Charter Alerts

From Corporate Jet Investor, 12/16/16: JetSmarter this week raised $105 million in funding, at what it says is a $1.5 billion pre-money valuation. This makes it the first business aviation unicorn (a private company with a valuation of $1 billion). The company said the Series C funds came from new investors  including an Abu Dhabi  growth equity fund, operator JetEdge, London venture capital firm KZ Capital, and a Qatar private equity fund. Some existing investors also participated, although possibly at a different valuation. The $1.5 billion valuation is astonishing. An online charter market, Avinode, estimates the total value of the global business aviation charter market at between $10 billion and $12 billion a year - although this does not include flight sharing, something that JetSmarter is pioneering. Uber - which claims to have raised funds at more than a $62 billion valuation - is the most valuable and best known of more than 170 Unicorns (although many analysts disagree with many of the valuations of companies on this list). Although JetSmarter is often referred to as being like Uber for business jets, it has a very different model. JetSmarter sells first year memberships at $15,000 and says it has more than 6,700 members. Members can book normal private charter, fly for free on regular shuttle services, charter shared flights and fly for free on empty legs. It does not own aircraft, instead chartering them from operators like XOJET, JetEdge and others. The company says that it will use the new cash to launch new scheduled shuttles as well as launch in Asia and South America. This is arguably the biggest business aviation story of 2016. JetSmarter was launched in 2012 and is now apparently valued at $1.5 billion. In comparison, Textron - the parent of Cessna which builds aircraft used by JetSmarter and was founded in 1927 - has a market cap of $13.6 billion. Source:  Alasdair Whyte, Corporate Jet Investor, 12/16/16

A brand new 2016 midsize Citation Latitude is now avaialble for charter from the midwestern U.S.  Charter operator Excelaire announces the addition of the new Latitude, this aircraft is not based at Excelaire's New York headquarters, however.  The aircraft calls KOSU home, in Columbus, OH. ExcelAire's new Citation Latitude is an elegant business jet that features a spacious stand-up cabin (height 6 feet), with seating for 8 passengers.  With outstanding runway performance and considerable range (7 hours non-stop), the Citation Latitude is ideal for a variety of coast to coast and intercontinental trips.  The aircraft is equipped with onboard Wi-Fi internet.

ExcelAire's Latitude and full fleet of 11 aircraft are available ONLY in FlightList PRO.

Just 9 Latitude's are currently available for charter in the U.S., from 9 different operators, according charter aircraft resource FlightList PRO.  All except one are based in the Midwest to Eastern U.S. The Citation Latitude is positioned between the Citation XLS+ and Sovereign executive jets.  It’s mid-range specs make the Latitude a capable contender for transcontinental or cross Europe flights, but it’s in the cabin where the aircraft really shines.  And, as any air charter broker will tell you, cabins help sell charters.  The Latitude has the largest cross-section of any Citation that Cessna has built, and its windowns are 25% larger.

The aircraft can get from coast-to-coast in the US. You’ll be more comfortable on the way there in a Latitude, especially as the cabin pressurisation has been lowered to 9.7psi – effectively meaning that at cruise height, the cabin feels like it’s at just 6,000ft. "With the new Latitude, we now offer another choice in midsize jets and continue our momentum of growing our fleet -- with one more addition expected before the end of the year," said Robert Molsbergen, President of ExcelAire.  "We are proud to provide the ultimate private jet charter experience, with truly personalized service and the best-in-class team of private jet travel professionals." Source:  Excelaire press release Source:  Corporate Jet Investor

Two new Part-135 certificate holders have begun operating based in Florida, their aircraft are now available for charter.  Both have acquired an ARG/US Gold rating.  The operator and fleet details are included in FlightList PRO.  The two light jets and one midsize jet are newly available for charter from southern and central Florida.

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Treasure Air Charters, LLC operates a Learjet 35A light jet, and a Piper Chieftain 7-passenger twin piston.  Both are based at KTMB Miami Executive Airport.  Now five jet operators have a total of nine aircraft based at KTMB.

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Rennia Aviation, LLC operates a Citation II light jet and a Falcon 20 midsize jet.  Both are based at KGNV Gainsville, FL.  Rennia is the third jet charter operator now at Gainesville Regional Airport.

Source:  The FlightList PRO resource includes every certificated operator and aircraft in the US, and equivalent worldwide.  Free 30-day trials are available online. 

New to the U.S., a Gulfstream V seating 19 passengers is now available for charter based in New York and operated by ExcelAire, LLC. The addition is one of only two 19-passenger executive jets available for charter from the Northeast U.S., and one of only five 19-passenger executive jets available across the U.S., according to FlightList PRO's search-by-country function. ExcelAire's new Gulfstream V offers passengers premium comfort, with a unique design that can seat 19 passengers and three crew. The ExcelAire Gulfstream V is equipped with the newest Gogo Wi-Fi system that is enabled to provide Gogo Biz 4G, when that service rolls out in 2017. The new service will feature Gogo Vision, providing the latest movies, TV, flight tracker and weather reports along with reliable web browsing.

ExcelAire's full fleet of 10 aircraft is available only in FlightList PRO.

"With the addition of this new Gulfstream V, we are now providing our clients with one of the only 19-passenger GV jets available for charter," said Robert Molsbergen, President of ExcelAire. "In addition to the GV, we plan to add two more jets to our fleet this year, providing our clients with the ultimate private jet charter experience, and the best-in-class team of private jet travel professionals." The new G-V brings ExcelAire's charter fleet to ten heavy and ultra long range jets; eight based in New York, plus one in Columbus, OH and one in Oakland, CA. 19-passenger Gulfstream G-V for charter, operated by ExcelAire, LLC. Source: company press release

Charter operator Jet Access Aviation has added 3 Wi-Fi equipped midsize jets to its charter fleet available immediately. A new-to-fleet Hawker 800XP and Citation III are based in the midwest (JVY) near Louisville, KY.  The third is a Citation VII based West Palm Beach, FL (PBI).  All are equipped with Wi-Fi internet.

