Author Archives: FlightList PRO

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AIR CHARTER INDUSTRY INTELLIGENCE AND MARKETING SOLUTIONS. Leading air charter brokers and travel professionals use FlightList PRO’s full-market resources, economical rates and marketing opportunities to grow their service level, their business and their bottom line: • Professional Aircraft Sourcing Platform • Public Air Charter Broker Directory • Charter Broker Business Accreditation   Request a free trial here.   More about FlightLIst PRO.

U.K. Charter Broker Opens U.S. Office

privatefly jet charterJet charter brokerage PrivateFly has opened a dedicated U.S. office at Fort Lauderdale International Airport.  The European company says the launch is a key step forward in its ambitious U.S. growth plans, following strong sales over the past two years.

The new team in Florida will handle U.S. client flight sales for any global route. PrivateFly says the location of Miami/Fort Lauderdale was also chosen specifically to target a growing private jet audience in the area – a popular luxury travel destination in its own right, and a key connection point for the Caribbean, Mexico and South America.

“PrivateFly’s model is attracting interest from U.S. business aviation customers, who now represent a third of our flight sales,” said PrivateFly CEO Adam Tidwell.  “Florida is the third busiest state for business aviation, after Texas and California.  Its private aviation traffic rose by 3 percent in 2015 following the overall U.S. trend, but we expect the first half of 2016 to see greater growth of around 6 to 8 percent. ”

Source:  company press release

Nationwide Private Jet Charter Service Celebrates Twelve Years Growth, Milestones In Charter Flight Industry

Large Selection, Best Price Guarantee and Industry Reputation Propel Jet Charter Favorite New Flight Charters

U.S. private jet charter leader New Flight Charters this month celebrates its 12th anniversary and record growth, arranging and providing charter flights in the US and worldwide, according to a press release from the company.

Since the company was founded in 2004, the private jet charter industry has experienced tumultuous ups and downs, just in recent times appearing to be confidently climbing out following the 2008 recession.

Private Jet Charter Company Best Ratings Reviews

Private jet charter flight company New Flight Charters, celebrating 12 years growth in 2016

During this time, charter flight company New Flight Charters was growing and profitable 11 of the 12 years, including being awarded to the Inc.500 fastest growing companies list every year from 2009 to 2012, a testament to its service level and returning customers.

Different from most air charter brokerages whose key personnel come from sales jobs outside of aviation, New Flight Charters’ founders had a history in private aviation and were active private and commercial pilots.

“Coming from a background of flight operations and being the one responsible for the customer experience and service, we look at arranging charters quite differently than most,” states Rick Colson, New Flight Charters’ Founder and President, “It’s about the experience, trust and reputation.”

Now with a Charter Management Senior Team of six and a cumulative 46 years in air charter, 51 years FAA-certified experience, 104 years executive management experience and over 17,500 hours personal flight experience, New Flight Charters boasts one of the most experienced and respected teams in the industry.  The company arranges over 1,400 flights each year.

“The largest number of compliments we receive are about our people,” Colson adds.

New Flight Charters has good reason to celebrate;  not only twelve years of consistent growth and success, but recognition as a favorite in the industry and as an air charter role model.

Company Milestones:

  • 2005 Qualified as Registered U.S. Government Contractor, qualified and accepted to the CCR-Central Contractor Registry and SAM-System Award Management.
  • 2006 Awarded Credit Rating by D&B, Dun & Bradstreet, the world’s leading provider of business information for credit, marketing and sales decisions worldwide.  New Flight Charters’ rating and company details are available publicly through D&B online at www.dnb.com.
  • 2008 Began aircraft ownership and management, placed on a charter operator’s certificate and separately operating it under FAR Part-91 for business.
  • 2009 Launches Best Price Guarantee, assuring New Flight Charters fliers receive the best price in the total market for each and every flight.
  • 2009-2012 Achieves the Inc. 500|5000 fastest growing list four consecutive years, earning the distinction of fastest growing private jet service nationwide.
  • 2010 Publishes Five Questions For Your Air Charter Service, to help private fliers manage risks and ensure a quality and reputable organization is handling their private charter flight.
  • 2011 First in the industry to provide a Company Credentials Report, or anything like it, providing company history, financial, personnel and business credentials to charter industry partners, vendors and clients for review and evaluation.
  • 2011 Passes audit examination by the IRS Excise Tax Division, no changes ordered.
  • 2011-2012 The Most Recommended Jet Charter Service in the world’s largest charter marketplace.  Air charter professionals, operators and brokers publicly recommend charter companies in the market and post comments on their service, history and experiences.
  • 2012-2014 Testing and proving company for groundbreaking industry resource FlightList PRO, featuring the only complete air charter listing directory in the U.S. and 131 countries worldwide.
  • 2013 New Flight Charters’ Five Questions For Your Air Charter Service is adopted and published by The Air Charter Safety Foundation based in Washington D.C. as a consumer guide to chartering an aircraft and made available as a free download at ACSF.org.
  • 2013 launches the free Club New Flight, with special member charter discounts, complimentary ground transportation and custom catering, and advance information on empty legs special pricing and new charter aircraft.
  • 2014 Celebrates Ten Year Anniversary as leading private jet charter company, offers special discounts, promotions and free flight concierge experiences.
  • 2015 Achieves 14% growth year over year, more than quadruples total industry trend numbers of 2.9%.
  • 2016 Awarded Better Business Bureau Accreditation, A+ rating. Rating based on 13 factors and no negative information since BBB’s New Flight Charters file opened in 2011.

