Private Jet Charter News

Within the past 8 months, the US Air Charter Market has suffered from the perfect storm of exceptionally high fuel prices, a sagging economy, and bad press.  Fuel prices reached their highest in mid-July 2008 and have since retreated significantly, but at that time, a gallon of Jet-A fuel was going for about $7.50 in New York and California.  The economy has been a wreck for several months now with story after story of corporate greed and monumentally bad leadership leading up to a major credit crisis followed by drastically decreased consumer spending.  Additionally, the federal government is attempting to depict anyone using a private jet as an evil corporate fat cat.  What does all of this mean for you?

The net result of this trifecta is that charter companies are becoming increasingly willing to negotiate prices on private jet charters.  With a surplus of charter agents and companies in the industry coupled with a diminished market, the pressure to locate and secure charter business is leading to a buyers market.  Many companies are also offering extras such as complimentary catering, ground transportation, and even spa certificates.  Here are some sample prices of current one-way charters being offered:

Expect these prices to hover right around this mark for as long as the market continues to be bogged down. 

Everyone seems to have an opinion on this so I thought that I would share mine.  Admittedly, as the owner of Executive Charter Services, a private jet charter agent, I have a significant amount of bias when it comes to individuals and corporations making use of private jets such as Gulfstreams or LearJets.  But after you clear away the hyperbole and the pithy sound bites what remains is that the proposed recipients of the “Bailout” money are companies who find themselves in dire financial trouble.  I’m not arguing how they wound up in this position, nor past usage of the company jet, but now - RIGHT NOW, is when private aviation is going to be most crucial to the survival of these companies.

The ability to travel from meeting to meeting with efficiency and rapidity, hold high level discussions en-route, and minimize lost productivity while away from the office is precisely why private jets are utilized.  You don’t see President Obama schleping around on Southwest, do you?  No, the taxpayers foot the bill for Air Force One and we are happy to do it.  We know that AF1 provides speed, security, and safety, to the most important American during this important time in our history.  While the media enjoys proclaiming private jet usage as the ultimate in wasteful spending, it is often more cost effective to charter a private jet than to fly commercially.  When all of the factors are taken into account - lost productivity, lodging, meals, rental cars, etc - the private jet becomes a true business tool.  (SEE BELOW FOR A CASE STUDY) But the media isn’t interested in that, the close detailed comparison would take too long and besides, it’s much easier to jump on the bashing bandwagon.

I will be among the first to admit that there has been and most likely will continue to be misusage of corporate controlled private aviation, but let’s not force troubled companies to add to their difficulties by arbitrarily compelling them to travel via commercial airlines.  I haven’t even mentioned the economic impact that the aviation industry and the private aviation sector have on the US Economy.  Billions of dollars of lost revenue, taxes, and jobs will result from a massive curtailing of the industry.

Yes, I agree oversight is needed and a more careful approach to determining the right use for a private jet is appropriate, but I also maintain that stopping use of private aviation altogether will ultimately hinder the recovery process.

CASE STUDY
A senior partner and five attorneys from a large and well known law firm based in Manhattan needed to fly from New York to Macon, GA for a full day of depositions and dinner with the client. The earliest airline flight with connection to Macon departed at 8:30 a.m. wouldn’t arrive until close to noon, forcing the quintet to depart New York the previous evening. Additionally, there were no flights departing Macon connecting to New York after 7:00pm which meant that they would have to spend 2 nights in Macon and leave the following morning for arrival at 10:30am back in NY. They contacted Executive Charter Services for assistance in determining if using a private jet would be cost effective.  We quoted a charter flight price of $9,475 for a seven-passenger Hawker 400XP business jet. The lawyers departed from Teterboro, NJ, near their homes, at 7:15am and arrived at the client’s office by 9:30am.  Because the five polished the questions for the deposition and worked on other cases while in the air, they were productive and billing during the 2 hours that normally would have been lost to travel.  After a full day of work and early dinner with the client, they departed Macon at 8:00pm, summarized the deposition on the way home, and were back on the ground in New York by 9:45 p.m.  While the cost for last-minute commercial tickets was about $4000 less than the price of the charter, the firm was able to add back 15 hours of billable time, saved the cost of 5 hotel rooms for 2 nights, and had 5 well rested, fresh, and happy attorneys who spent the night at home with their families.  In the end the private jet was actually $685 less than the commercial airline, making it a clear choice that chartering was the right option.

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Here is a listing of this week’s one-ways.  Notice that we have JetPool aircraft heading to NBA and NHL playoff cities.  Contact us today for more info!

Until recently, getting a great deal on a private charter meant flying during off-peak days, generally in the opposite direction of the crowd - or in short, using an Empty Leg. 

