For many companies, private aviation is the solution to a particular need or set of needs that commercial aviation cannot meet. Time savings, geographic reach and security are some of the more common benefits that compel businesses to make private aviation a component of their travel programs. For a particular subset of a company’s travelers, those benefits are well worth the costs of a chartered jet. Does it make sense for your organization?
Time savings ranks as one of the top reasons for considering private aviation. According to Matt Wolford, General Manager of Jet Air, Inc., a full-service aviation provider, “Many of our clients refer to the aircraft as their time machine. A client of mine needed to visit 8 of their sites, all of which were in different states and many of them at remote locations. We departed on Monday morning and the whole team was home in time for dinner with their families Tuesday evening. That would have been impossible on the airlines.”
Because there are approximately 5,000 private airports in the United States compared with roughly 500 commercial airports, travelers can depart from the closest airport to them, eliminating the need to often times drive further to a commercial airport. Then, there’s security. We all know how long it can take to get through security at a commercial airport. With private air, you can drive right up to the plane, board, and be in the air in 10 minutes – deplaning is just as quick. With literally hours saved, a traveler can now add additional stops in additional cities to visit more clients and be back home in the same day, avoiding additional hotel and meal costs. Raising productivity to this level serves as a competitive advantage for many business travelers. The vast network of private airports also serves as a gateway for difficult to reach locations, especially in rural areas. The ability to fly in and out of an area without needing to drive additional hours to reach your final destination is another time saving benefit.
The privacy and security that private aviation offers are additional advantages to consider. Because the public profile of certain individuals precludes them from flying commercially for safety reasons, they must travel in a more controlled environment – private aviation eliminates those safety concerns, as the traveler chooses who they fly with. In addition, the private setting allows travelers to speak freely, not having to be concerned with who is listening.
If you think private aviation may benefit your organization, there are several ways to access this type of aircraft, including flight cards, chartering, joint ownership, fractional ownership, or full ownership. For assistance with how to get started, contact Travel Leaders / Destinations Unlimited.