Big Business Jet

Upcoming Air Show in Germany

Matt — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 03:13:38 +0000

Aero Friedrichshafen is scheduled for April 8 - 11and will include business jets as well as environmentally-friendly technology. According to press releases for the show:

“Despite current economic circumstances, AERO Friedrichshafen has managed to maintain its leading position in Europe. With roughly 450 exhibitors occupying nine halls and with outdoor exhibition grounds that have been fully booked for weeks, the International Trade Fair for General Aviation has managed to establish an excellent platform for conducting successful business - particularly since this will be the first year in which AERO will be held on an annual basis…The ‘E-Flight Expo’ - the ‘E’ standing for Electrical, Ecological, Evolutionary - will once again showcase alternative propulsion concepts at AERO…Once again, the largest number of international exhibitors will be from the United States.”

Flexjet, VistaJet Alliance

Matt — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 03:01:49 +0000

AVWeb’s Russ Niles reports on an alliance between Flexjet and VistaJet that will expand the service offered to their respective customers. Under the agreement, customers of each company (and the Flexjet 25 Jet Card program) will have access to the other company’s jets and enjoy their own preferred rates. All of the aircraft are Bombardier.

8900 New Business Aircraft by 2020?

Matt — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 00:54:06 +0000

AVWeb’s Russ Niles is reporting on analyst Brian Foley’s prediction that business jet sales will increase 2.7% over the next 10 years. As part of the prediction, Foley thinks 8900 jets will be built during that same time (worth $170 billion).

Foley is using an interesting sports-based method to obtain his numbers:

“[He] tossed out the results of bizav’s best year in recent memory (2008) and one of it’s worst (2009) to come up with figures he thinks will stand up and actually mean something for those making plans for the next decade. ‘2009 was too unsettled and 2008 was a clear anomaly, an unsustainable peak,’ Foley said. ‘Our same numbers would yield a minus growth -2.6 percent if measured against 2008, but that’s not really useful information.’

PrivatAir to Launch Bahrain Services

Matt — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 20:34:20 +0000

Switzerland-based PrivatAir SA, a VIP and business aviation company, is planning new operations in the Middle East, specifically Bahrain. Services will include executive aircraft management and charter operations, and are expected to commence this summer.

Greg Thomas, President and CEO, says:

“We are extremely excited about our commitment to set up operation in Bahrain, which is a highly attractive and welcoming regulatory and business-oriented environment from which to operate in the Gulf region. By popular demand, PrivatAir will finally establish a physical presence in the region”.

Snowstorm Damage

Matt — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 01:09:03 +0000

During the recent massive snowstorms on the east coast of the U.S., snow caused a partial roof cave-in of the Jet Center at the Dulles International Airport. AVWeb obtained photos of the damage that included two Bombardier jets and a Gulfstream.

Delta AirElite Doubles in Size

Matt — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 00:43:01 +0000

Delta AirElite (a private jet subsidiary of Delta Air Lines) purchased Segrave Aviation and added 21 aircraft to their current fleet of 24 planes, says Kelly Yamanouchi of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The charter operator services “high-value” business customers, and Delta claims it is the only U.S.-based airline with commercial and private jet services. This allows customers to take the charter jets from beginning to end of their journey, or connect with a Delta commercial flight.

Paramount Business Jets Can Take You to the Olympics

Matt — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 06:45:28 +0000

If you’re looking to travel to the upcoming Olympic Games in Vancouver, B.C., Canada, but you want someone else to take care of all the logistics, then Paramount Business Jets might have a package for you. Paramount is advertising services including assistance with the recently announced security measures for private jets arriving at the Games, as well as ground transportation, hotel arrangements, gourmet meals, and event tickets.

Paramounts packages also offer the option of traveling on big business aircraft like the Boeing Business Jet (BBJ).

Dubai World Subsidiary Shuts Down

Matt — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 06:38:32 +0000

The National’s Ivan Gale says Istithmar World Aviation Executive Jets, a Dubai World subsidiary, has shut down due to “commercial reasons”. The shutdown occurred a month after Dubai World announced major debt restructuring. Istithmar World Aviation (minus the executive jet operations) will continue to stay in business with stakes in aviation investments:

“Although it has shut its executive jets management business, Istithmar World Aviation’s other investments include stakes in Dubai Aerospace Enterprise, an aviation investment firm whose holdings include aviation engineering and maintenance firms in the US, and Daallo Airlines, a carrier based in Dubai and serving Djibouti, Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia.”

Will Celebs Pledge to Stop Using Santa Monica Airport?

Matt — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 08:01:09 +0000

A Democrat running for Congress in California (36th District) sent a letter to multiple celebrities who live in the area asking them to stop using Santa Monica Airport for their private jet flights, according to Nick Taborek of the Santa Monica Daily Press. The candidate, Marcy Winograd, sent the letter to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Steven Spielberg, Julia Roberts, John Travolta, and Tom Cruise, asking them to use another airport with a larger buffer between runways and residential areas.

“The first frequent-jet-flying Hollywood star or politician to sign the pledge will be featured on Winograd’s Facebook page, the candidate has promised.”

John Travolta Uses His Big Jet to Help Haiti

Matt — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 03:13:00 +0000

The UK’s Daily Mail reported on actor John Travolta’s relief mission to Haiti. Using his own Boeing 707, Travolta and wife Kelly Preston brought 6 tons of aid, including ready-to-eat military rations and medical supplies, as well as a group of Scientologists to the stricken country (Travolta is a member of the Church of Scientology). The article goes on to say:

“As a qualified pilot with a private jet parked on his front lawn, John Travolta was able to take direct action to help the people of earthquake-hit Haiti.”

Travolta said he felt compelled to take the trip:

“We have the ability to actually help make a difference in the situation in Haiti and I just can’t see not using this plane to help.”