Tag Archives: Air Charter News

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

Burning Man Contracting Charter Services Beginning 2016

Editor’s note – Private charter companies highlighted below, and charter airline proposals noted – 


Burning Man has its eye on the sky.

In an effort to get more Burners to fly to the 70,000-person event in the middle of the Black Rock Desert, organizers have been reviewing proposals from air carrier services that would start offering flights directly to the playa this year.

Charter companies and private pilots have been flying to the event — an annual, weeklong arts party in early September — since the late 1990s. This, however, would be the first time that the Burning Man organization would contract a company, or a few, to do the job. Additionally, instead of shuttling five or so people, contracted charters would be expected to shuttle about 30 people in an aircraft at one time. Flights would potentially depart from Reno, San Francisco and Los Angeles.

While Burning Man organizers were set to decide in early April which company or companies would be contracted, there is still no word as to whether any contracts will go forward this year. Burning Man has released no details as to which companies submitted proposals before the late February response deadline.

“We are still working through the (request for proposals) process and will announce details of the program as soon as they are finalized,” said Burning Man spokesman Jim Graham on Wednesday.

The contracted charters would fly from select cities directly to 88NV, the temporary airport that is set up during the week of Burning Man outside the perimeter of Black Rock City, where the Burning Man populace resides. About 2,200 people flew into the makeshift airport last year.

Charters and private pilots still will be allowed to fly in friends or other individuals free of charge if they want, but they cannot be “shuttling” people back and forth, unless they are doing so as authorized by a contract with Burning Man.

“We are so firmly on the map of Burning Man. We love what it does for us. We really roll out the red carpet,” said Kulpin.

Although airport officials were unaware of Burning Man’s plans to increase the air traffic headed to Burning Man, they believe it is makes sense given the rising demand for easier travel to the event. It takes about two hours by car to drive from Reno to the Black Rock Desert, which is northeast of Reno, but it can take as many as six to 10 hours during peak traffic in the first few days of Burning Man.

By air, it only takes about an hour to travel the less than 100 miles to the Black Rock Desert, Kulpin said. That explains why three charter flight companies and a multitude of privately operated aircraft directed flights to Burning Man from the Reno-Tahoe International Airport in 2015. While there is no count of how many flights took off to the Burn, 111,737 gallons of jet fuel were sold to charter and private operators during the 2015 event, compared to 67,317 gallons during the same week in 2014.

“People fly in from Europe, then to New York, and then they fly here to our terminal and then they get a private charter. And then we just have charters that just appeal to people who don’t want to deal with the road traffic. The VIPs are another audience too, and that’s becoming more popular,” Kulpin said.

Many of the charters that fly to Burning Man — Advantage Flight, Burner Air and Boutique Air — declined to comment on concerns about whether their business would be damaged if not chosen by Burning Man to operate flights this year.

One of the companies, Palo Alto, Calif.-based Centurion, said it’s simply a waiting game.

“Burning Man is our big one. We’re going to start doing Coachella next year, but Burning Man is like the Superbowl for us,” said Jack Boyer, a customer service representative with Centurion.

Centurion, which has been flying clients to the playa for about 13 years, in the past has flown about 10 to 12 flights per day to the playa during Burning Man. For the most part they fly out of the Bay Area, but they will fly out of “wherever the clients are,” the week of, Boyer said.

“We get all walks of life. We get folks that are flying in to San Francisco from Russia, and then we get regulars,” he said.

Per person, Centurion sells roundtrip tickets to Burning Man that can cost several hundred dollars to fly from Reno, about $800 from Sacramento about about $1,350 from the Bay Area. Their prices compete with an assortment of other charters, some of which do not have prices currently posted pending Burning Man’s response to proposals. 

“I think the newest info is in the pipeline,” Boyer said.

Burning Man is assessing the proposals based on a variety of elements.

Applicants — who were required to complete proposals by the end of February — have to have the appropriate certification along with a $5 million insurance policy for their proposed operation.

Burning Man also asked that charters have the ability to fly up to 30 people in one aircraft; to transport 1,000 passengers per day with no more than 200 landings in an 11.5 hour period daily and to offer departures from Reno, San Francisco and Los Angeles with room for expansion from other locations if demand occurs. Ideally, charters should have experience with and proposals for ticket and scheduling systems, according to the Burning Man request. It is unclear whether the charters or Burning Man would handle the ticketing for flights to and from the playa.