About New Flight Charters
New Flight Charters arranges over 1,400 separate domestic and international flights each year, with top-rated operator aircraft at leading jet charter rates.  Extensive client and industry reviews are available on the New Flight Charters website.  The private jet charter company serves a wide variety of clientele including Fortune 500 companies, government heads of state, presidential campaigns, entertainment icons, private families and entrepreneurs.  For charter quotes, information or the latest updates, call (800) 732-1653 or visit NewFlightCharters.com nationwide or new specialty location Denver Jet Charter for Denver, Aspen and other Colorado private jet charters.

Source: New Flight Charters press release

Startup Company Member Jets Crowdsources Private Flights To Cut Costs, Save Time

By: Bobby Burch  – Startland.com – 

Overland Park startup Member Jets crowdsources private flights to cut costs, save time

Member Jets CEO Ty Carter

An Overland Park, KS tech firm is bringing charter flights to the masses with its crowdsourcing platform that reduces the costs to fly in swanky private jets.

Founded in 2015, Member Jets created a private aviation community that connects travelers to discounted private flights by aggregating available seats and travel opportunities. Now used at Kansas City’s Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport and the Johnson County Executive Airport, Member Jets is accepting members for its club, which targets businesses and entrepreneurs that highly value their time.

“We’re trying to create a trading environment for aviation,” Member Jets CEO Ty Carter said. “We bring the price point down so you’re not buying an entire airplane — you buy a seat like you would on a commercial airline. But instead of a commercial flight, you’re on a private jet without all the hassles.”

To use the service, a would-be traveler buys a Member Jets membership and creates a profile, indicating preferences and frequent domestic destinations. For safety, the user also must go through a background check and be in good standing with the TSA.

A member can then search, request, select, book and, if desired, share the aircraft with other members, driving down costs.The platform also can notify users of travel opportunities to a desired locale.

A pilot for more than 25 years, Carter said that Member Jets not only reduces private flight costs but also drastically cuts down on travel time when compared to a commercial flight. In addition to skipping security and check-in lines and the option to park on a nearby tarmac, private flights are direct to the desired location.

For example, Carter said that Member Jets can cut off about five hours of travel time on a round trip flight to Denver, six hours to New York City and eight hours to Los Angeles.

And in a world where time is money, Carter said the efficiencies are significant to a business’s bottom line.

“For an entrepreneur whose time is extremely valuable — every minute is important,” Carter said. “Standing in line at airports and the commercial hassles are not efficient. … I’ve seen the advantages of what private air allows you to do — it’s like a time capsule. Your productivity is much higher.”

While still more expensive when compared to commercial flights, Carter said Member Jets’ flights are cheaper than chartering an entire plane. For example, a private one-way flight to Austin, Texas costs about $800 for a 1-hour-and-40-minute flight.

The company is currently only operating out of the Kansas City area but is looking to expand to Denver and Atlanta. Some of its common destinations include St. Louis, Omaha, Dallas, Oklahoma City, Austin, Cincinnati, Atlanta, Wichita, New York City, Denver and other.

Image by Member jets

Image by Member jets

Source:  STARTLAND-Kansas City’s Home For Innovation News

Charter Operator ExcelAire Opens California Office, Aircraft For Private Charter

ExcelAire charter operatorExpanding its nationwide presence, ExcelAire announced the opening of an office at the Oakland International Airport (OAK), in a press release from the company.  ExcelAire is one of the nation’s leading private jet charter and aircraft management companies.

ExcelAire will provide a full range of private jet services from its Oakland office, including aircraft management and charter. Currently, one of ExcelAire’s Legacy 600 private jets is based in Oakland.

Jet charter san francisco

Legacy 600 based Oakland CA operated for charter by Excelaire

The entire Excelaire charter fleet and aircraft/operator details are available in FlightList PRO.

“There is incredible demand for private jet charter service in the San Francisco Bay area and to better serve our customers there and meet that demand, we opened this new office in Oakland,” said Greg Brinkman, president, ExcelAire. “Now, we can provide our customers with access to our offices on both the East and West Coast, for their added convenience, while continuing to deliver unmatched levels of service to our aircraft owners and charter customers.”

