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VistaJet officially launched VistaJet Direct, its new digital membership offering priority access to one-way and empty-leg flights at preferential rates. For a $10,000 annual fee, VistaJet Direct members can request bookings on all available VistaJet aircraft before they are offered to the charter market, according to a release from the company. Bookings via the VistaJet Direct smartphone app are guaranteed and come with all of the company’s typical services. Through the app’s geo-location feature, members can receive a push notification when a flight near them or from their favorite cities is available. According to VistaJet, the app offers real-time fixed pricing and the entire booking process can be completed “in minutes.” Members can also request flights through the app, as well as order catering and arrange other ground services. VistaJet released this statement from company Chairman and Founder, Thomas Flohr:

“This launch is all about giving our customers, and all business travelers, as much flexibility and choice as possible. With the addition of VistaJet Direct, flying with us is easier than ever.  We’re always looking for new opportunities to make travel as memorable as possible, and make our customers’ flight an experience they will never forget. VistaJet Direct is the fastest and most convenient way to fly VistaJet. Customers can now book a flight and access the full array of our services no matter where in the world they are, at a time that suits them.”

Source:  Company press release

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Past Charter Alerts about VistaJet: VistaJet US Flight and Pax Traffic Grows Triple Digits, Worldwide Double Digits VistaJet Adds Jet Charter Service in China

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The FlightList PRO multi-search platform which includes all 16,631 charter aircraft and 3,419 charter operators worldwide.  FlightList PRO is used by the most successful and experienced brokers and travel professionals in the industry; 80% of those using FlightList PRO have been arranging charters more than 10 years, and a full 1/4 - more than 20 years.  Currently 30-day free trials are available. Air Charter Alerts by FlightList PRO, are the latest announcements in the private air charter industry about operators, brokers and charter aircraft, and geared towards active participants in the industry.

Enter Phenix Jet International, LLC, and it's charter fleet of - currently 5 - long range jets.  With ARGUS Platinum and Wyvern Wingman ratings backing up it's intercontinental aircraft capabilities.

• 2014 Gulfstream 650ER
• 2011 Gulfstream G650
• 2012 Global 6000
• 2011 Global 6000
• 2014 Falcon 7X

Editor's note: Along with many other U.S. operators, Phenix Jet International aircraft are available only in the FlightList PRO platform, with all 16,631 charter aircraft and 3,419 charter operators worldwide.  $90/mo., free trials here.

U.S.-registered and operated, the long range jets are based between Tokyo, Japan and Kong Kong, positioned for Asian transport as well as U.S./Asia nonstop luxury transports. Asian based aircraft with U.S. operators, and holding ARGUS and Wyvern ratings are a rare availability in the far East.  Just 10 other operators out of 51 with aircraft in China, Hong Kong or Japan hold ARGUS or Wyvern ratings.  4 of the 10 are U.S. operators Avjet Corporation, Executive Jet Management, Jet Aviation and Zetta Jet.  Source- FlightList PRO

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By TAMIYUKI KIHARA/ Staff Writer, The Asahi Shimbun Aug. 5, 2017

Major trading house Sojitz Corp. has set up a company to operate jet planes for wealthy individuals and corporate customers outside Japan in the rest of Asia. Sojitz set up the subsidiary firm Phenix Jet International LLC in the United States, and has opened an office in Hong Kong, with the aim of offering “business jets” that can accommodate between four and 20 passengers. The company is hoping to tap into demand for similar aircraft, which is expected to grow among wealthy people in China and Southeast Asia. In operating the business, Sojitz will keep the jet planes on behalf of their owners and undertake centralized management of their maintenance, arrangement of pilots and operation of flights. The company has already invested several hundred million yen (several million dollars) in the firm, which will be operated under the “Phenix Jet” brand. Sojitz is not new to the business sector. It has been operating business jets, mostly in Japan, since 2003, and currently has about 10 jet planes available for the business. The operation of business jets is flourishing in Western countries. Japan Airlines Co. began operating similar aircraft in France in May. Demand for the mode of transport is also rising in Asia, partly because they allow efficient mobility in areas that are not served by regular flights. Sojitz expects there will be new demand for 1,000 more business jets in Asia alone over the next 10 years. Source:  Public news article / The Asahi Shimbun / company materials

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Phenix Jet charter aircraft are available only in the FlightList PRO multi-search platform which includes all 16,631 charter aircraft and 3,419 charter operators worldwide.  FlightList PRO is used by the most successful and experienced brokers and travel professionals in the industry; 80% of users have arranged charters more than 10 years, 25% more than 20 years. Air Charter Alerts by FlightList PRO, are the latest announcements in the private air charter industry about operators, brokers and charter aircraft, and geared towards active participants in the industry.