Source:  , jkane@rgj.com, Reno Gazette-Journal 1:14 p.m. PDT April 29, 2016

Full Article Here

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

Wheels Up Expands Flight Offerings, Partners With Broker Apollo Jets

Wheels up

Wheels Up dedicated fleet of King Air 350 and Citation Excel aircraft, operated by Gama Aviation.  Photo: Wheels Up

Private aviation membership company Wheels Up announced new product offerings and the launch of a new 8760 Membership tier, both of which enhance the Wheels Up brand, according to a press release from the company.

“Wheels Up is a forward-thinking company always looking to be ahead of the curve and we are committed to delivering innovation to our membership,” said Kenny Dichter, Wheels Up Founder and CEO. “Our members tell us what they want and how they want it. Our mission is to simplify their travel in a complex world.”

New Wheels Up Membership Features:

  • Shuttles: the opportunity for members to purchase seats on scheduled private shuttles traveling to and from popular events and destinations.
  • Hot Flights: a selection of one-way, “empty-leg” flights that are posted daily to the Wheels Up App and updated in real-time.  According to Dichter, “This feature has taken off and our members tell us that they now check Wheels Up Hot Flights before Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat.”
  • Flight Desk for charter flights: a dedicated flight desk with offerings to complement the Wheels Up signature fleet of Beechcraft King Air 350i and Citation Excel/XLS aircraft. Wheels Up Flight Desk arranges charter flights for members who are traveling longer ranges, with more than eight passengers and/or desire a larger plane. Wheels Up requires stringent safety standards, working only with FAA and DOT licensed operators who pass a full onsite audit. “With this addition, Wheels Up is now a total private aviation solution and can fulfill any request, continued Dichter.
  • 8760 Experiences: a new unique lineup of experiences available to Wheels Up Members that include private “meet-and-greet” opportunities with top athletes and entertainers, as well as complimentary tickets and suite access to world-class sporting events, in-demand concerts and family shows in cities across the country. “This is a new roster of events available to our members, in addition to our Wheels Down roster of events, which we offer. We are building a lifestyle brand and we want to be in our members’ lives both in the air and on the ground,” Dichter added.

8760 Membership Tier

Wheels Up launched the new 8760 Membership which allows its members a lower cost of entry through a partnership with charter broker Apollo Jets, and access to multiple benefits: Wheels Up Ride Share, Hot Flights and Flight Desk programs; non-guaranteed access to the Wheels Up fleet at higher occupied hourly rates; a lineup of 8760 Experiences, select Wheels Down events, a member benefits program; a members only 8760 app.

“8760 Membership creates the opportunity for more people to join Wheels Up and is a benefit to existing Wheels Up Members specifically for ride-sharing.” said Dichter.

Memberships are also available from Costco; Wheels Up membership price.

With Gama Aviation, operating its flights, the Wheels Up fleet numbers 45 Beechcraft King Air 350i twin turboprops and 15 Cessna Citation Excel/XLS jets. As of April 2016 Wheels Up is reporting 2,300 members.

Source: company press release

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

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

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

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

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

Report: Charter, Part-91 Off To Flying Start This Year

Traffic climbed 3 percent in January, and projections call for a 9.1-percent YOY increase this month and a 5-percent rise during the first quarter.

Business aviation flight activity in North America jumped by 3 percent last month versus a year ago and could climb much more steeply this month, according to data released yesterday by aviation services group Argus International.  In fact, the firm is projecting a 9.1-percent year-over-year increase this month and a 5-percent rise during the first quarter, compared with the same three-month period last year.

Part 91 activity was up by 4 percent last month from a year ago, while Part 135 charter activity climbed 2.5 percent and fractional flying slid by 0.2 percent.  The overall retraction in the fractional market obscures decent individual gains; fractional turboprop and light and large-cabin jet flying were up 2.9 percent, 2.2 percent and 5.3 percent, respectively. Fractional midsize jet activity fell 2.8 percent from a year ago.

Article Source:
AIN Online, Aviation International News.

Year-over-year flying activity rose across all aircraft categories last month by 3 percent. This surge was led by turboprops and large-cabin jets, each logging a 5.3-percent gain.  Light jets climbed by 1.7 percent, while midsize jet flying eked out a 0.3-percent improvement. The largest year-over-year gain for an individual segment was Part 135 large-cabin jet flying, which saw a 7.4-percent upturn last month.

