PrivateJets

New Catalog For Private Jet Flyers Launched

Filed under: Wings

If you are flying in a private jet perhaps you are beyond the offerings of the SkyMall. Private Shoppes has created a new in-flight and online catalog to be distributed by jet charter operators, in-flight caterers and private air terminals. With the economy beginning to recover, private jet travel is starting to become popular once again, it is estimated that 2.5-3.5 million passengers fly privately each year. In a press release, Gillian Christie, CEO of Christie Communications said that Private Shoppes "makes Sharper Image look like a Sears Catalog." The catalog includes brands like Tumi, Mulholland, Steuben Glass, Shafer Vineyards, Bissinger's Chocolatier and more.

Tags: private jets, PrivateJets, shopping

Free Yourself from Flying with the Rabble

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

With economic conditions beginning to turn, the elite are finally being freed from the prison of commercial air travel. After a severe 2008 and 2009, it looks like the private aviation business is getting ready to come back, with research firm Argus showing 5.3 percent growth from January last year to January this year. According to Flexjet president Fred Reid, there was a "very distinct, small, consistent upturn in demand" that began late in 2009.

Late-model business jets aren't as cheap as they used to be, and the surplus on the market has dropped a bit, but new aircraft deliveries haven't returned to earlier levels. Flying hours have fallen, and constraints in the credit markets make it difficult for people to put the requisite cash together to buy and operate a private jet. Following five years of record growth, the NY Times reports, last year was dismal. In the second half of 2009, business jet shipments plunged 33.7 percent year-over-year to 870. High-end propeller plane sales fell 17.6 percent to 441 for the same period.

But, that's all in the past.

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Tags: air travel, AirTravel, commercial aircraft, CommercialAircraft, private jet, private jets, private plane, PrivateJet, PrivateJets, PrivatePlane

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Delta Expands Private Jet Fleet With New Acquisition

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wings

After a year of private jet bad news signs of life are starting to emerge and now Delta Air Lines' private jet subsidiary, Delta AirElite will be massively expanding its fleet of small craft with the acquisition of Segrave Aviation. The Atlanta Journal Constitution reports that Delta's all-cash purchase of Segrave will add 21 aircraft to AirElite's fleet of 24 planes. The expansion will also improve Web-based booking and the travel experience for fleet membership card and charter customers. Delta didn't reveal the exact terms of the deal. Segrave operates a fleet of managed aircraft and specializes in wholesale charter aviation services, private aircraft management, aircraft maintenance and fixed base operations.

Because Delta offers both commercial and private jet service it offers flexibility for travelers. Delta AirElite passengers can also earn SkyMiles (Delta's reward program) and immediate Medallion qualification up to Diamond status. The fleet includes aircraft such as Hawker Beechcraft, Lear 60 and Challenger 604 jets. With recent security concerns, longer lines, more ancillary charges and airport delays, the private jet option is becoming more appealing once again. Last month my colleague Tom Johansmeyer stated that private jet travel is back and gave four solid reasons why.

Tags: delta air elite, delta airelite, Delta Airlines, DeltaAirElite, DeltaAirlines, jet charter, JetCharter, private jets, PrivateJets, segrave

NetJets Announces Major Job Cuts

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wings

Private jet company NetJets has announced major job cuts. The company, which is owned by Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway, will cut 350 jobs, five percent of its work force. The Columbus Dispatch also reports that the company is delaying an expansion of its Port Columbus campus. The project was to be one of the biggest economic-development projects in Ohio and Columbus fought valiantly to lure NetJets to Ohio. The company had promised that the $200 million expansion could create as many as 800 jobs within six years. The company had not accepted any public money for the expansion. Cash incentives were to be made in the form of reimbursement.

Like many jet operators NetJets has struggled in the economic slump. It lost nearly $350 million during the first six months of 2009. Many charters and fractional businesses have had layoffs in the wake of major decreases in business travel and some have folded up shop completely. Ohio government officials expressed confidence that the company would continue to stay in the state and would be an economic powerhouse once again.

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Tags: berkshire hathaway, BerkshireHathaway, charter, netjets, private jets, PrivateJets

Is It Time To Sell Fractional Jet Shares?