In addition to the Oakland office, ExcelAire operates a more than 200,000-square-foot facility at MacArthur Airport in Long Island, New York. The new office in Oakland is located at 8433 Earhart Rd., Oakland, Calif. With a team of highly experienced private jet travel professionals, ExcelAire exceeds even the highest expectations and ensures that each trip is executed flawlessly.

A Hawthorne Global Aviation Services company, ExcelAire specializes in worldwide jet charters, aircraft management, maintenance, and sales.

Source:  Press Release, Excelaire, LCH Communications

Blue Star Jets Fades to Black, Charter Broker Going Out Of Business

Blue Star Jets is fading to black.

The private-jet-chartering company — named after the airline in the 1987 film “Wall Street” — is quietly going out of business after 16 years.

Todd Rome, Blue Star’s president, is now working with his bigger former rival, Apollo Jets. Ricky Sitomer, Blue Star’s CEO who co-founded the company with Rome, is “doing his own thing,” Rome said.

Blue Star, which sponsored Bridgehampton Polo for five summers and advertised in upscale magazines, will disappear.

“The more volume you do, the better pricing you get,” Rome told me. “We feel our efforts combined will take over this industry.”

Apollo was founded by Al Palagonia, the handsome pal of Spike Lee who once did time for pump-and-dump stock fraud schemes.

Source:  Page Six article April 14, 2016, By Richard Johnson

Top-10 FBO’s in America, Also AIN 2016 Full Survey Results –

Air Flite ramp shot
Air Flite took the top spot in AIN’s 2016 FBO survey. (Photo: Air Flite)

AirFlite, the Toyota-owned aviation service provider at Los Angeles-area Long Beach Airport/Daugherty Field, was once again rated as the top FBO in the Americas by readers in AIN‘s annual FBO Survey.

This year, as the survey transitions to a year-round, rolling review process from a single period during the year when ratings are accepted, it tallied results earned by locations over the past four years, and during that span, the California FBO earned a 4.84 out of a maximum five (from the previous 1-to-10 scale), garnering survey-high scores in the categories of passenger and pilot amenities. It barely edged out the Tampa International Jet Center, which notched top scores for its facility and for its line service.

The top 10, in order, were:

  1. AirFlite at Los Angeles-area Long Beach Airport/Daugherty Field
  2. Black Canyon Jet Center at Montrose Regional Airport in Montrose, Colo.
  3. J.A. Air Center at Chicago-area Aurora Municipal Airport
  4. Atlantic Aviation at Kansas City Charles B. Wheeler Airport
  5. Fargo Jet Center at Hector (N.D.) International Airport
  6. XJet at Denver Centennial Airport
  7. Banyan Air Service at Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) Executive
  8. Jet Aviation at Fort Lauderdale Executive and Palm Beach (Fla.) International Airports
  9. Skyservice Toronto at Detroit Oakland Country International Airport
  10. Pentastar Aviation also at Detroit Oakland Country International Airport

View full 2016 FBO Survey results

Source: AIN online

Flexjet, Flight Options Adjust, Moving Light & Mid Jets Into On-Demand Charter

Flexjet is offering voluntary separation agreements to its pilots as the company begins to phase out certain aircraft models and shift others from fractional ownership into charter. The company further is requesting approval to make a similar offer to pilots at affiliate operation Flight Options.

In a March 31 letter to pilots, Jason Weiss, Flexjet executive v-p of operations, outlined plans to retire the Learjet 40XR and Challenger 604/605 fleets and move the Nextant 400XT and Citation X out of the fractional business model into on-demand. “Our companies have seen a significant shift in the fractional marketplace over the past year and a half,” Flexjet said in a statement to Aviation International News. “While customer demand has historically been high in the light- and midsize-cabin segments, much of it has since shifted to on-demand flying.” At the same time, the growth in the fractional programs has trended toward larger, longer-range aircraft.

The company has not determined the actual number of pilots that will be needed once the fleet adjustments are made, but acknowledges fewer pilots will be required for fractional operations. It has begun by offering voluntary separation agreements that range from six months to a year of salary and other benefits. Flexjet believes the program will take effect over then next 12 to 18 months.

Full news article at AIN here

Source:  AIN

JetSuite Launches Public Charter Service, Adds Regional Jets

JetSuiteX to try ‘private jet experience’ on scheduled flights

Ben Mutzabaugh, USA TODAY  April 5, 2016

There will soon be a new option for some fliers looking to book flights in the West. JetSuite, a California-based private jet charter company, will try its hand at scheduled passenger service on select western routes.

JetSuite, which began flying in 2009, will debut a public charter service that sells seats on scheduled flights under the brand “JetSuiteX.”

The company promises passengers buying tickets on those flights will get a “private jet experience.” Flights begin April 19, with fares starting at $109 and maxing out at about $300 each way for departures from private-jet terminals.