Air Charter Alert Editor’s Note –  FlightList PRO released numerous Air Charter Alerts this month of reported increases in 2015 business and flying announced by many US charter companies, including XOJet, Delta Private Jets, New Flight Charters, Key Air and others.

Argus’s TraqPak data logs serial-number-specific aircraft arrival and departure information on all IFR flights in the U.S. and Canada.

Source:  AIN Online

Private Jet Membership Set To Take Off In 2016

Wheels Up King air 350

Wheels Up King Air 350

Private jet usage is set to take off following the roll out of membership schemes that allow people to make use of jets without owning them.

A survey carried out by industry magazine Corporate Jet Investor found that nearly one in four (23 per cent) said that the growth of membership schemes and online charter is fuelling demand for jets, while companies are becoming increasingly likely to opt for jet membership scheme for business travel.

Rise King Air 200 Flight Service between Dallas, Houston, Austin and Midland Texas

Rise King Air 200

Jet sharing companies such as Wheels Up and Rise are launching a European service in 2016, and plan to be able to fly people the distance from Edinburgh to the south of Spain.

John Colucci head of Wheels Up Europe, told City A.M.: “Corporate customers are excited about it. We have 250 corporate customers in the US compared to around 2000 private members and we want to do more corporate business.”

Wheels Up members have access to an app that allows them to view flights that have already been booked and request a ride share, similar to car hire app Uber’s Pool service.

The industry is shifting as many executive jets are going on the market at knockdown prices following some of the world’s biggest companies scaling back their fleets.

Supermarket Tesco made headlines when it began selling off its fleet of luxury private jets following its accounting scandal and subsequent profit warnings, putting a 14-seater plane up for sale with a price tag of nearly £22m.

Alasdair Whyte, editor of Corporate Jet Investor told City A.M.: “The last six years have been tough for business aviation but there are lots of people trying to grow the market – especially by making it more accessible.”

The survey reveals that over the next three years, 59 per cent expect aircraft sales to increase, compared to 15 per cent who anticipate they will fall.

The US is likely to be one of the strongest markets, with 81 per cent expecting the number of business flights to increase in North America during this period. In Europe, 54 per cent are expecting a rise.

“When you add up the actual cost and the opportunity cost for executives to stand in security queues or get stuck when flights are delayed, flying on a business aircraft can make a lot of sense,” Whyte added.

Another key reason for growth in the sector is the number of so called high net worth individuals is expected to rise over coming years.

Source:  CITY A.M.

28% Fourth Quarter Growth, 14% Annual Growth Announced by New Flight Charters

Nationwide Air Charter Services Company Jets Over Industry Growth Rate, Reports Increased Charter Demand and a Movement From Light Jets to Midsize Jet Charters.

(Marketwire) February 3, 2016, – New Flight Charters, a nationwide leader in private jet charter services since 2004, announced today a 14 percent increase in 2015 charter business over 2014.  Fourth Quarter 2015 saw explosive growth in charter business, up 28 percent over the same period in 2014.

Jackson Hole Jet Charter

New Flight Charters at Jackson Hole Airport

Growth during the year was seen from an increased demand in repeat business, new business and a general move in demand from smaller aircraft to larger aircraft charters.  Fourth Quarter saw a notable movement from light jets to midsize jet charters in particular, and December featured large increases in both the number of charters – up 28 percent, and average charter spend – up 18 percent, compared to December 2014.

New Flight Charters arranged over 1,400 flights in 2015.

2015 increases more than quadrupled industry trend numbers for the year; market analyst Argus reported a flight activity increase of 2.9 percent for 2015 across private aviation segments including charter and Part-91, and projects a similar size increase moving forward into 2016.

New Flight Charters attributes beating industry trends to several factors including its continuous flight-by-flight service level, and the company’s unique entrée to the full U.S. Part-135 aircraft market.  Not restricted to a sourcing pool or marketing network as is common in the industry, the company can provide more availability and better pricing options, including 218 additional one-way priced aircraft nationwide, along with its Best Price Guarantee for every flight.

“The combination of our aircraft availability, our long term expert team and our service level is growing our repeat business,” said New Flight Charters president Rick Colson.  “We continue to gain business from experienced charter fliers and jet card holders who try us, like the service, and come back.  Without a large deposit or financial commitment to us up front, we have to earn every single charter.  It keeps you on your toes, and not surprisingly our clients like that.”  The company was top rated in a previous industry survey.

