private jets

China's Growing Appetite For Private Planes

Filed under: Wings

The growing Chinese appetite for luxury goods has boosted many different sectors. The next might be the private aviation industry. Recent reports says that China is lifting many of its restrictions on airspace, allowing private jets to travel more freely in and out of the country. Private flights used to require a week's notice but now flight plans can be approved more quickly. Part of the reason for the loosening of the rules is that Chinese executives are now investing in more places around the world and need faster access.

Manufacturers of helicopters and small private planes are moving in to the territory. According to the AFP, France's Dassault Falcon just moved its Asia office from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. Although there are only around 150 business jets in China, it is expected that will change very rapidly. Eventually Dassault plans to sell around 10 business jets a year in China, at a list price of between $30 and $50 million. Private jet maker Gulfstream already has a strong foothold in the country with a 63 percent market share on large-cabin business jets in China, including Hong Kong and Macau.

The interest in private jets will also probably extend to makers of helicopters and smaller planes including Eurocopter, Bell, Robinson, Agusta and Cessna. It will also be boom time for pilot training and could benefits resorts that will be able to construct helipads and offer weekend getaways for the growing wealthy Chinese population.

Tags: china, dassault, gulfsteam, private jets

Sentient Jets Partners With The Boston Celtics

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits, Wings

The Boston Celtics and private jet company Sentient Jet have announced a new partnership today. Sentient is now the Official Private Jet Partner of the Boston Celtics.

"We are proud to partner with Sentient Jet to provide our fans with unique and convenient access to best in class private aviation services," Boston Celtics Team President Rich Gotham said. "Their support of the Shamrock Foundation through this partnership will help the Celtics to better serve children in need throughout New England."

As part of the partnership, Sentient Jet will team with the Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation, an organization dedicated to supporting children's causes across the Boston area. Sentient Jet will also sponsor the Concierge Desk within the Boston Celtics Courtside Club, allowing VIP guests to book a private jet flight while enjoying a game at the Boston Garden.

Sentient is a Boston-based company which offers the Sentient Jet Membership Plus Card. Clients can choose from the Hawker 400XP, Citation Excel or Citation X or from four size categories for each trip. Through the 25-Hour Jet Card, individuals may purchase 25 hours of flight time on their choice of jet size and category at significant savings.

Sentient's CEO Marty Guinoo said. "We always appreciate the opportunity to be a part of a winning team and as a Boston-based company, without question this partnership has special meaning because it allows us to support the local community and fans. Go Celtics!"

Sentient has a variety of partners including Saks Fifth Avenue, the Breeder's Cup, the Leading Hotels of the World, the PGA Tour and American Express.

[via the Boston Globe]

Tags: boston celtics, nba, private jet, private jets, Sentient, sentient jets, SentientJets

The Classicist: UK's Elite Meet & Greet at High Net Worth Event

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos, Wings, Events, Charity, Men's Style, The Classicist, Wealth, Architecture & Design

Some of the UK's wealthiest citizens met up recently at Cotswold Airport in the heart of bucolic Gloucestershire to rub elbows while eyeballing the latest in supercars and private jets. The ultra-exclusive Elite 2010 event was organized by Aeronautics Ltd. and the Fine English Company, dedicated to the best in bespoke British luxury. 200 high net worth VIPs were in attendance at the occasion hosted by British Royal Air Force Air Chief Marshal Sir Glenn Torpy. The event benefited Fly2Help, a charity dedicated to helping those who have suffered disaster, difficulty or tragedy by allowing them to experience the fun and love of flying. We got an inside look at the proceedings thanks to Fine English Co. founder Benedict Wormald.

Aeronautics Ltd. are the UK Sales Representative for Hawker Beechcraft and specialize in the sales, acquisition, management and charter brokerage of private jets. Other participating organizations at Elite 2010 included Aston Martin Racing, the famed British marque's motorsports division; Coutts, the legendary private bankers to the Queen of England and the British Royal Family as well as famed figures from the Duke of Wellington, Charles Dickens and Lord Nelson to The Beatles; Von Essen Hotels, the private collection of individual country house hotels in the UK and France which includes the famous Cliveden, once home to an Earl, two Dukes, a Prince of Wales and the Viscounts Astor; London's The Nth Degree Club Concierge, whose services include event management, private dining, exclusive chef's tables at top London restaurants and personal shopping; PremiAir Aviation; and Affinity Marketing Group.

