Back in March I reported on the fact that it seems that shuttle flights between cities on the East Coast like New York, Boston, and Washington haven't been faring too well in recent years. Joe Brancatelli who writes the Seat 2B column for Portfolio says that the recent news that Delta will add first-class cabins to its shuttle flights between New York, Boston, and Washington isn't a positive sign; it proves that the shuttles may well be on their way out. The shuttles have become less profitable and the shuttle aircraft which are equipped with standard first- and coach-class cabins can now be used on any flight path. In the 1980s large shuttles used to run every hour and promised no reservations needed. Now the remaining shuttles use smaller aircraft and fly less frequently especially on weekends and non-peak times.
Is this the last gasp of the shuttle flight? It certainly seems like it, the rise of technology, the high-speed Acela train, private jet charter services and even luxury bus lines have made shuttle flying less and less attractive. Like Joe Brancatelli, I'm a little nostalgic for the shuttles of my youth but in these days when it seems that hardly any flights go smoothly and airlines are struggling to stay afloat it seems like the shuttle is an idea whose time is long gone.
Regent Jet has created a new jet card just for people who spend their winters traveling between New York and Florida. The Palms Jet Pass offers travel between New York and Florida. Passengers book their flights 24 hours ahead and can fly from several airports in the New York City area including Teterboro; Morristown; White Plains; Farmingdale; Islip and East Hampton to various South Florida locations such as West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Miami, Ft. Lauderdale and Naples. The Palms Jet Pass jet is The Hawker 400XP which has seven seats and can do a non-stop New York to Florida flight in about 2 hours, 30 minutes. Larger jets are also available. The Palms Jet Pass starts at $50,000 for five one-way flights between Metropolitan New York and South Florida on the Hawker 400XP.
The Jonas Brothers, shown above on a private jet, probably won't have to worry too much about a background check when they fly on private planes but you might. USA Today brings the news that the TSA has made a new proposal to have travelers who fly on private corporate jets undergo background checks. The TSA is looking to bring these new security measures to approximately 15,000 corporate jets and 315 small airports across the U.S.
Private plane owners and pilots are up in arms over potential regulations that they say would be costly and intrusive. One of the main selling features of private and charter services is the idea that you don't have to undergo lengthy security checks to get on board. The TSA points out in their comprehensive 260-page proposal that there is no immediate threat but that they could be used in terrorism strikes. The proposal would costs $200 million but the corporate jet owners would be paying 85% of that.
The only good news is that once cleared passengers won't have to go through the process again and the proposal does not require physical screening of passengers. This proposal does not call for regulation of smaller piston planes but that may be the next some time in the future.
Aptera motors is gearing up to bring you the hovercraft you've always wanted. It's amazing, no? The way the wheels are positioned (using the same sophisticated technology that once brought you the tricycle), it appears to just glide down the road--or rather, above the road. Fascinating!
The best thing about the hovercraft (sorry, the Aptera) is its efficiency. This vehicle, though its appearance may be somewhat smoke, mirrors, and Back to the Future, gets 230 miles per gallon. That's pretty darn good, and you don't have to run it on trash or even power from the clocktower when struck by lightning.
The hybrid Aptera will begin production in 2009 and cost about $30,000. That's just around 8,500 gallons of gas!
A new Canadian company, SwiftJet is planning affordable, executive chartered travel for Canada. The company plans to acquire up to 15 Diamond D-Jets, from Diamond Aircraft. With the purchase of all 15 aircrafts, SwiftJet will become the largest operator of D-Jets in Canada and the first executive charter launch customer in Canada to take delivery of the aircraft. Commercial pilot Bassam Al-Sarraj is the President of SwiftJet and says the D-Jets will offer small to mid-sized businesses a way to expand their markets outside the traditional airline air corridors. Initial deliveries to SwiftJet are planned for 2010. SwiftJet currently flies the Falcon 20. The company offers the SwiftJet Jet card which can be purchased in blocks of 25, 50 and 100 hours.
A rather interesting piece of Chinese history is up for sale, the personal jet of legendary leader Mao Zedong. The current owner, the Ridong Group in Zhuhai, near Macao, wants it taken away from outside a shopping mall where it is on display and taking up space that could be used for more parking spaces. The Financial Times reports that the jet, a Trident, was used mainly by Jiang Qing, Mao's last wife and the head of the Gang of Four radicals. The jet was built in Britain and imported with two others in 1969. One was used by the Military Commission and State Council, one by Mao and the third by Lin Biao, Mao's designated successor. The aircraft was bought by Ridong in 1999 to attract shoppers to their mall. Now it stands wrapped in furniture advertising with a big red For Sale sign.
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."
Back in June, my colleague Deidre Woollard first reported that the Queen of England was in the market for a new private jet. Now the London Sunreports that her budget for the plane, the first intended solely for her own use in her 50-year-reign, has been set at $12.5 million.
