Business jet charter broker and card provider Magellan Jets launched its new Corporate Membership program. The new card for companies committing to a minimum of 100 flight hours promises greater flexibility and value with features such as guaranteed aircraft availability with six hours notice—compared with eight hours for individual members—and no peak-day restrictions, surcharges or black-out dates. Other benefits of Corporate Membership include aircraft no older than 2004 delivery, compared with the usual 2000 for individual members; members can push back departure times by up to two hours; $100 million minimum liability insurance for all aircraft categories, versus $50 million for light jets; catering included; WiFi guaranteed for midsize aircraft and larger; 15-percent credit for round-trip flights; and 5-percent credit on legs of more than four hours. Flight hour rates are between 10 and 18 percent higher than for individual memberships, but the program includes additional long-range jets such as the Gulfstream G550 and G650, as well as the Bombardier Global 5000 and 6000. courtesy AIN Online

Private Jets For The Uber Economy Q&A with Shari Jones, Chief Marketing Officer, XOJET

The Economist Group - Lean Back By Mercedes Cardona October 19, 2015 What do you see as the biggest challenge facing marketing: fragmented media, empowered consumers, evolving technology, or all at once? It’s finding the right client and connecting with them with the right message, at the same time. That hasn’t changed so much. What has changed is the pace of disruption and the tools we have at our disposal; also how our potential consumers are bombarded by so many messages and so many options. The onus on CMOs today is: How are you creating a message that is compelling and beautiful and aspirational and engaging, so that client will choose to see it? Also, using all the tools at your disposal to craft an experience. I’m lucky I have the canvas of the jet to play with and the whole experience—from my advisors to my client services—in addition to the communications we’re crafting to bring that messaging to life to them. What are some challenges specific to your brand: the world economy, generational change, consumer attitudes toward luxury? Disruptions to our industry came a little later than disruptions in other industries, but we’re seeing the same kind of meta trend. It’s a shift from ownership. Traditionally clients would either buy a jet or buy a fraction of a jet. That’s moved to more on-demand models, similar to the model we employ, where clients only use a jet when they want to use it and they only want to pay for what they use. The business model change has been probably the biggest one in the last three years. Accompanying that is how technology has grafted onto that, not to replace what is necessarily a high-touch experience—because by definition luxury is high-touch—but make it even better. You’re participating in the sharing economy, but how are you approaching marketing differently than either other corporate jet companies or transport like Uber and Zipcar on the low end? What is fresh about what we’re doing—and you can see with our latest campaign—is we’re trying to bring a more modern approach to talking to high-end clients about what is a luxury product. A more fresh, approachable way, seeing it through the point of view of the client who would use our product every day. A lot of times luxury brands market almost two steps removed. We’re trying to bring it closer and make it that much more intimate. On the flip side, on the lower end of the market you’re seeing a lot of new entrants that are trying to do what Uber is doing in the private jet industry. That’s fantastic for a certain segment of the market; but when you’re talking about sophisticated clients who fly a lot—just like with hotels and with other luxury products—they are going to want to have a human connection. Speaking of technology, you launched a mobile site this year. Where does mobile fit into your marketing plan? If you’re a travel brand, you want to be available to clients when they’re on the move, by definition. Where mobile helps us is by creating a more seamless interaction starting the conversation; but invariably, it always goes to a human on the other side of the conversation. Whether it’s requesting a flight or having a client profile that’s at the ready for our advisors or our client services team, we’re seeing it as an enabler, versus a replacement for that interaction. Your mid-year report noted that you doubled your Facebook following. Where does social fit in with an upscale brand? Social is interesting for high-net-worth (clients). Their social circles tend to be tighter, they’re more business partnerships, relationships, friends, family. As we think about the social platform it’s about engaging the community that surrounds that from an influencer or support function, or crews. There’s a whole community about aviation and loving aviation that we also speak to and nurture. What’s next for XOJet? How is your new brand campaign different than the “Take Command” effort you launched in summer? This is the next chapter in “Take Command.” With this new campaign we’ve created video ads that are really fresh, looking from the passenger’s point of view. https://youtu.be/LObqzoexkY0 We worked with Walrus in New York to develop four video vignettes. In addition to digital, billboards are effective for us, particularly around airports, as well as print. But aside from that, we’re doing a lot more internally to create content that we’re distributing to our clients when they’re flying, our advisors are using it, as well as engaging editors and journalists around destinations. A lot of what we’re doing on the back end is connecting our CRM system. I think Marketing Automation is a misnomer; I don’t think you could ever automate in high-net-worth, but find ways of creating a more intimate, one-to-one conversation with clients about topics that they’re interested in at the right time. That could either be about a kind of aircraft they’re interested in, or tips about a destination they are going to. We’re working on creating a portfolio of content that we can put out through our owned channels. We’re working with travel writers to create content on destinations, curating lists of top restaurants and things to do in cities where our clients go, and engaging in communities and partnerships around client passion points—be it hobbies, golf, skiing or high performance sports. For us, in connecting with high-net-worth clients, it’s both what we’re saying from a communications standpoint, but also how we’re really connecting in their daily lives and being relevant. Original article here

Air Cargo News, 10/19/2015 Traditional cargo charter brokers are developing their services as they face competition from new market entrants and customers increasingly gain direct access to airlines. Speaking at the Freighters and Belly Cargo Conference in Abu Dhabi, Air Charter Service (ACS) group commercial director Justin Lancaster highlighted some the challenges faced by traditional brokers. He said that the internet had increasingly allowed clients to contact direct airlines directly. Also, the barriers to setting up as a broker are very low, meaning there were many new entrants to the market.