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wings

Companies and individuals are selling their private jets in droves but is it also time to sell off fractional jet shares too? James Butler, an attorney writing for Halogen Guides seems to think so. He cautions that if own a fractional jet share you might want to sell even though share values are in decline. He points out that because fractional jet owners are more than customers they are partners with their jet providers they could be in trouble if the jet provider goes out of business. Part of the worry is that the agreements with providers state that the company will buy back your share based on your aircraft's fair market value. But now some fractional companies don't have ready cash and are hoping to delay repurchasing shares. Also as the market floods with preowned aircraft for sale, fractional aircraft, which have higher mileage, become harder to sell. Butler says that the it may be advisable to sell your share while you can, reclaim your capital and switch to another option like using a fractional jet card.

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Tags: fractional shares, FractionalShares, private jets, PrivateJets

NetJets Falcon 7X by Lord Norman Foster

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wings

When NetJets Europe placed the largest order in business aviation history with manufacturer Dassault, for 33 Falcon 7X aircraft, they decided that the $1.5 billion worth of jets needed a little something special. The company commissioned British architect Lord Norman Foster (above) to design the interior and exterior of the high-tech planes, the fastest Falcon ever made. Foster drew on his experience both as a pilot and a NetJets client for the project, the result of which was just unveiled. The 33 7X's are being integrated into the NetJets fleet over the next eight years.

Foster's 7X is "thematically zoned into a well-being space for customers and a work space for crew." The passenger cabin is "light and tranquil" featuring leather seating, a cream and tan color scheme and Fiddleback Sycamore wood fittings. Foster designed the seating arrangements to accommodate both business meetings and an "enhanced sleeping and dining experience." The work area is markedly different with an industrial vibe featuring a grey and black color scheme, employing carbon fiber and steel for the galley and crew areas.

Gallery: Falcon 7X by Lord Norman Foster

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Tags: Architect, Dassault, Falcon 7X, Falcon7x, Lord Norman Foster, LordNormanFoster, NetJets, NetJets Europe, NetjetsEurope, Private jets, PrivateJets

Starbucks Picks Up New Corporate Jet

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wings

We are coming off a bad year for companies and their private jets so it's a bit startling to see Starbucks, a company which has closed hundreds of locations and cut thousands of jobs, take delivery of a new jet. The Seattle Times reports that Starbucks bought a $45 million Gulfstream 550 to add to their corporate fleet. The company ordered the jet three years ago in less austere times. A spokeswoman said that the company decided it would be too expensive to cancel the order. In order to cancel the contract, it would have cost around $5 million plus the forfeit of payments already made. This new plane brings the Starbucks fleet up to three including a seven-year-old Gulfstream V that it is trying to sell. According to Bob Zuskin, a consultant at Jet Perspectives, that plane could have brought in $45 million six months ago but would now be more likely to fetch a price in the $32-34 million range. The new jet spent its first two weeks under Starbucks ownership in Hawaii on a trip that was, according to Starbucks spokeswoman Deb Trevino, a "combined personal and business trip."

Starbucks is far from alone in keeping a private plane or two, as we saw recently even the embattled financial firms are holding onto their fleets.

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Tags: gulfstream, private jets, PrivateJets, starbucks

General Motors Cuts Back On Jets

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

General Motors has announced that they are paring down their corporate jet fleet. General Motors started this year with seven jets in their corporate fleet but the Detroit News reports that they turned in two in September and plan to jettison two more as a result of drastic cutbacks in travel expenses. The Big Three automakers all faced angry words from lawmakers on Capitol HIll when their CEOs flew in on private jets to ask for federal aid. Regulatory filings reveal that General Motors spent 256,793 on personal use of the company's aircraft by CEO Rick Wagoner, Chief Operating Officer Fritz Henderson and Vice Chairman Bob Lutz,. Ford spent $752,203 last year on CEO Alan Mulally's personal use of the company's aircraft using the jet for all business and personal travel for security reasons. Ford also spent $29,107 last year on first-class commercial airfare for Ford Americas President Mark Fields' to fly to and from his Florida home. Chrysler doesn't own any corporate jets but leases or charters planes per trip as needed and says they try to fill the jet whenever possible including giving children rides to Detroit hospitals from other cities. The corporate jet has been seen for years as a necessary perk for CEOs who frequently travel but like lavish holiday parties, luxury boxes at sporting events, and corporate retreats, the private jet now serves as a symbol of greed and foolish expense.

