August 2009

Bombardier Skyjet partners with Ultimate Escapes Signature Club

(August 31, 2009)

Imagine going on vacation aboard your very own private jet. Only a handful of people get to enjoy this luxury and Bombardier Skyjet is giving you that opportunity. Bombardier Skyjet has partnered with the Ultimate Escapes Signature Club to offer a new Skyjet card that will offer a five-night stay at an Ultimate Escapes destination of their choice. The club’s network offers some of the hottest vacation spots in the world. It has over 150 global destinations, including lavish vacation homes and top class hotels. Members have access to exclusive services from the private charter and the concierge. Bombardier Skyjet has made membership more desirable with its new offering. The charter company also has an online booking system of its private charter business jets and on-demand trips through an extensive network of reliable charter operators. This convenience combined with the comfort of Ultimate Escapes vacations makes the Skyjet card one of the best memberships in the market today. Source: JustLuxe   

Breeders Cup Announces Details of 2009 Sentient Perfect Trip Award

(August 31, 2009)

The Breeders` Cup and Sentient Jet, one of the leading private aviation companies in the United States, announced today award details for the second annual "Sentient Perfect Trip" Award for 2009. This year`s award will be presented to one winner from this season`s North American Breeders` Cup Challenge Races. Each qualifying race will be featured in Blood-Horse Magazine over the next ten weeks and the winner will be selected by a panel of racing experts. The Perfect Trip Award winner will have the opportunity to experience their own "perfect trip" through Sentient Jet, with complimentary round-trip private jet travel for six people to the 2009 Breeders` Cup World Championships at Santa Anita Park as well as six VIP tickets for the Championship weekend in the Sentient VIP Hospitality Area. The winner will be notified the week of October 19th and golfing legend Gary Player will award the winner the Perfect Trip trophy on ESPN during the Breeders` Cup World Championship telecast. "The `Sentient Perfect Trip` Award represents the best of the best of North American racing," said Greg Avioli, president and CEO of Breeders’ Cup Ltd. "Given the level of talent in these Challenge races, determining the single best `trip` will be no easy task for our panel of experts. I am especially excited to have golf legend Gary Player presenting this year`s trophy at our Championships. Sentient continues to be a great partner of the Breeders` Cup and the entire Thoroughbred industry." "At Sentient, we believe that creating the perfect trip for our clients in the air requires the same passion for details that it takes to create the perfect trip on the track," said Steven Hankin, Sentient’s CEO. "It is a great honor for us to be able to recognize the best of this year`s Challenge race winners, and we are pleased to be able to offer the winning owner the opportunity to take their own perfect trip through Sentient to this year`s Breeders` Cup World Championships."  

EAG receives H4000 jet

(August 31, 2009)

Dubai-based aviation company Empire Aviation Group has become the first aircraft operator in the GCC to take delivery of Hawker Beechcraft’s latest private jet model, the Hawker 4000. The H4000 is the first private jet to be constructed from advanced composite materials and it offers lower operating costs to owners. The eight-seat jet was acquired after a sale by EAG to an owner in the region. The plane will be managed by EAG and will be available for charter flights. The H4000 can cruise at 514 mph at an altitude of 45,000 feet and it has a range of 3280 nautical miles. This means that passengers can travel from Dubai to various locations in Europe and Asia. In addition to all its advanced features, it also offers cabin comfort with a midsize sector armed with first class amenities. Because of its composite construction, the cabin pressurization system can regulate cabin pressure very well. This reduces fatigue and dehydration for the passengers and the crew. “Composite materials have been used for many years in the manufacture of military aircraft and this technology is now being applied for the first time in the business jet sector by Hawker Beechcraft, and civil aviation is following this lead with the new Boeing 787 Dreamliner built on the same composite technology acquired from Hawker Beechcraft,” said Steve Hartley, executive director of EAG. He continues, “’EAG is very proud and excited to be the first in the region take a delivery of this aircraft which is probably 10 years ahead of other manufacturers. The owner – and our charter clients – will benefit from this new technology and the cost/performance that it delivers. In fact, Hawker Beechcraft Corporation is so confident about the new aircraft that it is guaranteeing the aircraft’s maintenance, charging a fixed fee per flying hour to cover all aircraft maintenance and even tyre wear, over the first five years of operation.”  The H4000 will be joining EAG’s mixed fleet of business jets. The company will now have 13 aircrafts, 10 of which are available for charter. EAG is expected to add two to three more aircrafts to its fleet by the end of 2009. Source: AME Info