All of that has changed.  With the advent of Point to Point Pricing and Floating Fleets, nearly every charter can take advantage of special reduced pricing.  With round trip prices better than what local operators can supply and “One-Way” prices consistently 60-70% of full round trip rates, the Floating Fleet is quickly gaining traction.  A quick look at a comparison between Marquis Jets, Sentient, and our Point to Point pricing using the same charter flight shows that Executive Charter Services is the clear choice each time!
[caption id=“attachment_326” align=“alignright” width=“417” caption=“One-Way Charter, New York to Miami”][/caption]

[caption id=“attachment_345” align=“alignright” width=“115” caption=“Regatta Racing Off Martha\‘s Vineyard”][/caption]Memorial Day Weekend, traditionally signifes the start of summer travel for the Jet-Set.  The weekly exodus from to Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, West Hampton,  Lake Tahoe, Las Vegas, and the Mexican Riviera begins as elite travellers exchange the heat and congestion of their respective cities for quiet, comfort, and luxury.  While travelling via private jet charter is usually quick, convenient, and easy, the summer months bring some additional challenges of which to be aware:

Weather - Summer thunderstorms can really shake up the best laid travel plans.  When the heat of a long day of summer sun combines with increased humidity and unstable air, thuderstorms are likely to pop up.  Typically, the storms start to build in the mid to late after - or right when your Gulfstreams and Lear Jets are scheduled to depart to whisk you to your weekend getaway.  By moving your departure time up a few hours to late morning or very early afternoon, you can typically avoid the delays associated with the weather.

Congestion - it’s no surprise that Thursday and Friday afternoons are the most heavily travelled days at your local executive airport.  Analysis at Teterboro Airport, serving the NYC metro area, shows a 20% increase in the amount of jet traffic on a typical Friday afternoon as compared to Wednesday.  Again, plannning your flights to miss the heavy traffic periods will help shorten your potential wait for takeoff.

Special Events - From the Indianapolis 500 at the beginning of the summer, through all the special events such as MLB ALL Star Game, US Open, and Wimbledon, to the World Series at the end, attendance will be high.  Jet arrivals into these host cites can sometimes be chaotic, so plan accordingly.

While these challenges can be detrimental to your schedule and impact your time away, remember that you are travelling by private jet and that it’s really not all that bad to be you.  Have a great summer!

The following jets are available as one-way charter flights. Many can be combined to create complete round-trip travel. With over 10 years of experience as a private charter agency, Executive Charter Services has the reputation for excellence and safety that you demand. For pricing and other company information, please visit http://www.execcharter.com or feel free to contact me personally at 866.359.3932.

CLICK HERE FOR ONE-WAY LISTING

Kevin W. Godlewski
President, Executive Charter Services

[caption id=“attachment_378” align=“aligncenter” width=“500” caption=“New Terminal, Nantucket Airport”][/caption]Just in time for the summer travel season, Nantucket Memorial Airport (KACK) has opened the newly renovated and expanded passenger terminal. The building includes advanced environmentally responsible, or “Green”, technologies such as a geothermal heating and cooling system, tank-less water heaters, and low-flow fixtures in the lavatories.  Interestingly, the new deck chairs were stored outside for a year to achieve that weathered look so indigenous to Nantucket.

Regardless of whether you arrive by charter jet, or commercial airline, the new terminal at Nantucket Memorial Airport is ready to welcome you to your favorite New England summer escape.

As recently reported, Teterboro Airport, will be closed for runway repairs in July. The rehabilitation of Runway 6/24 will cause the complete closure of the airport to all fixed-wing aircraft (I.E. Private Jets!) as per the following schedule taken from the FAA Website:

FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2009 through SUNDAY, JULY 12, 2009:
Runway 1/19 and Runway 6/24 closed from 2300L 7/10/09 (0300Z 7/11/09) to 1100L 7/12/09 (1500Z). AIRPORT CLOSED TO FIXED WING TRAFFIC DURING THIS TIME.

FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2009 through SUNDAY, JULY 19, 2009:
Runway 1/19 and Runway 6/24 closed from 2300L 7/17/09 (0300Z 7/18/09) to 1100L 7/19/09 (1500Z 7/19/09). AIRPORT CLOSED TO FIXED WING TRAFFIC DURING THIS TIME

All aircraft (except helicopters) heading to the NY Metro area must make use of other local airports such as Westchester Airport, Morristown Airport, Essex County Airport, and Ridgefield Park Airport.  Don’t forget, private jets are also welcome to use Newark, LaGuardia, and JFK airports as well.  While Teterboro’s closure will cause some headaches, proper planning and foresight will keep the delays and inconveniences to a minimum.

Check out some private jets that are available as one-way charter flights. Many can be combined to create complete round-trip travel.

The following private jets are available as one-way charter flights. Many can be combined to create complete round-trip travel. With over 10 years of experience as a private jet charter agency, Executive Charter Services has the reputation for excellence and safety that you demand. For pricing and other company information, please visit http://www.execcharter.com/ or feel free to contact me personally at 866.359.3932.

