Charter specialist Air Partner said a surge in business caused by the US presidential election had helped its American division get back into profit.

The Gatwick-based firm, which leases aircraft to governments and celebrities, said "notable business" on the Republican campaign trail had boosted the division.

The news cheered investors who, by last night, had helped lift the company's share price to £4.10p.

Chief executive David Savile said Air Partner was regularly carrying groups of between 100 and 150 journalists on planes following President Bush's Air Force One jet.

He explained the need for the service by saying: "You couldn't let everyone run round down to the local airport, buy a ticket and then follow him - it just wouldn't work."

A series of cost-cutting measures and the introduction of a new management team had also helped the firm's US arm returning to the black, according to yesterday's trading statement.

A significant increase in the popularity of business jets had contributed to a 29.7 per cent increase in pre-tax profits to £3.7 million across the group.

The UK division, which accounts for 52 per cent of group sales, saw a slow first-half recovery gain pace in the fourth quarter.

A spokesman said there had been a "substantial recovery" in its UK executive aircraft division, which specialises in business jets.

A 40 per cent increase in contracts was mainly due to improved trading in the fourth quarter.

Although the UK freight division suffered a significant drop in sales after some 2003 Gulf contracts were not repeated, it remained profitable. This contributed to group sales falling by 12 per cent to £100.6 million.

Last December Air Partner became the first aviation company to be granted a royal warrant from the Queen entitling it to display the Royal Arms together with the words "By Appointment".

The company, which employs 115 staff in ten countries, has flown the Real Madrid football team and transported relief workers to disaster-hit regions.