Pre-Paid Jet Travel with a Mile-based Distance Card from AirStream Jets

(August 29, 2009)

(Air Stream Jet press release) — Today, Airstream Jets announces a new, revolutionary jet card. The Distance CardTM pre-paid travel program is differentiated by pricing based on miles flown rather than hours. With this user-friendly approach to pre-paid travel, Airstream Jets has created the most straight forward pricing program available anywhere. By basing their pricing solely on the distance, taxes, and overnights, Airstream Jets’ Distance Card travel program enables travelers to easily figure the total price for each charter prior to booking. One of the biggest flaws with most of today’s hourly jet card programs is that occurrences such as holding patterns prior to landing, strong headwinds, or long lines for take off can significantly deplete the balance of the card. When you are an Airstream Jets Distance Card member, you can quickly and easily price your next charter flight and book flights online or over the phone – all in under a minute. Why Implement Mileage Pricing While many jet charter travel plans include a variety of fees based on a number of variables that travelers have no control over, Airstream Jets’ primary objective is the elimination of these confusing variables and to simplify pricing and booking. Variables that affect pricing and can quickly deplete a traveler’s pre-paid investment in other jet card programs include the following: Variations in headwinds and tailwinds Aircraft holding patterns Ramp or taxi time Choice of aircraft or aircraft speed Fuel surcharges Ferrying charges … and other unforeseen expenses or hidden fees Participating in Airstream Jets’ Distance Card eliminates these surcharges, additional fees, and daily minimums billed to customers in other private jet card programs. Each Airstream Distance Card charter trip is billed simply according to the distance, taxes and overnights as described in the following: Overnights – if your itinerary calls for one or more overnight stays, a night-by-night fee is included with your trip price. In some cases, if a client is planning an extended stay at a location, or if he or she needs very flexible travel plans, it may be more economical to book two one-way flights. Taxes – a Federal excise tax of 7.5% and Segment tax of U.S. $3.60 per person is required on all domestic flights. Distance – all trips are quoted on a per mile basis, so clients always know the exact cost of their trip prior to boarding the plane. Rates do not change and are good for the life of the card. In short, the Airstream Jets Distance Card eases the variability related to typical jet charter travel by eliminating hidden costs and making the trip price completely transparent. Additional Distance Card Benefits In addition to fair mileage-based pricing, members of the Airstream Jets Distance Card program also enjoy the following: Membership funds are deposited in an interest-bearing escrow account in their name with funds withdrawn on a per-trip basis. Membership funds are immediately accessible just like a debit card with the balance and account information available online 24 hours a day. Members can access smaller airports not suitable to larger commercial flights. Members also enjoy convenient booking online or by placing a single call to choose their aircraft, itinerary, and customized concierge services. Members can take advantage of early booking discounts including a 3% discount for booking flights at least two weeks in advance. Members can choose the best aircraft size for each trip. Choices include light, mid- to super-mid, and heavy jets. The Airstream Jets Distance Card program offers the ultimate in jet charter flexibility with transparent pricing. More About Airstream Jets Founded by former corporate jet executives, private and commercial airline pilots, and private investors, Airstream Jets is a company that distinguishes itself by providing innovative solutions to private jet travel. All carriers are fully certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the U.S. Department of Transportation. All aircraft operators providing service for Airstream Jets clients are required to hold ARG/US or Wyvern safety ratings. For more information, visit http://www.airstreamjets.com or call 1-888-331-JETS toll free. 

Is Shareajet full-proof?

(August 27, 2009)

Blue Star Jet’s online marketplace—Shareajet—creates many possibilities for private jet travelers. For one, it will reduce the costs of its members, making the private jet a cost-efficient option despite the rough economic times. It will also attract new clientele, who would have not thought of private aviation as an option in the first place. Compared to commercial flights, private jets offer more comfort. These aircrafts depart from uncongested airports and have access to out-of-reach places. Inside the jet, business men are more able to prepare for meetings and they are able to take private calls. Conversely, the Shareajet idea also has pitfalls. While most of these pitfalls are purely financial, Blue Star Jet also has to worry about public image and access to commercial airports. “Sharing a jet might make the work preparation more difficult if confidential issues are involved,” said an analyst from the Gerson Lehrman Group. “Presumably the online process would prevent two competitors from sharing the same aircraft prior to pitching at the same client but what would happen with business leaders who didn’t get on.” Another area of concern is travel arrangements. More or likely, some travellers will have their schedules compromised since the aircrafts will be coming from and going to different places, each with different routes. As a result, some clients may have to go further or wait longer than they would otherwise have to do.   It is up to Blue Star Jets to fix its approach on the program. For now, the company should monitor customer feedback and address concerns. Source: Gerson Lehrman Group