Jet Access Aviation's full fleet of 15 aircraft is ONLY available in FlightList PRO.

The Jet Access Aviation charter fleet has grown to 15 aircraft total, light cabin through heavy jets.  The majority are based in the midwest and Florida, with a midsize Citation Excel in Atlanta, GA. The company has an ARG/US Platinum rating. Source: company announcement

Charter operator West Coast Charters, headquartered in Santa Ana, CA, has added a brand new 2016 Citation M2 light jet, fresh from Wichita, to their charter fleet based KHND Henderson, NV. The new M2 joins West Coast Charters' existing M2 (DOM 2013) and two Citation CJ3+ light jets (DOM 2014 adn 2016) based at Henderson.  The operator boasts the newest aircraft fleet in the Las Vegas region.  The new M2 features the latest in passenger amentities including entertainment iPads and headphones, Sirius/XM radio, and power/charging stations throughout the cabin.

West Coast Charters' full fleet of 27 aircraft is ONLY available in FlightList PRO.

West Coast Charters now operates a total fleet of 27 charter jets and turboprops in the greater Los Angeles and Las Vegas areas. Henderson is home base for 7 executive aircraft for charter from four different operators.  The greater Las Vegas area boasts a total of 28 executive aircraft available for charter, from 13 operators. The Henderson airport is a 17 minute drive south of LAS McCarran International Airport.  Easier airport access, less traffic and lower fees can make Henderson an attractive option for Las Vegas charters.

News source:  West Coast Charters

Jet Linx Aviation announced it has formed a strategic alliance with ProJet Aviation, to assume ProJet’s managed fleet of aircraft to grow its presence in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area. As a result, Jet Linx has expanded its service operations to include three area airports including the Jet Linx private terminal at Dulles International Airport (IAD), Manassas Regional Airport (HEF) and now Leesburg Executive Airport (KJYO) where ProJet provides FBO/flight support services including over 75,000 sq. ft. of hangar and office space. In addition, Jet Linx has recruited 15 of ProJet’s team members, including pilots, maintenance, and client service agents. “The addition of ProJet’s fleet to our already growing fleet of aircraft in the D.C. metropolitan area reinforces our commitment to provide the best local service to our clients,” said Jamie Walker, President & CEO of Jet Linx. “Strategically, Leesburg is the closest General Aviation Jetport to Dulles and Virginia’s horse and wine country, making ProJet an ideal partner for us and for our Jet Card clients and aircraft owners in the area.”

Jet Linx full fleet of 72 aircraft is ONLY available in FlightList PRO.

ProJet will continue its FBO services at Leesburg Executive Airport and the Jet Linx D.C. team will operate out of a private terminal facility that is part of the ProJet FBO campus. Members of the ProJet staff have already joined the Jet Linx team, including its current COO, Josh Rosenblatt, who will serve as Executive Vice President of the Jet Linx D.C. operations, reporting to Base President, Greg Kinsella. “Through our strategic alliance with Jet Linx, ProJet can focus on the expansion and improvement of our award-winning FBO/Flight Support business,” said Shye Gilad, President & CEO of ProJet Aviation. “The presence and quality of the Jet Linx fleet strengthens Leesburg’s reputation as the private aviation destination of choice for the DC Metro region.” Jet Linx has flown 50 million miles since its inception and today manages the third largest part 135 fleet with 78 total aircraft ranging from light, mid, super mid and heavy jet aircraft across the nation. The local fleet in Jet Linx D.C. includes a Hawker 900XP and a Lear 60 at their private terminal in Dulles, a Falcon 900 at Manassas Regional Airport, and a Challenger 604, and Hawker 800XP at Leesburg Executive Airport. Jet Linx Aviation boasts local, private terminals in 14 cities spanning from East to West, guaranteeing service “from” and “to” anywhere in the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean, including Cuba. Jet Linx also provides international service to Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and South America. Jet Linx is among the four percent who have earned an ARGUS Platinum Safety Rating, the highest safety rating awarded to an operator which has been presented to Jet Linx every year since 2005. In addition, Jet Linx attained the International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations (IS-BAO) Stage 3 certification this year (the highest IS-BAO rating), which has become a globally accepted “gold seal” for business aviation operations attesting to the highest standards in safety and efficiency, placing Jet Linx in the top one percent of all operators for safety. Source:  Jet Linx press release

Air-taxi firm Wijet is acquiring very light jet (VLJ) charter operator Blink, forming “the world’s largest” VLJ air-taxi provider, the european companies announced. The transaction will result in a new company, Wijet Group, with a combined fleet of 15 Cessna Citation Mustangs. Blink will join Wijet on the real-time european booking platform OpenJet.

The Wijet and Blink fleets and operator info is available in FlightList PRO.

Wijet Group, the holding company for Blink UK and Wijet France, will have joint CEOs: Corentin Denoeud and Cameron Ogden. Combined, it will have €18 million in revenues this year, and this is forecast to rise to €28 million, with 11,000 flights and 16,000 passengers, next year. Blink and Wijet have operations in London, Paris and northern Italy. “By combining the two companies, the joint customer base will provide strong demand across western Europe,” the companies said. In addition, Blink’s established maintenance and operations capability will remain in the UK and Italy, while Wijet will continue to service its client base from Paris, along with key head office functions. Initially, the aircraft will continue to operate under the Blink and Wijet colors before “gradually merging” into a new combined brand. Source:  Aviation International News