Category Archives: Operator Updates

Announcing New Operators and Aircraft to Charter

The below are new operators and aircraft to charter availability; light and heavy jets in California, Texas, St. Louis, Florida, Teterboro, Boston and internationally in the Middle-East:

  • JetsPlus (new charter operator)
    Citation I/SP, KFAT Fresno, CA
    Citation III, KFAT Fresno, CA
  • TapJets, Inc. (new charter operator)
    Falcon 10, KHOU Houston, TX
  • Silver Air
    Gulfstream IV-SP, KCMA Camarillo, CA
  • Solairus Aviation
    Falcon 900DX, KOAK Oakland, CA
    Global 5000, KBED Bedford, MA
    Legacy 450, KMCO Orlando, FL
  • Meridian Air Charter
    Falcon 7X, KTEB Teterboro, NJ
    Gulfstream GIV-SP, KTEB Teterboro, NJ
  • GainJet
    Challenger 605
    , OJAM Amman, Jordan
  • Qatar Executive
    Gulfstream G650ER, OTBD Doha, Qatar
    Gulfstream G650ER, OTBD Doha, Qatar

FlightList PRO tracks the industry and regularly updates the world’s largest air charter resource as the only platform with every aircraft and operator certified for charter worldwide.

Free 30-day trials of the air chater resource platform are currently being offered.

Charter Operators Say Business Booming: “This is a tremendous time to be in aviation”

Tradewind Aviation

Tradewind Aviation

– A chorus of charter executives in the private aviation industry say business is booming due to several factors –  “This is a tremendous time to be in aviation,” according to Cory Rossi, who, with his wife, Shari, owns Eagle Air, a charter operator based at Westchester County Airport (HPN) in White Plains.

By Dave Donelson, Westchester Magazine, 5/10/16

“It’s a very large business in this area,” says Linda Schiavone, charter sales manager for White Cloud Charter, which is also based at HPN. “Just think about the number of major corporations and wealthy individuals; this is the area for it.” According to Rossi, HPN is the third-busiest airport in the country in terms of non-airline flights. Only Teterboro Airport in New Jersey and Van Nuys Airport in California boast more private traffic.

According to the FAA, there were about 125,000 charter, air taxi, and private flights at HPN in 2014, which represented 82 percent of the total takeoffs and landings there. What’s more, they carried more passengers than did the scheduled airlines.

It’s not hard to see why private aviation is growing in popularity: Anyone who suffers the agitation of flying commercial from LaGuardia Airport (LGA)—which Vice President Joseph Biden once described as reminiscent of something in a Third World country—could attest to that. Much the same holds true for JFK and Newark. “The all-day hassle with a two-hour flight in-between is becoming more and more common,” Rossi points out. “Our clientele recognizes this and says: ‘First class isn’t at the level it once was.’”

Eagle’s customers, like those of other charter companies we spoke with, experience something entirely different. Rossi describes the charter experience like this: “Let’s say you live within a 20-minute drive to Westchester airport. Your car drives right on the tarmac to the aircraft; the red carpet is rolled out; your catering is on board; and you have WiFi on the plane. The ground crew will handle your bags and park your car, and the plane will depart within 10 minutes of boarding. At your destination, you will have the same experience on the ground.” Sure, it costs more, but what is your time and comfort worth?

The private-aviation business isn’t monolithic. Some companies, like White Cloud, charter only their own planes, which are also at the (occasional) call of the company’s corporate parent, Conair Corporation. Others, like Aircraft Services Group, operate and manage planes owned by others, providing everything from crews to maintenance, as well as charter service for the aircraft, much like a vacation-home owner who rents out a condo when they’re not using it. Eagle Air does both, as does Tradewind Aviation, which is based in Oxford, Connecticut, but offers flights from HPN.

Eagle Air

Then, there are strictly private planes owned by individuals and corporations for their own use. They, along with the charter operators, support another big part of the business, fixed-base operators. FBOs, as they are known, provide hangars, fuel, and on-site maintenance, as well as ground amenities like passenger lobbies, parking, and rental cars, to planes going and coming through the airport. HPN has five FBO facilities.

