NEWS UPDATE

DELTA AIR LINES is targeting the private market with its Delta Private Jets subsidiary. As well as selling regular charters, it now offers a private jet card with an initial purchase of US$100,000 to US$500,000 – you can earn ten Delta SkyBonus points per dollar spent. The flights can also work in conjunction with regular Delta services, with chauffeur-driven Porsche cars taking you from one domestic flight to the next, missing out the terminal experience altogether.

JETFLY is a fractional ownership programme allowing individuals to buy anything from a 1/8th share (62.5 hours per year) to a 50 per cent share (250 hours per year) of an aircraft from a pool of 20 twin-piloted Pilatus PC-12s (single turbine propeller aircraft). These have either six or eight seats and, because they can land at a lower speed, they can access altiports and grass runways, giving them access to everywhere from Goodwood to La Mole near St Tropez. A monthly management fee applies (Jetfly has 70 full-time pilots) and there is guaranteed availability within Europe at 24 hours’ notice. The aircraft could fly from London to as far as Marrakech with four passengers. The cost per occupied hour is e1,800.

VICTOR is best known as the Uber of private aviation, with its sleek app and website for booking empty legs on jets. Its Victor for Business corporate travel arm has seen it set up a partnership with travel management company CTI, giving the latter’s clients access to more than 7,000 aircraft worldwide.

PRIVATEFLY has opened a US office in Miami. The company, established in Europe in 2008, says the launch is a step forward in its ambitious US growth plans, following strong sales over the past two years. The new team, at Fort Lauderdale International airport, will handle US client flight sales for any global route.