The Hot Air Balloon Company

The Hot Air Balloon Company: balloon flights and aerial performances from South West England

The Hot Air Balloon Company is a hot air balloon operator based in the South West of England that provides services globally. Its activity combines passenger flights with specialist aerial performances for businesses, including stunts, branding and full project management. The company describes itself as leading the world in specialist aerial performances and states that its team of pilots, engineers and performance experts delivers what it calls world-first moments.

Passenger flights and special occasions

The company offers hot air balloon flights for private individuals, groups and special occasions. It presents its balloons as a way to explore the skies with experienced pilots and what it describes as top-of-the-line equipment, with panoramic views during the flight. The flight side of the business is handled by Adam, who can be contacted for private flights, groups or special occasions.

Aerial stunts and live experiences

On the business side, The Hot Air Balloon Company designs and executes aerial stunts and live experiences. The company cites examples such as suspending a giant skate bowl beneath a hot air balloon for BMX stunts and building bespoke aerial rigs for global brands. It states that its team handles everything from design to flight and that it takes on projects that sound impossible.

Brand activations and filming

The company provides balloon-based brand activations intended to generate attention and media coverage, for both one-off stunts and multi-day shoots. Its service menu also lists filming and TV work, branding, the option to brand your own balloon, corporate team building, weddings and tethered events, and inflatables. Business enquiries for advertising, branded balloons or corporate events are directed to Steve.

Project delivery and client base

According to the company, complex balloon projects are managed end-to-end by a specialist crew of pilots, engineers and creatives, covering concepting and prototyping as well as safety, logistics and on-site execution anywhere in the world. The company states that it has been trusted by global brands including Red Bull, LEGO and Sony.

Pilots and team experience

The team combines commercial pilots with engineering and performance expertise. Steve Thomas, director and pilot, has spent the past decade piloting balloons and special shapes in different locations around the world and has landed clients' balloons into moving vehicles. Adam, also a director and pilot, obtained his pilot's licence in 2020 after crewing for Steve; outside ballooning he has worked as an HGV driver and manager of a large recycling centre. Stephen Withers is a commercial pilot who began flying seven years ago and progressed from a private licence to a commercial rating. Mark "Nobby" Simmons has been a full-time commercial balloon pilot for over 30 years, has flown in more than 40 countries, has been chief pilot for Balloons over Bagan in Myanmar since 2014, has operated the Virgin Balloon Flights franchise in South West England since 1995 and is a CAA licensed Part-66 Aircraft Maintenance Inspector with over 3,500 hours of balloon flying. Phil has more than ten years in the industry, four of them as a pilot, and Ben Lewis has nine years of experience as a balloon crew member.