- Kevin W. Godlewski. President

* indicates AirPool availability

Richard Santulli, chairman and CEO of NetJets Inc., announced late last week that he is stepping down from the private jet company controlled by investor Warren Buffett.

Richard Santulli, chairman and CEO of NetJets Inc., announced late last week that he is stepping down from the private jet company controlled by investor Warren Buffett. “After 25 yeas of working with the most talented group of people I could ever have imagined, who helped build the premier aviation company in the world, I have decided to step down as chairman and CEO of NetJets immediately, in order to spend some more time with my young family and pursue other interests,” Santulli said in a statement.
NetJets had become popular with Wall Street and corporate executives as well as athletes such as tennis star Roger Federer, who has been a spokesman for the company. The company had posted growing revenue for many years, until recently, but often struggled to turn a profit. Berkshire said revenues from flight operations at NetJets had increased by 596% since its purchase, although “profits had been erratic.“The company’s business was hit hard by the recent recession. In its 2008 annual report, Berkshire said NetJets “experienced significant reduction in revenue as general economic conditions worsened.”

Buffett said he had accepted Santulli’s resignation “with reluctance.” He named David Sokol, a close associate considered a possible successor to Buffett at Omaha-based Berkshire Hathaway, as an interim replacement for Santulli. Santulli will stay on as a consultant for at least 12 months to assist in the transition, he said.

The premier event for business aviation, NBAA’s Annual Meeting & Convention brings the business aviation world together each year.

The premier event for business aviation, NBAA’s Annual Meeting & Convention brings the business aviation world together each year. NBAA2009 will be held from October 20 to 22 in Orlando, FL, at the Orange County Convention Center, with a static display of more than 125 aircraft at Orlando Executive Airport. Over 30,000 representatives from every segment of the business aviation industry, from 82 countries around the world, will be present at this one-of-a-kind event.  You can expect to see NetJets, Marquis jet, Sentient, as well as Gulfstream, Hawker-Beechcraft, and Cessna all displaying their wares.

NBAA09 is especially important due to the economic and political climate private aviation has found itself in over the last 12-18 months.  With private aircraft singled out by congress and shareholders as extravagant wastes many corporate flight departments are fighting for their lives.  A main goal of the convention will be to help change public opinion regarding these essential business tools from being labeled as “private jets” to the more applicable and politically-correct “business jet”.

I will be attending the conference and will provide an insider’s perspective into the show and the “state of the union” for general aviation.  Follow me on Twitter (bizjetkev) for special coverage and offers during the convention.

New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Bahamas, London, & More One-Way Destinations

The following jets are available as one-way charter flights. Many can be combined to create complete round-trip travel. With over 10 years of experience as a private charter agency, Executive Charter Services has the reputation for excellence and safety that you demand.  For pricing and other company information, please visit our website or feel free to contact me personally at 866.359.3932.
Kevin W. Godlewski, President

New Jets Able to Span Half the Globe in a Single Bound

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Canadian aviation company Bombardier is aiming to displace Gulfstream as the world’s most expensive business jet with the introduction of two new models. The Global 7000 and 8000, which will cost about $65 million apiece, will beat the high-speed range of the $58.5 million Gulfstream G650. Both new private jets will have a high-speed cruise of Mach 0.90; the 7000 will have a range of 7,300 nmi at Mach 0.85, while the 8000’s range will top out at 7,900 nmi at Mach 0.85. Both will borrow elements from the existing Global Express XRS and 5000.

New wings, new tech and luxe amenities added to increased fuel efficiency will be the hallmarks of the new craft, aimed to appeal to ultra-wealthy customers in India, Asia and the UAE. The 7000 will have the largest cabin in business aviation while the 8,000 will boast the longest range. The 7000 will be able to fly from London to Singapore, New York to Dubai or Beijing to Washington non-stop with 10 passengers, while the 8000 can do Sydney to Los Angeles, Hong Kong to New York and Mumbai to New York non-stop with eight. The private aviation world is eagerly awaiting a jet like this. The Gulfstream 650 will be ready for customers sooner, but Bombardier is upping the ante with these jets. Having the range to fly nonstop from China to New York is one thing, but the ability to carry 8 passengers while you do it is quite amazing. Bravo to Bombardier, looking forward to seeing a full-scale mockup soon

Many opportunities to save money on popular routes.  NY, FL, CO, Mexico and the Caribbean -  Sun, Beaches, Snow and Skis, we’ve got you covered!

The following jets are available as one-way charter flights. Many can be combined to create complete round-trip travel. Plan your family holiday travel now and check out the deals below.  Specials from New York, Los Angeles, San Jose, San Francisco, Chicago, Bahamas, and London.  With over 10 years of experience as a private charter agency, Executive Charter Services has the reputation for excellence and safety that you demand.  For pricing and other company information, please visit our website or feel free to contact me personally at 866.359.3932.
Kevin W. Godlewski, President