The one-of-a-kind air charter company features an acclaimed six-member charter service team with a cumulative 48 years in air charter, 49 years FAA-certified experience, 99 years executive management experience, 17,400 hours pilot-in-command, and includes private and commercial pilots and retired law enforcement.

About New Flight Charters

Since 2004 New Flight Charters has arranged private domestic and international flights with top-rated operator aircraft at leading jet charter quotes, along with its Best Price Guarantee, industry empty legs list, and a perfect safety history.  Extensive client and industry reviews are available on the New Flight Charters website.  As a registered U.S. government contractor, and named to the Inc. 500 fastest growing list four consecutive years, the 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 all Colorado private jet charters.

Source:  Marketwire News Release

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

Operators Guide; Flying To Super Bowl 50

Super Bowl 50 will take place on Sunday, Feb. 7, 2016, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, CA. Game time will be at 3:30 p.m. (PST). Due to the increased air traffic expected at area airports, and at Las Vegas Mc Carran International Airport (LAS), operators are encourgeed to review the following resources.

Courtesy NBAA operations guide for Super Bowl 50.

Ramp Reservations for California Airports

Note that there will not be an FAA slot-based Special Traffic Management Program (E-STMP) implemented for Super Bowl 50, However, ramp reservations will be required for both IFR/VFR arrivals and departures from Thursday, Feb. 4 through Monday, Feb. 8 at all San Francisco Bay, Napa Valley and Monterey Peninsula-area airports. Please note, reservations will also be required for “drop and go” operations. Ramp reservations can be obtained through your FBO.

The following airports will have requirements for ramp arrival and departure reservations.

Airport Location Identifier
San Francisco International San Francisco, CA SFO
Oakland International Oakland, CA OAK
Hayward Executive Hayward, CA HWD
Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International San Jose, CA SJC
Livermore Municipal Livermore, CA LVK
Buchanan Field Concord, CA CCR
Napa County Napa, CA APC
Charles M. Schultz – Sonoma County Santa Rosa, CA STS
Monterey Regional Monterey, CA MRY
Watsonville Municipal Watsonville, CA WVI
Salinas Municipal Salinas, CA SNS
Reid-Hillview Airport of Santa Clara County San Jose, CA RHV
Moffett Federal Airfield Mountain View, CA NUQ
San Carlos Airport San Carlos, CA SQL
Hollister Municipal Hollister, CA CVH

Ramp Reservations Las Vegas McCarran International Airport (LAS)

Ramp reservations will be required through your FBO of choice at LAS. It is highly recommended that you obtain your ramp reservation as soon as possible as parking is limited. When contacting your LAS FBO, provide them with your scheduled arrival and departure time.

In addition, FAA ATC traffic management initiatives might be needed if air traffic demand exceeds the airport capacity. LAS capacity has been decreased due to a runway construction project. If a ground delay program is needed at LAS, an expected departure clearance time (EDCT) will be given to the flight operator by ATC. An ATC issued EDCT will take precedence over a ramp reservation. Please note, however, your ramp reservation will still be honored. Additional traffic management initiatives are possible for the Las Vegas area airports such as miles in trail, flow metering times and/or ground stops.

Ramp reservations are not required at Henderson Executive (HND) and North Las Vegas Airport (VGT), however, it is highly recommended that flight operators contact the FBO at HND or VGT in advance to provide operational details.

Route Requirements

Arrival Route Requirements

Dates and times differ based on destination airport.

Departure Route Requirements

Sunday, Feb. 7, 5 p.m. (PST) (0100z) through Monday, Feb. 8, 8 p.m. (PST) (09/0400z)

Due to the expected heavy volume of departures, users must file specific routes from Feb. 7, 5 p.m. (PST) through Feb. 8, 8 p.m. (PST) (08/0100z to 09/0400z). These routes will be specific to airport of origin and direction of flight and/or destination. These routes can be found in the FAA special traffic management procedures NOTAMs.

Airport Specific NOTAMs

Review the traffic management procedures, including arrival and departure route requirements, for the airports below:

Temporary Flight Restrictions

FDC NOTAM 6/6446 has been released for the San Jose, CA area in relation to Super Bowl 50 on February 07, 2016.

