multi Service Aviation has served the aviation industry with financial integrity, security, and unsurpassed customer service. The Multi Service Aviation Card is accepted worldwide by more than 7,500 aviation service providers in over 190 countries. Multi Service Aviation provides cardholders with customized billing, free online account maintenance, and savings on fuel, while giving merchants account flexibility, free business promotion, competitive card processing, and fast transaction authorization and settlement. Multi Service Aviation promises that whatever you fly, wherever you go, the Multi Service Aviation Card is the only card you need. To learn more about U.S. Bank Multi Service Aviation, visit www.multiserviceaviation.com or call 877-MSA-CARD.

Multi Service Aviation is part of U.S. Bank Corporate Payment Systems and its parent company, U.S. Bancorp (NYSE: USB). U.S. Bancorp, with $247 billion in assets, is the parent company of U.S. Bank, the 6th largest commercial bank in the United States as of June 30, 2008. The company operates 2,542 banking offices and 4,895 ATMs, and provides a comprehensive line of banking, brokerage, insurance, investment, mortgage, trust and payment services products to consumers, businesses and institutions. Visit U.S. Bancorp on the web at www.usbank.com.

Source: U.S. Bank Multi Service Aviation