Customers can even earn points thanks to a frequent-flier partnership with JetBlue. JetSuiteX passengers can earn 250 TrueBlue points per segment on regular fares and 150 points for sale fares.

JetSuite CEO Alex Wilcox, who was on the executive team that helped successfully launch JetBlue in 2000, is bullish on the prospects for the new JetSuiteX service.

Wilcox says fares have been increasing on short-haul flights. Wilcox says that — coupled with increasing security headaches at major commercial airports — has created a sweet-spot in the market where JetSuiteX hopes to lure well-heeled, time-sensitive fliers looking for something between low-fare “cattle car” domestic flights and more expensive private jet options.

“That’s created a space for this kind of product where we can charge a little bit more, but provide a lot more – especially in terms of time savings,” Wilcox says to Today in the Sky, pointing to the advantage of flying from private jet terminals.

There are security procedures for passengers flying from private jet terminals, Wicox says. But he adds “there’s no TSA line. People can show up 15 or 20 minutes before their flight.”

JetSuiteX’s inaugural route will operate within California, connecting Burbank’s Bob Hope Airport to Concord’s Buchanan Field, located about 30 miles east of downtown San Francisco.

JetSuiteX says its initial schedule of up to two daily round-trip flights will give Concord its first scheduled passenger service since the early 1990s, when USAir discontinued the Concord service it inherited via its merger with Pacific Southwest Airlines.

The next JetSuiteX route will begin April 22, with weekend-only service between Concord and Las Vegas. On June 30 JetSuiteX begins flying its third announced route, offering up four flights a week between Mineta San Jose International Airport and Bozeman, Mont.

JetSuite and it’s full charter fleet are available in FlightList PRO, in both the Operator and Floating Fleets sections.

While JetSuite’s private-jet charters have so far been flown on smaller 4- and 6-seat aircraft, its JetSuiteX “public charter” service will be on newly acquired Embraer E135 regional jets. The company has 10 on order, all of which previously flew for American’s American Eagle affiliate before being returned to Brazilian jetmaker Embraer.

But Wilcox says customers won’t mistake JetSuiteX’s E135s for a planes flying typical domestic airline feeder flights.

JetSuiteX has completely revamped the interior of the aircraft, configuring them with 30 seats. All have at least 36 inches of “seat pitch,” a standard industry measure of personal space. That, says JetSuiteX, is comparable to business class service on domestic carriers.

Overhead bins have been removed to create a more spacious feel to the cabin. The cabin interior is also wrapped in a leather finish.

“There’s no plastic in the cabin anymore,” Wilcox says. “It’s all leather sidewalls like a private jet would have.”

Also onboard will be free in-flight Wi-Fi and in-flight entertainment that fliers can stream on their personal devices.

JetSuiteX says new destinations will come online as more of its specially configured E135s are delivered. San Diego, Phoenix and Santa Barbara, Calif., are among cities JetSuiteX has singled out as possible expansion destinations.

The company expects to have all 10 of its E135s flying by “mid 2017.” The aircraft also will be available for private charter services, selling for about $8,000 per hour for the 30-seat jet.

USA Today article here

Source: USA Today

ARGUS Announces Charter Operator Ratings Integration with SimpleCharters.com

ARGUSARGUS International, Inc. (ARGUS) is pleased to announce a new software integration with the online charter marketplace, SimpleCharters.com. ARGUS is now the exclusive operator ratings provider for the SimpleCharters.com online Charter Marketplace.

This integration allows SimpleCharters.com users to filter their searches to obtain ARGUS rated charter operators, and verify these operators’ legitimacy through a click-to-verify system.

“ARGUS wants to make sure that today’s web-based consumers have the ability to perform high level due-diligence while checking availability and price”, said ARGUS President and CEO, Joe Moeggenberg. “The internet’s ability to connect charter brokers, end consumers and suppliers in an efficient manner has become very important to the overall charter marketplace. ARGUS performs its own research on every website that seeks an integration with our ratings, and we were extremely impressed with how quickly and efficiently SimpleCharters.com allows users to perform their searches and book their trips.

“I couldn’t be more excited to introduce the only online platform that enables clients to book private flights, instantly,” said Charles Denault, Founder and CEO of SimpleCharters.com. “Integrating the ARGUS ratings into our platform was a high priority for us, as many of our customers only fly with ARGUS rated charter operators. We are thrilled to announce the completion of this integration and are very much looking forward to helping the charter marketplace evolve with quicker and easier transactions.”

Source:  ARGUS Press Release

Meridian Adds Grows Fleet to 22 Charter Aircraft

Meridian, the award-winning private aviation company based at Teterboro Airport in Teterboro, NJ, is pleased to announce the addition of a Gulfstream GIV-SP (N999AA) to its growing charter fleet of private business jets. This long range aircraft was completed in 1996 and the interior was completely upgraded and refurbished in 2009. It seats up to thirteen passengers, and has the capacity to sleep up to seven for long haul trips. It is based at Teterboro Airport, and is immediately available for charter (Certificate IMJA053F).