Cargo/freight operators and aircraft certified for cargo are available in FlightList PRO.

He added that freight forwarders were increasingly dealing with charters in-house, a trend led by Panalpina, and passenger networks were being expanded. Lancaster said: “Airlines are operating more passenger aircraft and looking at routes that were traditionally cargo routes. “This is a big threat for us and has been ongoing for some time. The airlines have to do something with the passenger aircraft that are coming onto the market and more and more they are looking at routes that were cargo charter routes. “Airlines are taking the cargo side of the business more seriously than they were.” Connected to this development was the increased cargo capacity of the new passenger aircraft entering the market and also market over-capacity. “When I started,” he said, “50% of our revenues came in the last quarter driven by the peak season out of the Far East; maybe it was there last year, but for many years before that business had dried up. “Once the capacity is gone and demand outstrips supply, that’s when cargo charter brokers can come into the equation and put aircraft that aren’t so commonly known into the Far East.” Other challenges included: a decline in new cargo charter start-up airlines which relied on charter brokers to market the aircraft for them. Some charter industries such as oil and gas were  suffering a slowdown, Lancaster said. To counter these threats and evolve the role of the broker, ACS is investing in people, developing the skills of its people through training, continuing to develop a global reach with regional offices that know the local market and clients. It also provides local currency transactions, offers rapid response, ensures it is trustworthy, has developed its own compliance department and offers insurance. “People are the key for us. As a broker we don’t have assets. We have people, data and knowledge,” he said. Original article here

Charter Operator Premier Air Charter based at KMYF Montgomery Field in San Diego, CA has added a King Air 200 to their charter fleet.  N825KA sports a 2015 refurbished interior and fresh red, white and blue paint scheme. The only charter King Air based in central San Diego, Montgomery Field is just 15 minutes from downtown San Diego, or San Diego International Airport. Premier Air Charter now offers a fleet of 5 charter aircraft in San Diego.  In addition to the King Air 200 they operate a Cessna Conquest II, two Eclipse 500's and a Learjet 35A designated for med-flights/ambulance. The Premier Air Charter full fleet is listed ONLY in FlightList PRO.

JFI Jets, a leader in private jet charter, aircraft management and maintenance,  announced it has acquired ACP Jets, a respected private jet operator, according to a press release from both companies. ACP Jets is a full-service private aviation company offering aircraft charter, management, maintenance, as well as aircraft acquisitions and consulting. ACP Jets holds an ARG/US Platinum safety rating and IS-BAO phase two certification. With offices in West Palm Beach, FL, the firm operates two Hawkers 800XP’s, a Citation X, four Gulfstream IV/SP/450’s and a part 145 maintenance repair station.

Complete fleet and operator details for both JFI Jets and ACP Jets are available in FlightList PRO.

The combined entity will immediately offer aircraft management, hangar space, charter and maintenance services in the nation’s three busiest private jet markets: New York Metro, Southern California and South Florida. Upon full FAA integration, it will operate and manage a combined fleet of 17 midsize and heavy jets available for charter. "By merging these two industry-leading companies, we will be the only provider with facilities, aircraft, maintenance and sales offices in the top three U.S. markets for private aviation," says JFI Jets CEO Robert Seidel. "I am proud our company will be led by two of the most respected and capable executives in the industry: JFI President David Rimmer and ACP co-founder and President Suran Wijayawardana, who will join us as chief operating officer. They will lead an extremely dedicated team of private aviation professionals." "This is a merger of two highly reputable firms with strong vision alignment and synergistic cultures that will offer our clients the highest standards of aviation services," says Suran Wijayawardana. "It is a great honor to join Robert Seidel, David Rimmer, Sohail Ashraf and Damon Danneker on this incredible team, having worked closely with them on the NATA Air Charter Committee and other Industry boards for a number of years."

Set Jet, the exclusive membership based, private jet charter program headquartered in Scottsdale, AZ, announced today that it will be facilitating daily flights between San Francisco and Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego and Las Vegas. "We are very excited to be offering our exclusive service to those who are looking for a hassle-free and better than first class travel experience between these entertainment, recreational and technology hubs," said Trey Smith, President of Set Jet. Set Jet will be facilitating daily flights on Bombardier Challenger 850 and CRJ200 aircraft which have been specially configured with 15 seat VIP interiors, for $99.95 per month and from $399 one-way (including taxes and fees).