A 10 nautical mile TFR ring centered on Levi’s Stadium (or the SJC306003.0) prohibits GA operations at the following airports from 1400 local (2200z) until 2359 local (08/0759z) on Feb. 7, 2016.

  • Norman Mineta San Jose International (SJC)
  • Moffett Federal Airport (NUQ)
  • Palo Alto Airport (PAO)
  • Reid-Hillview Airport San Jose (RHV)

A 32 nautical mile TFR ring centered on SJC306003.0 has additional restrictions between the 10 nautical mile and 32 nautical mile areas from 1400 local (2200z) until 2359 local (08/0759z) on Feb. 7, 2016.

Flight operations on an active IFR flight plan, squawking a discrete transponder code and talking to ATC will be allowed to operate between the 10nm and 32nm rings.

The NOTAM details can be found on the FAA TFR NOTAM web page.

Air Traffic Management Initiatives

FAA ATC Air Traffic Management Initiatives can be expected throughout the week and may include the following:

  • Ground Delay Programs
  • Airspace Flow Programs
  • Collaborative Trajectory Options Program
  • Time Based Metering
  • Miles in Trail
  • Airborne Holding
  • Ground Stops

Filing Flight Plans Early

Operators flying to San Francisco-area airports through Feb. 8 should make sure their flight plans have been submitted through a CDM-participating flight plan service provider or flight planning tool ​​the night before operation. These providers include Fltplan.com​, Rockwell Collins/ARINC Direct, Universal, Jeppesen and others​. ​Doing so will ensure that flight plan information is known to FAA before potential ground delay programs are implemented. This is especially the case for operators flying to SFO, OAK and SJC due to the possibility of programs into those airports. If flight plans are filed after a ground delay program has been implemented, it is likely operators will see excessive delays.

Airfiles and Destination Changes

Traffic management initiatives for this event are designed to provide equitable airspace access. To maintain program integrity and minimize delays, no airborne IFR filing or airborne changes of destination will be allowed within 200nm of Northern California TRACON Terminal airspace, except in emergency situations. Duplicate flight plans (same time/call sign) to multiple airport destinations are subject to removal from the system.

Source:  NBAA National Businesss Aviation Associaion

Travel Management CO Acquired by XOJet Stakeholder TPG Growth

Courtesy AIN Online, 1/7/16
San Francisco-based capital equity firm TPG Growth confirmed today that it signed a definitive agreement on December 30 to acquire Travel Management Co. (TMC Jets), an on-demand aircraft charter firm in Elkhart, Ind.TPG Growth, which also owns a stake in private jet membership firm XOJet, is acquiring TMC Jets for an undisclosed amount from founder Pete Liegl, who formed the company in 2006. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter.

In February 2013, XOJet and TMC Jets announced a commercial partnership, though they have remained—and under the new ownership structure will continue to remain—separate entities, according to TMC president Scott Wise. In fact, he stressed TMC will continue to be “neutral” and work with leading broker distribution partners such as Apollo Jets, Sentient Jet, EJM/NetJets and XOJet.

Accordng to TPG Growth, the investment in TMC Jets as “an opportunity to further broaden its presence in private aviation, an industry that has seen multiple years of growth and improving sector dynamics.” TPGindicated that it plans to provide more capital for further investment in TMC, which could further expand its aircraft fleet.

TMC currently operates 68 wholly owned aircraft, including 36 Hawker 400XPs, 29 Hawker 800XPs, two Challenger 604s and a King Air 200. It also has an outstanding order with Nextant Aerospace to convert its Hawker 400XPs to 400XTis. These conversions are currently on hold, Wise told AIN, but could move forward “at a later date.” He said there is a solid business case to add more Challenger 604s to the fleet.

TPG is thrilled to partner with Scott Wise, Scott Henely and the entire TMC Jet team,” commented TPG Growth managing partner Bill McGlashan. “TMC Jets has established its reputation and industry-leading position as the light and mid jet operator of choice to its brokering partners. We are excited to support and enable TMC‘s growth and development going forward.”

TMC Jets Hawker 400XP and 800XP
Capital equity firm TPG Growth is acquiring Travel Management Co. (TMC Jets), an Elkhart, Ind.-based on-demand aircraft charter firm that has 65 wholly owned Hawker 400XPs and 800XPs. Its fleet also includes two Challenger 604s and a King Air 200. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter. (Photo: Travel Management Company)
Courtesy Aviation International News, AIN Online