Jet management company and charter operator Jet Linx reaches 100-aircraft milestone

By Steve Jordon / World-Herald staff writer

The trick to making money with airplanes is to not own them. Jet Linx learned that lesson four years after the Omaha company started in 1999, giving up ownership of its jets and shifting to aircraft management and a private jet travel card service. Now, Jet Linx is celebrating its 100th managed jet — actually, the fleet stands at 101 today — and ranks No. 3 in the highly fragmented industry of managing and renting out expensive air vehicles as a service to their owners. “A hundred airplanes is a phenomenal benchmark,” said Jet Linx President and CEO Jamie Walker. He hosted about 400 clients, staff members, vendors and others for supper at downtown Omaha’s Blatt Beer & Table restaurant, followed by a private concert by the band Smash Mouth at Slowdown. No. 1 in managed fleet size is Executive Jet Management, a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway’s NetJets. No. 2 is Gama Aviation, based in Hampshire, England. Jet Linx added 38 aircraft last year and is headed for 110 by the end of 2017. Walker attributed that growth, about 30 percent a year in revenue, to the people running its network of 14 local private airport terminals, alongside the 95-member staff at its operational headquarters in Omaha. From pilots to airplane polishers, Jet Linx has 485 employees.

Joe Moeggenberg, president and CEO of air travel data company ARGUS International of Cincinnati, said Jet Linx’s local network is a unique structure in private jet management, an industry with 2,300 businesses, nearly all of them tiny, that manage private jet airplanes. Jet Linx — an ARGUS customer — has a cost advantage because most of its flights start or end at its network cities, Moeggenberg said, meaning fewer expensive empty-cabin flights. Aside from a few jets managed exclusively for their owners, Jet Linx’s card customers can book any of the airplanes made available at the owners’ discretion. Jet Linx handles fueling, maintenance, safety checks, hangar storage and other services, including employing pilots, as well as scheduling and tracking flights for Jet Linx’s card members, more than 200 in Omaha and 1,300 total.

All 79 Jet Linx charter aircraft nationwide are included in FlightList PRO's multi-search platform along with all all 16,631 charter aircraft and 3,419 charter operators worldwide.  Free 30-day trials available here.

Card members are guaranteed hourly rates — $3,500 to $8,500, depending on the size of the plane — as well as flight access and safety standards, Walker said. Their travel fees cover Jet Linx’s costs and supply revenue for the aircraft owners, often cutting net operating costs by 50 percent. But no matter how well you manage costs, Walker said, there’s an industry truism: “You cannot make money owning an airplane.” Besides operating expenses, aircraft prices are high, especially for long-range aircraft. Jet Linx’s fleet includes seven-passenger Beechjet 400s that can travel 1,400 miles on a tank of fuel, often priced around $700,000, and 14-passenger, $20 million-plus Gulfstream 450s with a 5,000-mile range. Walker said some businesses would end their company flight operations if they had to absorb all the costs. By bringing in revenue from travel card customers they can keep the convenience and time savings that jets offer. Besides Omaha, Jet Linx’s local offices are in Atlanta; Dallas; Denver; Detroit; Forth Worth, Texas; Houston; Indianapolis; Nashville, Tennessee; St. Louis; San Antonio; Scottsdale, Arizona; Tulsa, Oklahoma; and Dulles Airport in Washington, D.C. Jet Linx is majority owner of each location, with a local partner as minority owner. “We need somebody locally who gives us that credibility and trust and support in that community,” Walker said, plus contacts to recruit as travel card members. Besides reduced “dead-head” flight costs, he said, the terminals provide local-style, personalized service for card members and aircraft owners. The local Jet Linx partner typically becomes “the jet guy” in each city, he said. Later this year Jet Linx’s local offices will celebrate the 100-aircraft landmark. Jet Linx was founded by Denny Walker, Jamie’s father and now chairman. He is former head of MemberWorks Inc., an Omaha-based card membership company. Jamie Walker said Jet Linx has room to grow, with plans to open about two locations a year. He said another dozen or so U.S. cities meet Jet Linx’s requirements for airport services and other standards.

The Omaha World-Herald is owned by Berkshire Hathaway Inc.

By: Steve Jordon / Omaha World-Herald, 6/26/17.  Article in the Omaha World-Herald here.

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All 79 Jet Linx charter aircraft are available in the FlightList PRO multi-search platform which includes all 16,631 charter aircraft and 3,419 charter operators worldwide.  FlightList PRO is used by the most successful and experienced brokers and travel professionals in the industry; 80% of users have arranged charters more than 10 years, 25% more than 20 years. Air Charter Alerts by FlightList PRO, are the latest announcements in the private air charter industry about operators, brokers and charter aircraft, and geared towards active participants in the industry.

Announcing midsize and heavy jets new to charter in New York, Florida and Las Vegas.  Popular charter aircraft models in popular locations - operators Voyager Jet Center, Prime Jet and Air Fuga have added the following jets to their charter certificates and are currently available.  The below new additions all have complimentary Wi-Fi, recent refurbishments and are ARGUS-rated Gold or Platinum.

All are available through the FlightList PRO sourcing platform, which includes all 16,631 aircraft and 3,419 charter operators, the world's largest.