Meridian’s full fleet of 22 charter aircraft are  available ONLY in FlightList PRO.

This GIV-SP comes fully-equipped with all of the features and amenities expected from today’s discerning business traveler: leather club seating, a full galley with microwave and convection ovens, coffee maker, private lavatory with sink, and a separate lavatory for crew members. The aircraft also features the latest technology, including complimentary domestic Wifi, an inflight satellite phone system, large bulkhead monitors with Airshow® moving maps, individual viewing monitors, and a multimedia entertainment center that features Blu-Ray and CD players.

Gulfstream IV-SP now available for charter with Meridian

Gulfstream IV-SP now available for charter with Meridian

Dennis O’Connell, President of Meridian Air Charter, says, “We are very excited to be adding another long range aircraft to our charter fleet. Our fleet has been growing rapidly, especially in 2016. This Gulfstream GIV-SP will be the twenty-second charter aircraft on our certificate, and the third one added this year. We think that our clients will be impressed with the impeccably redesigned cabin which offers comfort and convenience to both business and leisure travelers. Another big advantage is that the aircraft does not require owner approval before booking, allowing for an expedited flight approval process.”

Meridian currently manages a wide range of aircraft types that are available for private charter: Global 5000, Gulfstream G550, Gulfstream GIV-SP, Falcon 7X, Falcon 900EX EASy, Falcon 2000EX EASy, Falcon 2000, Challenger 605, Challenger 604, Challenger 601, Gulfstream G200, Hawker 900XP, Hawker 800XP, Citation XLS, and Citation VII.

Source;  Robb Report – See more at: http://robbreport.com/LuxuryNewswire/aviation/meridian-adds-its-fleet-private-business-jet#sthash.Ev0ieW2c.dpuf

Jet Aviation Acquires Avjet’s Charter & Management Division

jet aviationLos Angeles based Avjet Corporation announced that it is selling its aircraft management and charter services to Jet Aviation, a wholly owned subsidiary of General Dynamics, which was founded in Switzerland in 1967 and is one of the leading business aviation services companies in the world.

“I am very excited by the closing of this transaction as I believe that I have left the Company, its employees, and its clients in excellent hands,” said Marc Foulkrod, the CEO of Avjet Corporation.

Avjet’s and Jet Aviation’s full fleet of 52 charter aircraft across the U.S. and worldwide are  available ONLY in FlightList PRO.

“Avjet’s 37-years of experience in aircraft management and charter services and an impressive fleet of 45 aircraft makes it the perfect complement to Jet Aviation’s operations,” said Senior Vice President and General Manager of Jet Aviation’s U.S. Aircraft Services David Paddock. “This acquisition will also provide excellent benefits for Avjet’s management and charter customers by providing access to Jet Aviation’s global network of service facilities.”

More importantly, Avjet’s current Chairman and CEO Marc Foulkrod will continue to own and operate the Avjet sales and brokerage division in partnership with Mr. Andrew Bradley, under the name “Avjet Global.” “This acquisition meets our plan to continue to expand our global sales, acquisition, and brokerage services while allowing Jet Aviation to continue Avjet’s tradition of excellence in aircraft management and charter services,” said Foulkrod.

The closing of the acquisition is subject to certain governmental approvals, including relevant airport authorities. The value of the transaction has not been disclosed.

Source:  Avjet Corporation Press Release

VistaJet – 2015 US Flight and Pax Traffic Grows Triple Digits, Worldwide Double Digits

VistaJetU.S., European and Asian based charter operator VistaJet experienced a more than 21-percent increase in global flight traffic and passenger growth of more than 23 percent in 2015, which the company said was its strongest year to-date. The company’s fastest-growing market was the U.S., with flights to the U.S. up 135 percent and within the U.S. up 165 percent. The VistaJet fleet, which is entirely owned by VistaJet, will reach 60 Bombardier Challenger and Global jets by March 10.

VistaJet operates 5 Global 5000’s and 3 Challenger 350’s based across the U.S. available ONLY in FlightList PRO.

Last year, VistaJet began service within China in partnership with Apex Air, which operates a Challenger 850 for VistaJet charters. Flights to China climbed 25 percent year-over-year; flights to Asia were up 62 percent and the number of passengers climbed 57 percent.

In Africa, VistaJet saw growth of flight traffic of 15 percent; the number for the Middle East was 58 percent. Europe also saw growth, with the number of flights up 13 percent and passengers traveling into Europe up 17 percent.

According to chairman and founder Thomas Flohr, “2015 was a record year for VistaJet. We welcomed more passengers onto our jets than ever before. VistaJet is still increasing its geographic reach in the U.S. and China, and we are taking market share from our main competitors in all of our core markets.”