Tradewind, meanwhile, serves yet another part of the market. “We’re best known for our Nantucket shuttle,” explains Tradewind president Eric Zipkin. “It is a shared charter, where people buy individual seats on the flights.” The service started with Friday-through-Sunday flights only but has grown to seven days a week. They fly a similar service to Boston and Martha’s Vineyard. The scheduled service is a good business on its own, Zipkin says, but it also serves another purpose: “Our shuttle service is a good marketing concept because people learn about us, then come back and charter individual flights.”

Tradewind operates 18 aircraft, up from 12 just two years ago. The company owns 11 planes, with the balance owned by others. “Our business was up almost 30 percent in 2015, and it’s full steam ahead for this year,” Zipkin says. “Margins in this business run the gamut. Boutique aircraft management companies like ours are in the 20- to 30-percent range. It’s also a high-risk business: If you lose management of an aircraft or two, there goes your profit.”

White Plains-based Wings Air Helicopters represents yet another variety of local private aviation: helicopter service. Wings’ president, Javier Diaz, says his five helicopters serve three distinct markets, including personal travel. “We do up to seven flights a day to the Hamptons,” he says, adding that Saratoga Springs and other locations upstate are popular, too. “We also have a strong business with the Atlantic City casinos, as well as Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods.”

Business travelers take advantage of the versatility and convenience of helicopter service, especially out of Manhattan. “If you want to fly from NYC to Pittsburgh,” Diaz points out, “all you have to do is go to one of the heliports, and you’ll be in the air 90 minutes before you could even get on an airplane from LGA.” About 65 percent of his passengers fly from one of the three heliports in Manhattan. Then there is the aerial-movie-and-photography business, which is so good, Diaz is a member of the Screen Actors Guild.

“As people become busier and wealthier,” Diaz says, “their time becomes more valuable. They need to get to places ‘now,’ and that’s why the demand [for private aviation] is good. The demand will be there for the foreseeable future.”

Speaking of the future, does it hold tailwinds or headwinds for the private-aviation industry? Not surprisingly, regulation and technology may well be the determining factors. Google “air charter Westchester,” and you’ll get about 154,000 results. Almost all of them are for charter brokers—unregulated companies that don’t own, fly, or manage planes and may not even have an office. Brokers aren’t new, but their numbers mushroomed as instant worldwide communication enabled anyone with a cell phone and email address to open shop. Good ones, who can be reached 24/7 and have strong relationships with the charter companies, add value to the experience for both their customers and the airplane owners—but it pays to shop around.

A wave of new private-air-service concepts is rising along with demand in the market. As with anything new, some succeed and others don’t. Beacon Air debuted a Netflix-like subscription service in which passengers paid a flat monthly fee for unlimited flights from HPN to Boston last year, but it has already ceased operations.

ImagineAir, headquartered in Atlanta, started service in 2007 and entered the Westchester market two years ago. Its concept? On-demand private jet service at sharply reduced rates. Its service is aimed at business travelers who might be tempted to drive to their destinations. “We basically turn a three- to eight-hour drive into a one- to two-hour flight,” says President and CEO Ben Hamilton, who adds, “Our average price point is around $1,200, whereas a private jet might be $7,500.”

ImagineAir is able to offer the service because they fly a fleet of Cirrus SR22s, a three-passenger craft that’s very efficient, Hamilton explains. “We do mostly business trips, and the majority of them are three people or fewer. We have enough scale in our fleet of 11 aircraft to mix and match flights and fill dead legs, passing those savings on to the customer.” The company also handles bookings online rather than through a call center and, like a scheduled airline, uses demand-pricing models. “Our average customer books about four days in advance. You can book the same day if it’s available, but the price gets a little more expensive as the time gets closer,” Hamilton explains.

Any number of companies have been hailed as the “Uber of private aviation,” although none have (or probably will) been able to get past the FAA prohibition against selling seats in personal planes flown by amateur pilots. The safety requirements that charter operators have to meet are a major factor. That’s not to say there aren’t companies getting closer. “There are companies who have partnered to market empty seats,” White Cloud’s Schiavone points out. “If you’re in Chicago and want to get back to White Plains, there’s an app for that now. If there’s an aircraft flying empty on a leg, it just makes sense.”

