Bill Papariella, Jet Edge International’s President and founder agrees. “We didn’t create Jet Edge to be just another private jet services company.  Our goals are to be innovative, provide exceptional service, and exceed customer and our aircraft owner’s expectations at every turn.  XOJET shares that philosophy and is clearly emerging as a market leader.  It’s clear that this collaboration is one of the rare instances where one plus one does equal three.”

As the owner and operator of the largest fleet of 100%-Wi-Fi-enabled Citation X, Challenger 300, and Hawker 800XP aircraft, XOJET’s operational control and flexibility has allowed the company to develop innovative programs that provide outstanding customer services at an excellent value.  The most recent of these programs is the XOJET Platinum Partner Network.

Announced on April 10, the XOJET Platinum Partner Network is an innovative program that redefines the relationship between private jet operators and distribution channels.  As a member of the network, Jet Edge will act as a premium reseller of XOJET’s popular flight programs. Jet Edge will also act as an agent for XOJET’s private jet charter services.

XOJET Platinum Partners offer a complete set of services and cost-saving options to their clients with consistent terms and pricing.  Private fliers are able to purchase XOJET flights and programs from any member of the XOJET Platinum Partner network and receive the same pricing, exceptional quality of service, and superb jets.  XOJET Platinum Partners receive in-depth training, exclusive sales tools and marketing support programs.  They also get access to quoting and reservation systems that enables them to provide their clients with a “one-stop-shop” for all XOJET flights and programs while ensuring clients receive consistent service, availability, and pricing from every member of the XOJET Platinum Partner Network.

Another component of the strategic relationship is in the area of maintenance services. Through its sister company Western Jet Aviation, the largest independent Gulfstream maintenance facility in the country, Jet Edge recently launched a new FAA Part 145 certified repair facility at the Van Nuys, CA airport as Western Jet Maintenance.  Jet Edge’s Western Jet Maintenance services Bombardier, Cessna, and Hawker Beechcraft aircraft. Working together, XOJET and Jet Edge have created an integrated maintenance program that includes the placement of XOJET maintenance supervisors on-site at Western Jet Maintenance.  This tight collaboration enables maintenance personnel to perform a variety of maintenance services from ongoing scheduled airframe and engine maintenance, to troubleshooting and repair of aircraft in the most thoroughly rigorous and effective manner in the industry.

“The relationship with Jet Edge and Western Jet Maintenance is a rare opportunity to start from the drawing board and do things right from the very start,” said, XOJET COO, David Cox.  “By working together we are able to ensure the highest level of quality and safety of the XOJET fleet.  Moving forward, I expect this level of collaboration to become the model for the industry.”

While the Platinum Partner Network provides Jet Edge customers with seamless access to the XOJET fleet, the alliance also provides XOJET customers with access to large cabin jets that are part of the Jet Edge fleet.  Each plane and crew will be reviewed and approved by XOJET and made available for on-demand charter by XOJET customers and for select members of XOJET programs.  In addition, as part of the alliance, XOJET has made their preferred vendors for catering and other services available to Jet Edge to make the customer experience that much more seamless.

“At XOJET we have developed strong relationships with the industries best suppliers and service providers”, said Tracy Chaplin, XOJET Vice President for Procurement.  “We will now be able to leverage those relationships to the benefit of both companies. This will provide Jet Edge customers with the same consistent quality experience as when they fly on the XOJET fleet.”

The MOU, which will investigate joint marketing, sales and operational opportunities, will see VistaJet, which already flies to key Chinese destinations, establishing a formal presence in China with a base in Beijing and eventually operating point-to-point within China.

The MOU follows a significant increase in demand from Chinese entrepreneurs and businesses who have flown VistaJet internationally for the company to base aircraft within China.

Thomas Flohr, Founder and Chairman of VistaJet, commented:

“This is a historic announcement for VistaJet.  We have been targeting China as a major market for expansion and our new partnership with Beijing Airlines will allow us to rapidly build a presence in this very fast growing market which epitomises the massive shift over the last decade in global trade from West to East. 

“VistaJet is connecting entrepreneurs with their next major project, their next business partner, often in remote locations either underserved by commercial airlines or from where direct routes to other key business locations do not exist.  As an entrepreneur, you cannot afford to spend up to three days flying commercially between Harbin and Khartoum.  Nor are you going to want to fly on some of the airlines that will get you there.  With our modern, state-of-the-art long-haul fleet, VistaJet is directly connecting locations such as East Asia with East Africa in up to a third of the time and in style.

“It would appear that our Chinese customers, many of whom run major global enterprises and are extremely discerning, have realised the benefits of flying VistaJet and we look forward to flying them further and more often.”