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Tags: ceos, general motors, GeneralMotors, private jets, PrivateJets

Models & Moguls Flock to Montauk Seaplane

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Yachts & Sailing, Wings

This summer, luxury charter service V1 Jets opened up its seaplane service from Manhattan to the Hamptons (formerly reserved for members) to anyone with the price of a ticket, and it's proved to be very popular with the gliteratti. The 40 minute trip on an 8-passenger Cessna, which costs $495 one-way, has been taken by the likes of models Adriana Lima and Petra Nemcova, actors Pierce Brosnan and Jeremy Piven, and mogul Barry Diller. V1 Jets was founded in 2003 by hedge fund manager Andrew Zarrow who envisioned a way to utilize the excessive amount of "dead legs" created by private aircraft returning empty after delivering clients to their destinations, saving money and resources in the process.

Tags: Adriana Lima, AdrianaLima, Cessna, Hamptons, Manhattan, Montauk, Pierce Brosnan, PierceBrosnan, Private jets, PrivateJets, Seaplane, V1 Jets, V1Jets

Lucky Jets Starts Flight Sharing To Vegas

by Tracy Chait (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wings

LuckyJets has just announced its carpool-in-the-skies, ferrying high rollers on private jets from Los Angeles, San Diego and Scottsdale straight to Las Vegas, along with additional popular casino destinations. Though you won't have the wings to yourself, a shared flight to Sin City could be ripe for the networking. And at $2,999 a flight with door-to-door limo service to boot, even if the tables treat you wrong, you're still flying high.

If you get in on the action soon, flying from L.A. or Scottsdale to Las Vegas, you'll receive a complimentary round-trip flight voucher. The deal is first-come first-served for bookings on LuckyJets' inaugural flight to gambler's heaven on August 8. Hey, if you're gonna play the game, boy, better learn to play it right.

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Tags: las vegas, LasVegas, lucky jets, luckyjets, private jets, PrivateJets, shared flights, SharedFlights, sin city, SinCity, the gambler, TheGambler

Londoners Use Private Jet Service to Party Hop

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Services, Wings

Wealthy socialites in London love to party just as much as those here in the U.S., but now it seems they've found a way to step things up by getting around that pesky "closing time" obstacle: they hop into a private jet and fly to a different time zone. What makes this interesting is that they aren't hopping into their own personal private jets, they're "jet-pooling" in planes operated by The Private Jet Club that are coordinated through Whisky Mist, a new club at Hilton's Zeta bar.

Even if they're continuing to party on the planes I can hardly imagine still being up for more by the time the plane lands in New York or Rio (the most popular destinations), but then I'm not a wealthy socialite with nothing else to do but fly around the world looking for a good time!

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Tags: hilton, london, private jet, private jets, PrivateJet, PrivateJets, the private jet club, ThePrivateJetClub, whisky mist, WhiskyMist, zeta

Slowing Economy? Private Jet Travelers Refuse to Go Commercial

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wings

Having or chartering a private jet used to be a big deal, a very special luxury enjoyed by only the elitest of the elite, but private air travel is practically a necessity for even "entry level" wealthy people in today's world. Even with the economy in the condition it's in, those accustomed to traveling privately aren't giving up the luxury in exchange for less expensive commercial flights. And although chartering private jet travel certainly isn't cheap it's not as pricey as it used to be -- as little as $10,000 will get you where you want to go.

If the economy has any kind of negative effect on private air travel experts expect it to be in how much people fly, not in the privacy they expect when they do. Many of those who use private charters and/or own their own jets consider it a necessity in their lives, not a splurge.

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Tags: commercial aviation, commercial flights, CommercialAviation, CommercialFlights, economy, money, private jet, private jets, PrivateJet, PrivateJets, spending

Google Founders Get Yet Another New Jet

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wings

Those Google guys must really be into over-sized private jets, because they're at it again! Apparently having 3 private jets, including a Boeing 767, with landing rights on NASA's Moffett Airfield wasn't good enough for them as they've now added a Boeing 757 to their ever-growing fleet.

Although smaller than the 767 they already have, obviously the 757 is still a large aircraft. Why does Google need so much in the way of wings? Who knows really, but a move like this sure is to get people talking.

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Tags: 757, 767, air, airplane, boeing, boeing 757, boeing 767, Boeing757, Boeing767, google, jet, jets, NASA, plane, private, private jet, private jets, PrivateJet, PrivateJets