PRIVATE FLIGHT LAUNCHES NEW FEATURES FOR PIONEERING INFLIGHT CATERING SYSTEM

(August 27, 2009)

Private Flight Global Limited today announced the addition of two new value-added features to its pioneering online system for inflight catering management. Intuitive new search functionality, along with enhanced management reporting tools, were integrated into the Private Flight online system early this August. The new features will allow Private Flight clients – operators of privately managed and charter flights – to further streamline their catering operation and achieve even greater transparency across their entire catering-related spend. Using the new intuitive search functionality, personnel placing orders via Private Flight will be able to quickly match menu items to requests, creating a new level of efficiency in the order placement process. A search for ‘chicken’, for example, will return all menu items containing chicken, and allow easy addition of any item to the flight menu. Should a particular request not be available on the menu, the new functionality also makes it easier for cabin crew to place off-menu orders. The new search functionality has been automatically integrated into the systems of all existing Private Flight clients. The second enhancement to roll out provides enhanced managerial reporting capability, via a set of tools which have similarly been integrated into the systems of Private Flight’s key clients. Company managers and accountants are now able to obtain a far greater level of detail for analysis of catering expenditure. Real-time expenditure reports can be accessed and downloaded, and expenditure can be categorised by flight, trips (multi-flight groupings as determined by the client), aircraft, cuisine provider, or even by personnel (the team member responsible for placing orders). Each report includes expenditure information for the entire catering-related spend. Reports can be produced by week, month or financial year, allowing both ‘snapshot’ and full-year analyses. By comparing same-set reports, such as flight reports for a regularly-scheduled flight or trip, managers can easily analyse trends over time. By comparing competitive set reports, such as cuisine providers in a certain location, comparative analysis is enabled. The new features, which have been developed and integrated into the system by Private Flight’s in-house technical teams, are the first of a planned series of system enhancements due to be rolled out over the next 12 months. Richard Pryor, CEO of Private Flight Global, says, “One of the key benefits of the Private Flight system has always been the way it provides our clients with transparency across their catering spend, leading directly to long-term reductions in catering costs. With these new enhancements to our managerial reporting suite of tools, our clients can now understand, in expenditure terms, precisely where the issues, opportunities, threats and model performances lie within their operation. Operators of managed aircraft can also clearly demonstrate this to owners, which shows an even greater level of dedication in a competitive world. And with our new intuitive search functionality, finding an unusual menu item is no longer the ‘needle in a haystack’ proposition it once was – ordering personnel have the information they need, literally at their fingertips, to either quickly locate possible matches, or to make a special request on behalf of their passenger.” Notes to Editor: Private Flight Global Limited (New Zealand) Private Flight operates internationally and is recognised as the evolution of inflight cuisine. Its unique, systems-based software application for managing inflight catering assists managers of VIP charters and private aircraft to streamline catering services. Real-time logistics reporting on orders, along with in-depth financial and managerial reporting capability enables Private Flight’s clients to monitor and reduce costs and create efficiencies in their catering operation. Private Flight also enables access to premium cuisine, with professional support and advice in sourcing, auditing and managing food and beverage providers for VIP travellers. For more information on Private Flight Global, contact Matt Peart or Richard Pryor. Phone +64 9 520 22 66, visit www.private-flight.com, or email Matt.Peart@Private-Flight.com or Richard.Pryor@Private-Flight.com. 