Source:  AIN News

Five Myths About Private Jets, Charters – USA Today

175px-USA_Today_Logo.svgIf you’ve ever spotted a private jet in flight or on the tarmac, you’ve probably wondered which celebrity it belonged to. The fact is that many jets are chartered, not privately owned by a fat cat or pop star, and they’re mostly used for business, not lavish vacations. It’s a world shrouded in mystery, so here are five myths about private jets.

– By Everett Potter, Special for USA TODAY 3/7/16 –

1. You need to be as rich as Donald Trump to fly in a private jet.

“Yes, it helps if you want to own a Boeing 757 in executive configuration like his, but that is not a reality for 99.9% of the population,” says Mark H. Lefever, president and chief operating officer of Avjet, a broker and adviser.

The answer is “no” if you want to charter.

A round-trip flight in a private jet can cost as little at $6,000, says Kevin O’Leary, president of Jet Advisors, which offers advice on private aviation options. “The typical charter costs for a light jet are $3,000 per hour with a two-hour per day minimum,” O’Leary says.  “This would allow a passenger to fly from New York to Washington, D.C., and back in the same day for about $6,000. A round-trip flight between New York City and Naples, Fla., would likely cost around $30,000.  So if you fill the seven seats typically found in a light jet, that is $4,300 per person. These prices are still higher than the first-class airline tickets but you don’t need to be ‘the Donald’ to afford them.”

Before you reach for your credit card, there are even cheaper deals to be found according to Doug Gollan, editor-in-chief of  DG Amazing Experiences, a newsletter for private jet owners and passengers. Gollan points to JetSuite Suite Deals, which are posted daily and start at around $500.

“Last week for $536 you could have flown the next day from Tyler, Texas, to Dallas,” he says “They post the specials for the next day on their Facebook page.” The company recently began offering private jet flights to Cuba, with one-way prices for up to six passengers for $11,152 from Key West (JetSuite says that it’s the responsibility of each passenger to secure their own permission to travel to Cuba, which is allowed by the U.S. government only under specific approved categories).

“You can also reach out to the multitude of charter brokers who don’t typically own planes but source aircraft that are available for charter, and then get five friends and divide the costs,” Gollan says. “Under these circumstances you might be able to do a Los Angeles to Aspen trip for around $2,500 a head. “

Still interested in owning your own jet? O’Leary says that “the purchase cost can be a little as $500,000 with annual operating costs at an additional $500,000 or more.  The major concern is with unexpected repairs. A major engine repair or scheduled overhaul on just one engine could easily cost $300,000.”

2. If bad weather forces commercial flights to delay or cancel, then private jets have to do so as well. 

Lefever says that this isn’t true. Private jets have the ability to land at many more airports than commercial aircraft and to change flight plans very quickly.

“Private jets have the option of waiting it out or choosing an alternate airport,” he says. “The best example is LAX-SFO, a common flight that has delays due to weather in the Bay Area.”

A private jet, he says, “can file a new flight plan and go to Oakland, which isn’t much farther to downtown San Francisco than the SFO airport,” with minimal delays.

3. Private jets are not as safe as airlines.

“There are various ways to compare the stats, but more passenger fatalities have occurred on scheduled commercial flights than on both charter and private jets” in the last 15 years, says Lefever.

Comparisons of accident rates per hour operated show less of a discrepancy, but the reality is that both are extremely safe and safety is always the No. 1  concern for both, adds Lefever.

Gollan says that “I used to fly regularly on NetJets and my pilots were former 747-400 captains for United Airlines and chief pilots for Fortune 500 companies. Most of the major fleet operators that own and operate their aircraft have spotless records.  Most of the fleet on the charter market is used by the owner and chartered when he or she is not using it, so obviously owners want maintenance and pilots at a high standard.”

4. You might be flying private, but you still have to go through security and deal with the TSA. 

No, you can forget about security lines, taking off your shoes and emptying your pockets. You won’t find metal detectors or body scanners. O’Leary says that often “there is no TSA or pre-flight checks required. The pilots may check the ID of the lead passenger, otherwise you will be loaded and on your way within minutes of arrival at the airport.  At some private airports, you can actually pull your car up to the aircraft, unload and have valet (service for) your car so you could be in the air within minutes.”

5. Commercial airlines fly faster than private jets.

That silver blip sailing by your window on a transcontinental flight? Chances are it’s a private jet.

“The fastest passenger jets in the sky are private, depending on the model of jet flown, “says Lefever. “Private jets also fly above the commercial airlines and a lot of times the weather and turbulence that they incur.“

Some private jets have the ability to fly above the weather up to 51,000 feet and “a couple private jets fly near the speed of sound,” O’Leary says. “The flexibility to fly in and out of smaller airports that are often closer to the departure point and the destination airport makes the actual speed secondary to the private jet’s access to nearly 10 times as many airports in the United States. That makes the door-to-door speed significantly faster when traveling privately.”