Hawker 800XP, Based KTEB

• Operated by Voyager Jet Center
• ARGUS Platinum
• Wi-Fi complimentary
• Updated paint and cabin interior, January 2017

Have you tried FlightList PRO yet?  Free 30-day trials now available, no credit card, risk or commitment. Then choose to add it for just $90/month, includes 3 users, cancel any time.  Join the most experienced charter brokers -  80% of users have arranged charters for more than 10 years.  A full 1/4 more than 20 years.  Request YOUR free trial here.

Gulfstream IV, based KLAS

• Operated by Prime Jet
• ARGUS Platinum, Wyvern Wingman
• Wi-Fi complimentary
• Full interior and exterior refurbishment 2014
• 16 seats

Challenger 601, based KSFB

• Operated by Air Fuga
• ARGUS Gold
• Wi-Fi complimentary
• Full refurbishment 2017
• 10 seats

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Air Charter Alerts by FlightList PRO, are the latest announcements in the private air charter industry about operators, brokers and charter aircraft, and geared towards active participants in the industry. The FlightList PRO multi-search platform which includes all 16,631 charter aircraft and 3,419 charter operators worldwide.  FlightList PRO is used by the most successful and experienced brokers and travel professionals in the industry; 80% of those using FlightList PRO have been arranging charters more than 10 years.

Much anticipated, HondaJets are rolling off the Honda Aircraft production line in Greensboro NC, and for the first time are now available for charter.  Two new 2016 HondaJets are now available for charter in the US. Compared to it's Very Light Jet (VLJ) category competition, the Citation Mustang and the Phenom 100, the HondaJet betters the field in important ways.  The faster, lighter and more fuel efficient 4-passenger jet has a cabin 20% larger cabin than its competitors, more baggage space, a faster airspeed at 420 kts, and higher cruise altitude at 43,000 feet.  In many ways, the HondaJet is a better fit up in the light jet category. Cutter Flight Management is first to operate the 4-seat VLJ under US Part-135 charter regulations.  Two are currently available, based in the southwestern US at KPHX Phoenix, AZ and KSDL Scottsdale AZ.  Cutter is a Wyvern Registered operator, and maintains fleet, crew, and insurance information as well as verified regulatory documentation within the Wyvern's system.  Cutter Flight Management is the aircraft management and charter arm of Cutter Aviation, provider of aviation related services and FBO operations in the Southwestern US and Colorado.

Leading the way again, FlightList PRO is the only charter sourcing platform with the HondaJet and also the full Cutter Flight Management fleet of 9 charter aircraft which includes turboprops, light, midsize and heavy jets. The HondaJet being uniquely Honda, instead of using engines from other manufacurers, the company began developing its own engine in partnership with GE Aviation ultimately creating the GE-Honda HF20 turbofan engine.  The HA-420 HondaJet is powered by two over-wing mounted HF120 turbofans, each producing 1,997 pounds of thrust.  The engine mounts atop the wings are constructed of metal.  The natural laminar flow wings terminate in sizable winglets. The HondaJet’s fuselage is made of carbon fiber, and its flight deck is built around Garmin’s touchscreen-capable G3000 suite. The HondaJet cabin and baggage capabilities: The cabin area is a 12.1-foot-long space that provides plenty of room for passengers. The club seating arrangement gives ample legroom and is spacious for a VLJ, with opposing passenger knees completely out of range.  The hum of the  HF120s can be heard with the lavatory doors open, but with them closed, it is significantly quieter than almost any other light jet. The lav is also far superior to that of many light jets, some of which section the toilet area off with a simple curtain.  While the HondaJet’s lavatory is not huge by any stretch, it provides complete privacy, a nice sink with a faucet activated by a motion sensor, and two skylights providing natural light and a unique perspective of the skies above. One benefit of having the engines mounted on the wings is that the HondaJet has an exceptionally large luggage compartment for an airplane in the light-jet category.  The rear compartment is 57 cubic feet and holds up to 400 pounds, which is more than many light jets and some midsize jets.  There is plenty of space to load large suitcases without trouble. The aircraft also has a 9-cubic-foot cargo area in the nose, capable of carrying up to 100 pounds. Neither of the cargo spaces is pressurized, however, so toothpaste and any liquid materials may want to stay inside the cabin.

There is no question HondaJet’s very light jet  competes directly with the Cessna's Citation Mustang, Embraer's Phenom 100 in the charter market, and even some Citation and Learjet light jets. There are now 25 aircraft on the production line at Honda Aircraft's facility at the Piedmont Triangle International Airport in Greensboro, NC, which now employs 1,700. Honda expects to have delivered between 40 and 50 aircraft by the end of 2016, ultimately ramping up to 75 aircraft in 2017. All HondaJets for charter as well as the full Cutter Flight Management charter fleet are available in the FlightList PRO platform which includes all 16,631 charter aircraft and 3,419 charter operators worldwide. Sources:  Cutter Flight Management, Flying, Forbes online

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. 

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