Swine flu gives Private Jet companies a boost in Saudi Arabia

(August 26, 2009)

The International Air Charter (IAC), a leading private jet operator, is anticipating a 50 percent increase in demand for private jet flights in Saudi Arabia come Ramadan. In a press statement, the company said that it is confident that its clients will see the strategic advantages of private jet travel in the regions. Apart from the religious observance, some are even saying that the increase in private jet travel is connected to the swine flu outbreak. Some reports claim that passengers are choosing private jet flights over commercial flights for health reasons. “Whenever there is a global health scare there is a short-term boost to private-jet usage amongst the ‘well-heeled’ and their families, and this is the case at the moment,” said Big Pond Aviation analyst David J. Bentley to The Media Line. Currently, four Saudi nationals have died due to swine flu and cases of the illness have been increasing. Conversely, the commercial flight industry has taken a blow from the swine flu outbreak. Last August 10, Iran Air—the national airline—announced a flight cancellation due to swine flu. The decision affected around 300,000 passengers, which represented a bulk of the people who travel using the commercial airline. However, facts suggest that the increase is only limited to Saudi Arabia, because charter operators from the United Arab Emirates said that they are not expecting increases in demand. Source: The Jerusalem Post  

Religious tourism fuels growth in private jet demand

(August 24, 2009)

International Air Charter (IAC), a private jet broker, is expecting a 50 percent increase in the demand for private jet charters in Saudi Arabia during Ramadan compared to the previous year. IAC says that the forecast is in line with the growth of religious tourism in Saudi Arabia, which is expected to generate around $7 billion annually. “The large number of tourist arrivals during Ramadan makes chartered flights a practical travel solution, especially for affluent travellers who wish to avoid the time-consuming formalities of commercial air travel,” commented Elie Abdo, managing partner of IAC Middle East. He says that the company has allocated substantial resources on religious tourism. This area has become a center of the IAC’s strategic plan for the growth of private charters. As reported in Emirates Business 24/7, “IAC has increased its fleet for Makkah and Madinah, key destinations of travellers performing the Umrah and Haj pilgrimage. For those who want to perform the Haj and Umrah, this means having a direct link to Makkah or Madinah from anywhere in the world, the company said, adding that it is also able to customise in-flight services to match their personal and religious requirements.” The firm offers several six-to-40 seat private planes. Its fleet currently includes Piaggio, Premier, Hawker, Falcon, Gulfstream, Challenger, Dornier, Global Express, Boeing, VIP Airbus and VIP McDonnell Douglas. Source:  Emirates Business 24/7  

Absolute Taste offers fine dining in your private jet

(August 24, 2009)

Absolute Taste, one of the UK’s leading catering and design company, have recently launched Squairmeal, a new service offering light business jet passengers an inflight meal that truly befits their surroundings and expectations. Absolute Taste has designed a selection of meals to be enjoyed at any time of the day, all of which are made to the companies exacting standards where the flavour and quality of the food is paramount. All boxes offer a well-balanced meal providing the perfect accompaniment to any journey and are a valued addition to your inflight experience. Packaged in innovatively designed boxes which are fully recyclable or biodegradable and fit into aircraft galley storage areas, these are the epitome of taste and style, far removed from their plastic airline led counterparts. A sure way to enhance your travelling experience, Squairmeal by Absolute Taste highlights the need to fulfil the much needed demand for sophisticated private jet dining. If you would like any more information about Squairmeal, or would like any images, please do contact me. About Absolute Taste Absolute Taste was formed in 1997 by Ron Dennis and Lyndy Redding to create contemporary, delicious food presented with style. Initially centred around providing the finest hospitality for the VIP guests of the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes Formula 1 team around the world, and for the employees at the McLaren headquarters, the company has quickly become leaders in their field with a world-wide reputation for excellent food, chic styling, exciting party design and professional staff. Since the company began Lyndy has built a team around her that is not just professional and capable but enthusiastic, charming and extremely hard working dedicated to making everything we do a success. Based upon these core principles Absolute Taste has successfully branched out in to other fields including Absolute Taste Inflight; Cafes by Absolute Taste and now Gordon Ramsay by Absolute Taste.  For more information log on to AbsoluteTaste.com

China builds its first private jet airport

(August 21, 2009)

China will have its first private jet opened next year in Shanghai’s Honggiao Airport, right before the World Expo in May. The structure of the airport’s first phase has already been built and is currently being fitted out, reports the Shanghai Morning Post. The report also mentioned that passengers will have the luxury of booking departures as little as a day ahead, but they will be more expensive than first class seats. On the average, business jets can carry as many as 10 passengers per plane. Passengers will be treated to fast service at a 3,000-square-meter terminal and it will have separate security inspections, quarantine, and customs from the other Honggiao terminals. The base will have a hangar that can contain three business jets. Officials are anticipating up to 4,000 business flights will hit Shanghai during the World Expo. By 2015, they will expect around 6,000 flights per year. Currently, around 2,000 private flights are operated in the country, and most of these flights come from Shanghai and Beijing. Source: Shanghai Daily   

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