Source:  Everett Potter, Special for USA TODAY

Sun Air Jets and Kim Scolari/Jet Productions Team Up To Launch Film Sun Air

CAMARILLO, CA–(March 02, 2016) –  As part of a collaboration to launch Film Sun Air, Kim Scolari of Jet Productions teams up with Sun Air Jets in Camarillo, California.

Film Sun Air

On Set with Kim Scolari at Sun Air Jets

“I really feel Sun Air Jets is in the perfect position to market not only their jets for static shoots, but also their Van Nuys and Camarillo hangars for the purpose of filming.  Besides having a full fleet of corporate jet aircraft, both facilities include gorgeous state of the art hangar space that makes for the perfect film set,” stated Kim Scolari of Jet Productions.  “Since we started this venture last year, we have filmed some very big projects at the Camarillo facility, including a Hyundai commercial, the TV shows The Bachelor and Big Freedia, as well as a feature film, videos and other projects.”

“We are hoping to spread the word around the aviation community as well. Many operators turn down the filming business because it can be very time consuming and labor intensive.  Sun Air Jets is more than willing to take on the task and appreciate all referrals from our fellow aviation friends.   We have some very exciting projects ahead. As a broker, I am thrilled to offer these services to my own Jet Productions clients as well. A hangar is basically a blank canvas and can become anything a Director desires. It is so exciting to see an empty hangar turn into a movie set or video shoot”

View Sun Air Jets music video on Youtube https://youtu.be/hGmfS1aJ6EM

Sun Air Jets at the Van Nuys and Camarillo Airports offers a full complement of Terminals, Hangars, and an extensive fleet of corporate jet aircraft, which allows us to expertly implement all production needs.   Since 2002, our extensive private aircraft fleet and world-class facility have been seen in numerous national commercials, television productions, feature films, print, and video shoots.

Film Friendly Sun Air Jets handles all aspects of your shoot: from meeting with your location scout, to helping to choose the appropriate aircraft, to assisting with film permits and providing insurance requirements. On the day of the shoot, we will provide a dedicated representative on site to help provide a seamless experience.

For more information call Kim Scolari at Jet Productions 818-781-4742 or she can be reached at Sun Air Jets  (Film Sun Air) 805-389-9336.

Source:  Kim Scolari/Jet Productions press release

Announcing Yet Another Charter Operator Available Only in FlightList PRO

Announcing  charter operator North Central Air Charter and thier fleet of two Pilatus PC-12 turboprops and a Citation Ultra light jet available from KDPA, DuPage Airport in West Chicago.  North Central also operates two Cirrus SR22 piston aircraft for regional charters.

Chicago Jet Charter North Central Air CharterFrom North Central Air Charter:
Charter Bird, LLC doing business as North Central Air Charter (FAA Air Carrier Certificate Number T77A675I) is a reliable, experienced operator of private jet, turboprop, and piston charter aircraft. Our crews are certified by the FAA and highly experienced. Many have military and significant civilian experience. Our aircraft are top-notch, maintained to an impeccable standard, and safe. We’re based in the Chicagoland suburbs at Du Page Airport, but can start your trip from anywhere.

North Central Air Charter is available only in the FlightList PRO platform.

FlightList PRO makes available many more operators and aircraft nationwide and worldwide than any other service.

For example in the greater Chicagoland area alone,  several charter operators and their 19 aircraft -turboprops through midsize jets- are available ONLY in FlightList PRO.

FlightList PRO is currently offering a 30-day Free Trial through it’s website, no credit card or committment required.  After that it is only $90 monthly for 3 users full access, no contract – cancel any time.  The largest availability of charter aircraft in the world – and the friendliest terms.

New To Florida Charter; Global Express and Challenger 601 based KPBI

Global Express charter Florida

Global Express newly available for charter based in West Palm Beach, FL and operated by Jet Access Aviation, LLC.

Aircraft management company and charter operator Jet Access Aviation, LLC has just announced two major additions to its charter certificate.

  • Newly available for charter is their West Palm Beach-based 13-passenger Global Express that was fully refurbished in 2016 and has free domestic Wi-Fi along with a state of the art entertainment system.
  • Also new to the fleet is a floating 9-passenger 1994 Challenger 601-3R that was fully refurbished in 2015 and also has free domestic Wi-Fi.

All 12 Jet Access Aviation charter aircraft are available in FlightList PRO.

Both aircraft are immediately available for charter. “We are excited about our growth with these additions to our certificate in the first quarter and look forward to the rest of 2016” says Jack E. Lambert Jr., President and Founder of Jet Access Aviation.

Jet Access Aviation is an ARGUS Platinum rated air charter operator with a total of 12 charter aircraft, light jets through heavy and the ultra long range Global Express, based in Florida, Indiana and Colorado.