Blue Star Jets, a NYC-based jet broker, recently launched an app that includes 24/7 personal telephone contact, to follow-up on the booking you make on your smartphone. Their business is designed to fill the 30 percent of business aircraft they estimate fly empty to or from their charter destination. The company claims that within four hours of booking a flight, you’ll be in the air.

Still, the industry does face some headwinds. “The uncertainty of the regulatory environment is a long-term obstacle,” Zipkin explains. Potential changes in security procedures, for example, could put a crimp in the private-aircraft experience. “We have internal security, but not the stand-in-line, take-your-shoes-off type of thing,” he says.

Another problem area is a shortage of pilots, according to Zipkin. “The FAA changed the rules for airline requirements for copilots, and that has had a ripple effect throughout the industry,” he says. “We used to pay twice what an entry-level airline pilot would make, because we wanted to attract the best candidates. The airline had trouble filling those seats, so they started raising their pay, which has set off a sort of race.”

Rossi adds one more industry-wide threat: budget constraints on air-traffic control. “The federal government has threatened to shut down operations at a number of small airports around the country,” he says. The ability of private-flight passengers to land at small airports, like Hilton Head Island Airport instead of Savannah International, is a big attraction for the business. “I’d hate to see that becoming a limiting factor on growth of the industry,” Rossi notes.

Overall, however, the private-aviation business in Westchester is strong. As Zipkin says, “The challenges we face are those faced by any business that’s growing. Our product has been very well received, and the market is growing here, so it’s onward and upward.”

Source:  Article in Westchester Magazine online

Exclusive Charter Launches Fixed-Rate Flights to Cuba

Exclusive Charter Service is introducing special fixed-rate charters from various U.S. airports into the country’s main gateway, José Martí International Airport, according to a release from the company.

Flights in one of the company’s seven-passenger Piaggio Avanti II twin turboprops from Palm Beach International will be priced at $9,000 each way, or $10,000 from Fort Lauderdale or Miami and $11,000 from Orlando.

In a Hawker 800XP, the Palm Beach rate is $10,500, rising to $13,500 from Fort Lauderdale or Miami and $15,500 from Orlando.  The same aircraft charter from New York’s JFK International Airport is priced at $19,500.

Exclusive’s clearance to operate into Cuba extends to 17 other airports in Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Key West, Minneapolis, New Orleans, Oakland, Pittsburgh, San Juan (Puerto Rico), Fort Myers, Tampa and Washington. It can also offer another 10 different aircraft types, including the Gulfstream G650.

Cuba flights are operated by Custom Jet Charters, LLC.

Meanwhile, the Florida-based company recently launched a membership program called Aero Club. With an annual membership fee, members receive fixed point-to-point flight-hour pricing for various categories of aircraft.

Source:  AIN Online

Announcing New California Jet Charter Operator (listed only in FlightList PRO)

JetsPlusAvailable only in FlightList PRO, charter operator JetsPlus flies their Citation light and midsize jets from their base at KFAT Fresno, CA, within easy positioning of the San Francisco Bay Area (132 NM), and Los Angeles (165 NM).  The aircraft are operated under FAA Part-135 certificate CVDA043D.

JetsPlus also operates for charter a Cessna 182 Skylane single engin piston based at Fresno Yosemite Int’l Airport.

JetsPlus is listed and available only in FlightList PRO.  Free 30-day trials upon request.
Full access for 3 users is available at only $90, no contract, cancel any time.

Flight Options Preps Move To Charter Operations

Flight Options moved forward on Friday with an offer of voluntary separation packages to its pilots as the company lays the groundwork to transform from a fractional operation into an on-demand charter business over the next 12 to 18 months. Flight Options sister operation Flexjet previously made the offer as the two companies begin to reshape their operations, retiring some of the older modelaircraft and moving others into charter.

SkyjetFlight Options will rebrand as Skyjet, a former Bombardier brand that parent company Directional Aviation recently revived to provide charter brokerage services.

