Marquis Jet

NetJets Acquires Marquis Jet

Filed under: Wings

There's a little consolidation happening in the private jet business. Berkshire Hathaway's NetJets announced an agreement to purchase Marquis Jet, a top seller of private jet cards for an undisclosed amount. Per the terms of the deal, Marquis Jet became a wholly-owned subsidiary of NetJets. Marquis sells cards that offer 25 hours of flight time on NetJets aircraft. The newly branded Marquis Jet Card by NetJets will continue to be a part of a full set of private jet services offered by NetJets which previously only sold increments as small as 50 hours. In a statement NetJets Chairman and Chief Executive Officer David Sokol said that by bringing NetJets and Marquis Jet together "we combine the unquestioned industry leaders in safety and Owner service and, simultaneously, we create the finest sales and marketing organization in private aviation."

The decision is part of the NetJets 10-year business plan, which also includes the consolidation of U.S.-based business functions and an order to purchase up to 125 new aircraft. The company is also planning major expansion into China. Last year NetJets laid off pilots but it is bouncing back. BusinessWeek mentioned that in August that NetJets had a $114.5 million pretax profit in this year's second quarter.

The Columbus Dispatch also reports that NetJets promoted Jordan Hansell to president. He was previously NetJets' chief legal counsel. David Sokol, who was tapped by Warren Buffett to run NetJets last year, will keep the title of CEO. Hansell will be supported by Adam Johnson and Bill Noe, two veteran NetJets employees, who have been named co-presidents of NetJets North America.

Tags: Marquis Jet, marquis jet card, netjets

Tequila Avion, New for the Private Jet Set

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

Ken Austin, Executive Vice Chairman of Marquis Jet, is launching a new ultra premium spirit called Tequila Avion for the private jet set. Austin attracted several million dollars in funding from investors including notables from the worlds of art and culture, business, technology, sports, lifestyle and luxury goods to get the new venture off the ground. Produced by fifth generation agave growers from among the finest Blue Weber agave found in the highest regions of Jalisco, Mexico, the tequila's distinct flavors are achieved through a combination of slow-roasting at lower temperatures to protect the natural flavors of the agave and an ultra-slow filtration process which creates an ultra-smooth taste profile. It's available in Silver, Reposado and Anejo varietals.

"I've always experimented and searched for a tequila that is smooth and has great character, whether I drink it neat or in a cocktail," Austin notes. "Over the years, close friends and business associates who were also passionate about tequila have joined me in this pursuit. We came to realize that if we wanted the ideal tequila – balancing exceptional taste, character and smoothness - we would have to create it ourselves. With the help of experts that understood our quest, that is exactly what we have achieved in Tequila Avion, a distinctive and defining new standard of quality and taste in tequila, or 'Taste Elevated' as we refer to it." Tequila Avion is now available at select locations including New York's Park Avenue Liquor Shop.

Tags: agave, Marquis Jet, Mexico, Park Avenue Liquor Shop, private aviation, private jet, spirits, tequila, Tequila Avion