Since that's several million shy of the price of a Gulfstream IV, an appropriate aircraft for a head of state, we consulted an expert as to what she should spend the money on. Adam Katz, founder / owner of luxury private jet charter and management service Talon Air, says for that kind of money she may have to consider pre-owned.
"She should buy a late model midsized aircraft like a Hawker 850," Katz tells Luxist, "because it has had its roots in England for more than 50 years. The Hawker 850 is exquisitely efficient and low in cost to operate. It can fly for six hours with eight passengers; it's ultra luxurious, tried and true. The $12.5 million can buy her an almost new Hawker 850 and will serve her very well." Katz recently took delivery of the first Hawker 4000 super-midsized business jet for commercial service to add to Talon Air's burgeoning fleet.
How does one go about getting a job as a flight attendant on a private jet? One way might be to enroll at Swan Heights, a Netherlands-based school that teaches private jet flight attendants the art of high-end service. Dutch entrepreneurs Andre Seijbel and Heidi Smale have created the school to offer training in safety, security, how to take care of VIPs and crew as well as finer points such as cultural differences, overnight traveling, etiquette and protocol. There is also a food and beverage course that teaches how to serve a six-course meal and offers instruction in wine tasting and airborne cocktail service. A shorter course is available for those who work for a charter company of corporate clients that might need less specialized attention. New classes start next month.
Some say that the air taxi era might be dead before it even really gets off the ground but that hasn't stopped the rise of new air taxi businesses. The latest is British air-taxi operator startup FlairJet which plans to start flying next May with a pair of Embraer Phenom 100s. They will lease the very light jets from an Embraer customer in Europe that has 10 Phenom 100s and have ordered one Phenom 100, as well as an option for another but won't get this airplane in 2012. If business expands before then though they can lease further Phenom 100s beginning in 2010. The service will be based at Oxford Airport in southern England and will serve customers in the surrounding counties.
It's hard, these days, to read or hear a sentence about Dubai that doesn't end with a staggering financial figure, usually in the many billions or at least the hundreds of millions. Sheikh Al Mahtoum's vision of Dubai's world-class aerospace center is no different, and investors the world over are trying to get in on the action since its announcement this summer that the project was now well underway.
25 miles outside of Dubai, the land on which contractors from the UAE and Europe have begun construction was slated for development 30 years ago (the equivalent of a century or two in any other developed country). The project adds up to $82 billion in cutting edge technology, aircraft, surrounding residential areas and training options.
At the heart of the plan is the $10 billion Al Maktoum International Airport, which would be twice as big as London's Heathrow and Chicago's sprawling O'Hare airports combined, or roughly double the size of Hong Kong.
British luxury watch brand Bremont's new pilot's watch, the EP120, is made with parts of a famous RAF 1942 Spitfire Mk V fighter plane which shot down six enemy aircraft on a single day during WWII. Original pieces of the Spitfire, which has been featured in films such as The Battle of Britain, salvaged during restoration, are incorporated into the EP120's dial and movement. The limited edition timepiece, which has already been spotted on the wrists of Bremont fans like Orlando Bloom and Ewan McGregor, costs about $12,600 and will be available in September.
The Westin is taking their Heavenly Bed blankets and pillows and White Tea scent into the airport. First and business class customers who fly United's p.s.service between New York and California can snuggle under oversized Heavenly blankets and pillows inspired by the Westin's Heavenly Bed. They will also be offered White Tea scented towelettes and mints, and Westin's stress-relieving video and music content on United's personal media players. United will serve a specialty cocktail inspired by the Westin SuperFoods program. A new cocktail will be unveiled each season and served on a brain-teaser coaster.
Westin has also created branded "Renewal Lounges" within United's Red Carpet Clubs. The San Francisco airport lounge is equipped with a blue-light ActiViva lamp, not yet available for purchase in the United States, which provides phototherapy to make people feel more energized. The lounges are outfitted with plush furniture, fabrics and a nature-inspired color palette along with a LED candle wall and artwork typical of the Westin mellow-you-out-quick style. The Westin signature White Tea scent is diffused throughout the lounges and the televisions play relaxing nature videos. Westin has also created an exclusive, a non-alcoholic SuperFoods elixir to be served in the lounges. Sounds like first class and business passengers will be very chilled out. Economy fliers will remain stressed and frustrated.
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.
Back in May we quoted Adam Katz, founder of on-demand luxury private jet charter and management service Talon Air, to the effect that despite the sluggish economy the luxury travel sector would continue to grow. That seems to be holding true in Katz's case, anyway; the company just added a $4 million Sikorsky S-76B helicopter to its fleet. The S-76 is a twin-engine craft designed to provide premium comfort and privacy for up to six passengers and two pilots in a "jet-like environment." The interior features first-class leather seats, wood paneling and a 4.5-foot tall cabin with more headroom than a typical helicoptert. In October, Katz plans to branch out even further - to sea, with the launch of a 135-foot, 6-bedroom, 5-bath, Serqué yacht.
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Back in June, my colleague Deidre Woollard first 
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