The moves are made as parent company Directional Aviation realigns its more recently acquired Flexjet and Flight Options into complementary services rather than competitors. To help differentiate itself as a planned charter-only entity, Flight Options will rebrand as Skyjet, a former Bombardier brand that Directional initially revived in 2014 to provide charter brokerage services.

Voluntary separation packages are being offered to Flight Options pilots through April 30 as the companies seek to reduce the pilot workforce by 70 positions. Directional principal and Flight Options chairman Kenn Ricci told Aviation International News that this comes as on-demand requires less staffing than fractional. The packages were initially offered to Flexjet pilots, who recently voted for representation by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) but were not yet under a collective bargaining agreement.

Flight Options, which previously had been represented by the IBT, sought union approval to make the offer to its pilots, but the union rejected the request. Flight Options moved forward regardless, and between Flexjet and Flight Options, had 80 pilots indicate plans to accept the agreements—exceeding the company’s goal.

The union has, instead, been pushing for a furlough protection plan that would give all furloughed pilots the equivalent of 12 months of compensation. The IBT had expressed concerns that the voluntary program would primarily affect less senior pilots who would not qualify for the maximum benefit.

The company management, however, disagreed with the IBT stance. “I refuse to accept the notion that a pilot, under the employ of this company, does not have the right to decide his or her own future,” Ricci said in announcing plans to move forward with the voluntary package offers. “It is unconscionable that the Teamsters should unilaterally try to take away a voluntary and materially beneficial option.”

Source:  AINonline, by Kerry Lynch

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

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

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

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.”

 

XOJET Announces 2015 Increases; 14% Program Sales, 4% Charter

On-Demand Private Jet Charter Company Exceeds Profitability Projections—

  • xojet41% increase in EBITDA—achieves highest core profitability in company history
  • 14% growth in new program sales and 10% increase in its partner fleet business
  • The San Francisco-based company celebrated its 10 year anniversary in January
  • XOJET will substantially increase reinvestment back into the business, including aircraft cabin refurbishment, office expansions in New York and Southern California and investments in its pilot, client service and advisor workforce

COMPANY PRESS RELEASE (January 27, 2016) – XOJET, Inc., a leader in private jet charter services, announced today that it achieved record results, delivering a 41% increase in EBITDA and a 14% increase in new program sales. XOJET’s on-demand charter model continues to gain momentum as the smart alternative to jet cards and fractional ownership. XOJET was the first to pioneer the on-demand, dynamic pricing model in the private aviation sector, and this month celebrates 10 years of putting passengers first. Now the largest on-demand charter provider in the industry, XOJET continues to gain market share, with retail charter sales up 4% and its partner fleet business up 10% overall. Operational efficiency gains, including fuel savings, drove substantial profitability and margin improvements.

All XOJet aircraft are available in the one-way pricing – Floating Fleets section of FlightList PRO.

“The success of the company this year, and over the past 10 years, comes down to our culture of obsessive client service and dedication to continuous improvement. The market has responded and our company is healthier and more stable than at any point in its history,” said Brad Stewart, chief executive officer of XOJET. “We foresee another 10 years and more of bringing the best that private aviation has to offer to our clients.”

XOJET continued to expand its lifestyle offerings throughout 2015, with the addition of key partners in sports and hospitality. New partners include the NBA Champion Golden State Warriors and IfOnly, a San Francisco-based concierge services firm. The company also continued to invest in established relationships with Yellowstone Club/Discovery Land Company, Creative Artists Agency (CAA), Butterfield & Robinson, a luxury travel and adventure company, and Gavin de Becker & Associates, a private security firm.

Looking to the year ahead, XOJET will refine its product portfolio with a new and improved Elite Access program, offering guaranteed access to its core fleet and select partner fleets with as little as 12 hours’ notice. With enterprise clients in high technology, media and finance, the company is investing in its enterprise sales capabilities and finding new and innovative ways to serve the needs of today’s business flyers. This includes expansion of its sales offices and aviation advisor teams in New York, the San Francisco Bay Area and Southern California. The company also plans to invest in its digital capabilities, both in the user experience and supporting systems, which will make planning and booking flights even easier. “Technology is enabling us to deliver a high touch experience for our clients: in the way we communicate, engage and take care of their needs,” said Shari Jones, chief marketing officer of XOJET.