MAC Aircraft Charter LLC/Maine Aviation is operating two Challenger 850 aircraft for Set Jet at this time, configured for 15 and 16 passengers.

"We have experienced a high level of demand for these flights for some time and we believe these additional routes will complement our already established west coast service." Smith added.

Flights will also feature complimentary Wi-Fi, top shelf alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, as well as premium snacks. Set Jet facilitates this unique members-only based service from non-congested and conveniently located VIP private terminals, without the traditional inconveniences related to commercial air travel, such as advance notice for booking flights, price premiums for last minute travel, time allowance for driving to primary airports, check-in requirements, security delays and parking expenses.

More information about Set Jet including its founders is available on the company website.

Charter operator MAC Aircraft Charter's details and fleet information are available in FlightList PRO.

Source:  Set Jet press release

Nearly 52 percent of current business jet users plan to fly the same amount over the next 12 months, while nearly 40 percent say they will fly a bit more (32 percent) or a lot more (7.9 percent), according to the just-released results of the Fifth Annual Readers' Choice Survey from Business Jet Traveler.  About half said they flew the same amount over the past year as during the year before, while 21.7 percent flew a bit more and 15 percent a bit less. Only 7.7 flew much less and 5.9 percent much more. Not surprisingly, survey respondents said “saving time” was the number-one reason that they fly on business aircraft, followed by the ability to fly into airports not served by airlines and the ability to work and hold meetings in flight. Nearly 62 percent of their flights are mostly or almost always for business, while 28.1 percent were an even mix of personal and business flying. Less than 10 percent of flights were categorized as mostly or almost always personal. According to the survey, the most attractive feature of an aircraft is economical operation, with range, cabin size, aircraft manufacturer and age of aircraft rounding out the top five; baggage space was at the bottom of the list.  Respondents’ business aircraft wish list included the Pilatus PC-12 at the lower end and the Gulfstream G650 at the top end. Source:  Aviation International News

By Caitlin Huston, Marketwatch If you and seven friends can scrap together $40,000, getting to Cuba just got easier. Private jet booking service Victor will begin offering direct private flights on Monday from 19 cities in the U.S. to Havana, Cuba. The company’s service allows users to enter a destination, see price quotes and then book a private flight. Travel to Cuba for U.S. citizens is still limited as travelers have to be approved to visit under 12 visa categories. Victor has partnered with Cuba Educational Travel, which organizes travel to Cuba under educational visas, so that its fliers are approved to visit the country and have a set itinerary while there.

The trip involves a custom Cuban itinerary with cigars and rum

The itinerary could include cigar and rum tastings with country experts, riding in 1950s American cars and dinners with prominent cultural figures and historians, the company said. For a group of eight staying four nights, prices start at $40,000. David Young, senior vice president at Victor, said the company is adding the service because of growing demand for travel to Cuba. “It’s the hottest travel destination,” said Young. The U.S. has recently moved to normalize relations with Cuba after more than 50 years. Restrictions on trade and travel have been eased, and the U.S. Embassy in Havana reopened in August. JetBlue JBLU, +1.79% offers weekly direct chartered flights from New York’s John F. Kennedy airport and said this week that it will add a second flight starting in December. Victor acknowledges that the private flights aren’t cheap, and says it is aimed at a high net worth clientele. Many of the company’s members are involved in entertainment or sports, he said. Being a member is free, and Victor has more than 40,000. The company takes a fee from each booking and partners with different jet operators. The company, which has raised $26 million in private equity, operates national and international flights with offices in London, New York and Santa Monica, Calif.

Oct. 1, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- BlackJet Technology, Inc., the world's largest private jet seat booking service, announced the expansion of its network to include service between White Plains, New York and Ft. Lauderdale, Florida in response to heavy customer demand over the last several months. Westchester County Airport (HPN) will have BlackJet seat service, commencing in November 15, 2015, with seat booking available as of October 7, 2015. Thousands of BlackJet members who have flown BlackJet's service between New York (mostly Teterboro) and private jet facilities in South Florida, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and San Francisco, can now access private jet seats from HPN. The ability to book confirmed seats on private jets affordably and instantly via BlackJet's proprietary technology, enables travelers to avoid the major airport hassles and the airline cattle-car experience. Today, customers in the New York / Westchester market gain another air travel option – BlackJet private jet seat service from White Plains (HPN) airport. Service between Westchester County Airport and Fort Lauderdale Executive airport will commence with special pricing of just $1,250per seat. Interested parties can visit BlackJet.com and use the Invite Code HPN1000 in order to obtain this special offer. Seat availability is guaranteed and the annual membership (normally $5,000) is waived for members signing up to BlackJet's "HPN Seasonal Plan". This offer expires October 7, 2015. "Our members in Westchester County have shown tremendous support since day-1, including driving to depart from Teterboro to access BlackJet service. We are very happy to provide greater convenience by adding HPN to the Blackjet service network. Adding guaranteed service from HPN is an important milestone in our development," stated BlackJet CEO, Dean Rotchin.