Source:  Jet Access Aviation press release

Gulfstream IV-SP Added to Floating Fleet Program with Prime Jet

Prime Jet CharterCharter operator Prime Jet LLC announced the latest addition to its large fleet of heavy aircraft, a 2000 model, 13-passenger Gulfstream IVSP N486QS, immediately available for charter, according to a company press release.

This aircraft will join Prime Jet’s Floating Fleet Program which includes a Gulfstream IV and Gulfstream 550.  Following the program model already in place, the aircraft will be fully dedicated to charter and not require any owner approval.

All 10 Prime Jet charter aircraft are available in FlightList PRO, with all 3 floating fleet aircraft available in Floating Fleets.

“This is a perfect addition to our fleet and what our customers have been asking for.  Pricing is available point to point between major cities such as Los Angeles, New York, Miami and London, saving clients significant repositioning costs,” states Prime Jet COO Andrew Gulstrud.  “The aircraft is equipped with free WiFi and is a newer 2000 model.  No owner’s approval means booking this aircraft is completely painless and we have a very strong reputation for delivering on our promises.  We maintain multiple crew on staff for the most long range and complicated missions so that we can always deliver, this aircraft solidifies that model”.

Source:  Prime Jet press release

JetSuite Now Approved for Cuba Flights: Valid Reasons for Travel

Travelers with permission to travel to Cuba can now charter a JetSuite Citation CJ3 or Phenom 100 and fly nonstop to Havana from 16 gateway airports in the U.S. One-way prices for the trip (50K JetSuite members) range from $11,152 to $23,675, depending on the departure airport.

All 19 JetSuite charter aircraft and operator details are available in FlightList PRO.

“Our mission continues to revolve around making private air travel accessible to more people than ever before, and offering an unprecedented level of transparency,” said JetSuite CEO Alex Wilcox. “We are thrilled to expand our service to Cuba, a destination I know our clients will be eager to explore.”

Passengers are required to secure permission to travel to Cuba according to 31 CFR § 515.560. Among the valid reasons are official U.S., foreign or nongovernmental organization business; journalistic activity; professional research and meetings; educational or religious activities; public performances, clinics, workshops, athletic and other competitions, and exhibitions; support for the Cuban people; and humanitarian projects. Tourism is not considered a valid reason.

Source:  AIN Online

Legacy 600 Added To New York Charter Market

ExcelAire charter operatorAircraft management company and charter operator Excelaire, LLC today announced the addition of a Legacy 600 to their charter fleet, based at KISP Islip, New York.

The new addition makes 10 aircraft now in their charter fleet, midsize through long range jets.  In addition to the Legacy 600’s, Excelaire’s fleet available for charter features the Learjet 60, Guflstream IV, Gulfstream IV-SP, Gulfstream V, Falcon 900EX EASy and the Global 6000.

All 10 Excelaire charter aircraft are available ONLY in FlightList PRO.

“We pioneered the Legacy charter market and have seen the Legacy become a favorite of our customers,” said Greg Brinkman, president, ExcelAire.  “Our fleet of Legacy 600s delivers superior comfort and reliability, and the ExcelAire aircraft are flown and maintained by the nation’s leading Legacy experts.”

The Legacy 600 jet accommodates up to 14 passengers, in three seating areas with a large cabin, lavatory and inflight-accessible baggage compartment.  The newest Legacy in the ExcelAire fleet also features Wifi.

ExcelAire’s parent company, Hawthorne Global Aviation Services, is a factory authorized Legacy service center.

Legacy 600  based New York available for charter.

Legacy 600 based New York available for charter. Photo credit: Excelaire

Sources:  Excelaire, LLC and the FAA

Three More Premium Charter Aircraft Added to Key Air Fleet

Key Air Jet Charter OperatorKey Air added three new private jet charter aircraft – the Bombardier Global 5000 Vision, Gulfstream IVSP and Learjet 45XR – to its managed fleet within the first month of the New Year, according to a company press release.  Upon the heels of celebrating its 30th anniversary in the aviation industry, Key Air continues to strengthen its infrastructure and expand its offerings to remain a leader in the marketplace.

All 13 Key Air charter aircraft are available ONLY in FlightList PRO.

The 3 new charter aircraft, based in the Northeast US, brings to 13 the total charter fleet operated by Key Air – midsize through long range jets, from the new Lear 45XR to the Gulfstream G650ER and new Global 5000 Vision.

“I am pleased with the hard work demonstrated by the entire Key Air community”, said Alan DePeters, Key Air President and CEO. “Through everyone’s dedication and commitment, Key Air was able to add the Global 5000 Vision to our Ops Specs in record time – within one week from the date of closing!  Our Operations and Maintenance divisions continue to operate optimally as they previously did in adding the Gulfstream G650ER and Falcon 7X to our Ops Specs capabilities.”