First Legacy 450 Midsize Jet For Charter in the US, One of Two Worldwide

Orlando-based Legacy 450 operated by Solairus Aviation

The first embraer Legacy 450 midsize jet on Part-135 certificate in the US, is based at MCO Orlando International Airport and operated by Solairus Aviation.   The 2015 Legacy 450 with WiFi internet and coast to coast range is currently available for charter, and one of only two 450’s available for charter worldwide – the other based in Brussels, Belgium by operator ASL.

Solairus Aviation Legacy 450 Amenities Include:

All 27 Solairus Aviation charter aircraft nationwide are available ONLY in FlightList PRO.

  • WiFi Enabled
  • Seating for up to 7 Passengers
  • Forward Full Service Galley
  • DVD/CD/Blu-Ray Player
  • Espresso Machine

Performance*

  • Range (statute miles): 3,337
  • Cruising Speed (mph): 530

Specifications

  • Cabin Height: 6ft
    Width 6.83ft, Length 24ft
  • Baggage – Interior: 150 cu. ft

Solairus Aviation is an ARG/US Platinum, Wyvern Wingman rated operator, also ISBAO-registered.  The Legacy 450 joins a very diverse Solairus charter fleet of 27 aircraft based nationwide, ranging from the King Air B200 executive turboprop to the Global Express XRS and Gulfstream G650 ultra long range jets.

Cabin of the Legacy 450 for charter by Solairus Aviation

Cabin of the Orlando-based Legacy 450 operated by Solairus Aviation

Delta Private Jets Reports Record Charter Sales For 2015, 3rd Largest Operator

Delta Private Jets CharterDelta Private Jets is calling 2015 a record year for revenue and jet card and charter sales.
It also reported 34% growth in its managed aircraft fleet last year.

“We started the year with 53 aircraft on our certificate, which grew to 72 by year’s end,” said David Sneed, Delta Private Jets executive vice president and chief operating officer. “This allowed DPJ to become the third largest Part 135 operator in the country in terms of fleet size.”

All 72 Delta Private Jets are available in FlightList PRO.

New jet card sales rose 31% in 2015 when compared to 2014. In addition, “our charter sales were extremely strong as well, with revenue up 56% over the previous year,” Sneed said.

Last year, the company upgraded its private jet travel program, which allowed Medallion status passengers traveling on select Delta Air Lines commercial flights the opportunity to upgrade their tickets to travel on a private jet operated by Delta Private Jets. The change gave potential customers the ability to experience private jet travel, it said.

In addition, Delta Private Jets Tech Service Center, a maintenance, repair and overhaul facility, and its Delta Jet Center, the only fixed base operation at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, each experienced growth.

“I am proud of what we accomplished in 2015, and we are poised for more growth and innovation in 2016,” Sneed said. “We will continue to look for ways to better serve our customers with unique programs and travel solutions. This includes a focus on an enhanced inflight experience that goes beyond just Wi-Fi. We are committed to being the best at everything we do and the best in the industry.”

Delta Private Jets is a subsidiary of Delta Air Lines, and provides aircraft charter, aircraft management and the Delta Private Jets Card. It operates Bombardier, Cessna, Dassault, Gulfstream and Hawker business jets.

Source:  AviationWeek

New 2015 Phenom 300 Added to Charter Based Baltimore MD

Grandview Aviation charterGrandview Aviation has added a new 2015 Embraer Phenom 300 light jet to its charter fleet based at KMTN Martin State Airport in Baltimore, MD.  The aircraft carries up to 9 passengers 500 mph and has a range of up to 2,000 miles.  Grandview has two Phenom 300’s now and plans to continue growing its fleet with new aircraft.  The Phenom 300’s are operated by fellow Baltimore company Executive Flight Solutions, Inc.

The 2015 Phenom 300 is available for charter only in FlightList PRO.

GrandView Aviation's  new 2015 Embraer Phenom 300 for charter

GrandView Aviation’s new 2015 Embraer Phenom 300 for charter