Wheels Up CEO Kenny Dichter Looking To Make Private Aviation Like Uber

Bill Carmody, Founder and CEO of Trepoint, recently interviewed the CEO of Wheels Up Kenny Dichter about his vision to make make private aviation like Uber.  While the video is a fairly long by today's standards - it is over 21 minutes in length - there are many interesting takeaways from the interview.

"With the Wheels Up business model, there are millions of people who can now fly privately," said Kenny Dichter.  Of course the Wheels Up business model does include a membership fee and 24 hours advanced notice but, for the first time, we are finally seeing pricing parity with this mode of transportation and a first class seat on a commercial airline.  Are the major airlines taking notice?

Certification Update: Pilatus PC-24 Has Strong Performance at EBACE 2016

With type certification scheduled for around the end of 2017, the Pilatus PC-24 put in a strong performance at this year's EBACE show in Geneva, Switzerland.  Pilatus Aircraft gave the first prototype of the PC-24 Super Versatile Jet a day’s break from its test flight duties to be featured on the static display outside Palexpo as part of the annual European Business Aviation Convention and Expo trade show.

Four Seasons Takes To The Skies in 2015

Four Seasons, the pioneer and global leader in the luxury hospitality market, continues to re-imagine the whole concept of high end travel by introducing their Four Seasons Jet, the industry's first fully branded private jet experience. (For those who track these types of ventures, Hooters Air was a completely different deal but hey, what's the harm in reminding everyone about them anyway?)

Beginning in February 2015, the jet, sporting the widely recognized Four Seasons logo on the tail, will transport some fifty guests on various flights, offering high-end travelers a distinctly Four Seasons travel experience. The retrofitted Boeing 757 will feature interior and exterior designs customized by the company's team of design experts. The in-flight staff, which includes a dedicated on-board concierge, will coordinate with local related concierges in each destination to ensure that the entire experience is nothing short of extraordinary.

Travel like a rock star!

WTA Awards - ElJet Grabs Private Jet Charter Company Title From NetJets

As reported in June, ElJet is an air charter service operator that has seemingly found an excellent balance between luxury and affordability.  Even better, the prestigious international World Travel Awards just awarded the Los Angeles-based company the 2013 winner’s spot in the “Leading  Private Jet Charter Company in North America” category.  The purpose of these awards is to recognize the best travel organizations in the world through a global industrial vote, which is equivalent to the Oscars in the travel industry.  For the most recent awards, nearly 650,000 professionals in 191 countries in the tourism sector voted.

Launched in 2006, ElJet has a distinguished history of awards, accolades, growth and achievement.  This includes being a two-time winner of the Inc. 500 Fastest Growing Companies in America and a 2012 Nominee for the WTA’s Leading  Private Jet Charter Company in North America Award.  With their most recent award, ElJet can now boast that they just displaced a highly-respected company and brand (NetJets) that, besides being a major force within the private aviation industry, is part of Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway business empire.  These types of "David versus Goliath" stories never seem to get old.

Great web site, great choice for air charter services.

"On Wall Street they say “you can’t fight the tape” and the “trend is your friend.”  There is no doubt that the charter consumer today is more educated and smarter with their travel dollars than ever before.  With recent noteworthy fractional companies making negative headlines, we are happy to be on the winning side of this positive trend.  It is with great pride that we receive this important award granted by World Travel Awards, since this is a recognition of the daily work we perform in order to provide a world class Travel Experience to our clients,” says Levi Lieder, COO at ElJet. 

PlaneSense Proudly Takes Delivery of Their 49th Pilatus PC-12

As already reported, building a long-term (and profitable) fractional aircraft ownership company is anything but a sure thing. In spite of this, one company called PlaneSense has continued to thrive. In fact, the company just hit a very important milestone by taking delivery of their 49th PC-12. (Is anyone else noticing a correlation between the Pilatus PC-12 aircraft and promising/successful businesses?) Founded in 1995 and launched in 1996, PlaneSense hass clearly doing some very good things for both their customers and shareholders.

Company founder and CEO George Antoniadis made the big announcement last month at PlaneSense headquarters in Portsmith, N.H. With aircraft replacements and retirements through the years, the company's current fleet has 30 of the single-engine turboprops, each with an average age of five years. PlaneSense now has roughly 300 owners and aircraft usage in July was up by 20 percent over July of last year. The company's fleet have now made 200K+ flights since it began operations, making it the largest civilian operator of the PC-12. PlaneSense is clearly firing on all cylinders.