Gallery: Elite 2010 UK

Tags: Aston Martin, aviation, Benedict Wormald, bespoke, BMW, British Royal Family, charity, Cliveden, England, events, Ferrari 458 Italia, Fine English Company, Fly2Help, furniture, Gloucestershire, Hawker Beechcraft, helicopter, London, Porsche, private jets, Queen of England, Spitfire, UK, Von Essen Hotels, wealth

Continue reading “The Classicist: UK's Elite Meet & Greet at High Net Worth Event”

British Airways Partners On New U.S. Private Jet Service

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wings

British Airways is launching a private jet service within North America and the Caribbean. The partnership with CitationAir, the private jet charter subsidiary of Cessna Aircraft, allows BA to skirt around its foreign carrier status. The service dubbed PrivateConnect promises "no-frills" private jet service that allows passengers to book online and pay with a credit card. The cost ranges from $6,000 to $10,000 per plane per hour depending on the type of aircraft and will be available to anyone who has has flown with the carrier in the past 12 months or is a member of the BA executive club program as well as organizations that have a corporate account with British Airways. BA already flies to 19 destinations in America and has an arrangement with American Airline for domestic flights in the U.S. As part of the arrangement, CitationAir customers will receive complimentary chauffeured transportation from the FBO to the British Airways terminal when flying internationally on BA.

Tags: british airways, cessna, citation air, private jet, private jet service, private jets

TEFAF Boasts of Art Market Recovery

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Art

Plenty of art moved at TEFAF Maastricht 2010, and collectors were willing to deal with the prices ... and enjoy their stays in style. According to a statement by TEFAF, many international collectors took private jets to Maastricht/Aachen Airport, where 171 private aircraft landed during the fair. Eighty-two of them touched down in time for the Private View on March 11, 2010. U.S. collectors were back in the game, and the Europeans amped up the intensity, too.

TEFAF attracted 263 dealers and representatives from more than 150 museums from more than 17 countries, which contributed to the robust marketplace (along with the change in global economic circumstances , of course). TEFAF on Paper, a new section at the fair, featured a wide range of prints, drawings and photographs, among others. Parisian dealer Tanakaya moved two early prints, very rare, by Hashiguchi Goyô, entitled Kami sukero Onna, 1921 and Keshô no Onna, 1918. They sold for €32,000 and €30,000 respectively.

Over in the antiquities section, dealer Rupert Wace of London moved an Egyptian Wood Mummy Mask at an asking price of €150,000 (final price not announced) to a private collector. He also sold a Roman bronze statuette of Aphrodite wearing a silver diadem. The piece was from the first century and is headed for a private museum in France.

Tags: art collecting, art collection, art collector, art fair, art galleries, Art Gallery, art market, kandinsky, maastricht, private jets, tefaf

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Vince Neil Is Launching A Private Jet Company

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wings, Celebrity Design

Vince Neil, the lead singer of Motley Crüe isn't the rock star I would peg to be a successful mogul but he seems to have his fingers in a lot of different businesses. He's launched wine and tequila brands and now he's got his own fleet of private jets. Vince Neil Aviation is launching out of McCarran Airport's Signature Terminal in Las Vegas. Robin Leach reports that Neil has a Hawker 700, a Lear 35 and a Gulfstream which all are tricked out with rock and roll-themed furnishings and painted flames on the fuselage. The plan is to promote the jets for use on luxurious short hops in and out of Sin City. Vince will provide the pilots and flight attendants for the private charter trips. The new flight service plans to open soon and details on price aren't available yet. So, will you be flying the Vince skies?

Gallery: Celebrity Pilots

Tags: las vegas, McCarran Airport, MccarranAirport, Motley Crue, motley-crue, private jet charter, private jet services, private jets, vince neil, vince neil aviation

New Catalog For Private Jet Flyers Launched

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

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.

Source

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

Continue reading “Free Yourself from Flying with the Rabble”

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.

Source

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.

Source

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

Source

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.

Source

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.

Source

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

Jet Repubic Launches in Europe

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wings

Lately it seems that the private jet revolution is bigger in Europe than in the U.S. The latest new fractional ownership and charter brand Jet Republic, a new company set to take on the European leader NetJets Europe. Jet Republic has bought 110 Bombardier Learjet 60XRs which is a full 25 orders and 85 options valued at an impressive $1.5 billion which is said to be the largest single business jet order in European aircraft history. The venture recently launched and will sell a Jet card at 130,000 euros ($190,000) for 25 hours of flying time. Jet Republic has arrangements with 30 business aircraft operators throughout Europe to provide charters for their customers.

About a year after the company gets their first aircraft they will begin a fractional ownership program. They are selling shares now but customers won't be able to use them until next year. Each one-sixteenth share in the Learjet 60XR will entitle the owner to 50 flight hours and owners can go up to a half share with 400 hours. The owners will pay a monthly management fee of 2,000 euros plus an hourly rate of 3,500 euros. Flight Global quotes Jet Republic chief executive Jonathan Breeze as saying he's not concerned about the current economic turmoil. He says it's a great time to launch the company and that when they "put the package together in July we were actually turning investors away."

Source

Tags: charter, fractional, jet republic, JetRepublic, private jets