Providers of private jet transport continue to show strong performance, while growing their fleets and introducing new models. Interest in corporate jet services mushroomed in the wake of the 2001 terrorist attacks, but companies were slow to translate interest into business.
"Corporate travel managers finally are doing something with all the information they have gathered in the past year," said Nicholas Houseman, general manager of Bombardier Skyjet, a charter reservations service. "There are new programs out there that allow them to get a good economic assessment of charter versus commercial."
Such assessments evidently are leading to new business for the likes of Executive Jet Management, a charter and aircraft management firm. The NetJets-affiliated company recently reported record sales for March 2003 and an 11 percent uptick in first-quarter charter activity. EJM expects growth to continue, thanks in part to a larger salesforce
(BTN, March 10).Meanwhile, Marquis Jet Partners, a private jet transport membership program also affiliated with NetJets, also experienced dramatic first-quarter growth. Revenues grew 350 percent on 320 percent more flight activity.
Bombardier Skyjet also offers a membership program, including the new Premier Fleet Plus Learjet Class. Calling the program "the industry's first block-hour program that specifies a particular jet," Skyjet aims to provide a consistent experience to customers "in transition between charter and fractional ownership."
In the realm of full-ownership, Boeing last month introduced the 717 Business Express jet, a modified Boeing 717-200 with 40 to 80 seats designed for corporate customers. "The Boeing 717 Business Express is a new concept for corporations to help deal with high-volume business travel," said Thad Dworkin, Boeing Commercial Airplanes sales director. "A company with significant and regular employee movement between two or more key business facilities would be a candidate for a 717 Business Express airplane." Boeing also can set up shared-ownership or leasing arrangements.
A Boeing spokesman said the company has not yet secured firm customers but is in ongoing discussions with interested parties. Meanwhile, Boeing by last month had in service 61 Boeing Business Jets, derivatives of the Boeing 737.