Following the agreement of a long-term partnership agreement, VistaJet would increase the number of aircraft available to service the Chinese market including locating a number of aircraft in the country.  This would be facilitated by the rapid expansion in VistaJet’s fleet of Bombardier aircraft which, following recent deliveries, is over 30-strong and which, with a $2 billion order backlog, is set to double by 2015 to over 60 mid- and large-size long range-aircraft.

Importantly, the growth in fleet will not be at the expense of maintaining the average fleet age at less than two years and with no single aircraft being more than three years old.

Ian Moore, Chief Commercial Officer commented:

“No one else in the private business aviation sector is taking delivery of brand new aircraft at the rate we are, nor is anyone more committed to maintaining the youngest fleet in the skies.  It is a bold step and another example of our commitment to providing a unique customer experience.”

The Chinese agreement comes as VistaJet confirms that it is successfully implementing its broader strategic expansion across the BRINC* countries and other fast-growth developing markets including the Middle East, wider West African regions and CIS nations as it seeks to double the size of the business within four years.

These fast-growth markets are invariably underpinned by the ongoing and rapid growth in global commodity markets and the development of mining and other assets in remote locations, either underserved by commercial airlines or from where direct routes to other key commodity and natural resource market locations do not exist.  Moreover, a significant proportion of commodity and natural resource companies operating in today’s markets are founder-owned which has resulted in the rapid growth of luxury aviation as well as reliable and efficient point-to-point travel.

As part of its strategic expansion program, VistaJet has identified priorities for further regional investment during 2012 including:

• Russia: where VistaJet has established a major presence and, with the recent delivery of new long-haul aircraft, is the largest international luxury aviation company flying into key Russian destinations including Moscow.

• Africa: following on from the recent successful development of a major presence on the West coast

A customer who has already signed up with VistaJet stated the following: “VistaJet is the solution I have long been looking for: the total flexibility and guaranteed availability that I had from owning my own aircraft, but without the cost; and, a consistency of service and unparalleled quality that I never expected to get from any of the charter operators.  I fly 100 hours a year throughout the world and I need absolute reliability.  With VistaJet, I get this and more.  This agreement is an exciting development for VistaJet customers and opens up whole new possibilities for entrepreneurs like me.”

Thomas Flohr concluded:

“China has long been a priority market for us, especially when we saw the significant levels of demand for our services.  Our growing Chinese customer base is clearly impressed with our product and we now have the opportunity to build a major presence to serve this important market.

“The agreement we have announced today gives us a major platform to establish a leading presence on the ground and I look forward soon to declaring VistaJet as China’s preferred luxury aviation company.”

Forget having to arrive hours before your flight, wait in lines, and deal with crowds. With aircraft leasing, you can drive right up to the tarmac, and load your luggage directly onto the plane. As a time saving strategy, this is truly ideal. With private jet hire, the customer has the freedom to delay or advance flight times, providing for a truly relaxing experience.

When flying on luxury private aviation, your vacation begins the moment you step on the plane. Greeted by your pilot himself and your personal stewardess, both dressed in  Giancarlo Petriglia designs, you are guaranteed the utmost quality in service on-board. Your pilot will personally talk you through the flight plan, ideal for any nervous flyers. Vistajet is committed to tailoring your flight experience entirely to meet your needs. Soon to be fully customizable on-line, clients can customize their choices in food, drinks, and entertainment on-board. Vistajet will undoubtedly exceed your individual expectations.

MAJOR EXPANSION OF CORE HUBS, ROUTE NETWORK AND FLEET UNDERWAY

DELIVERY OF US$2 BILLION ORDER BACKLOG UNDERWAY

BUSINESS PERFORMED STRONGLY IN 2011

CONTINUING GROWTH AND OUTPERFORMANCE IN KEY MARKETS

STRONG BALANCE SHEET

London: 12 January 2012 Strategic Update

VistaJet, the world’s leading luxury aviation company outside of the Americas, announces that it has commenced the second phase of its strategic expansion across the BRINC* countries and other fast- growth developing markets including the Middle East, wider West African regions and CIS nations as it seeks to double the size of the business within four years.

The Company’s strategy is to focus on fast-growth markets including the BRINC countries, Middle East, Africa and CIS nations. Underpinned by the ongoing and rapid growth in global commodity markets and the development of mining and other assets in remote locations, either underserved by commercial airlines or from where direct routes to other key commodity and natural resource market locations do not exist.

Moreover, a significant proportion of commodity and natural resource companies operating in today’s markets are founder-owned which has resulted in the rapid growth of luxury aviation as well as reliable and efficient point-to-point travel.

An outstanding example of this is Russia where VistaJet has established a major presence and, with the recent delivery of new long-haul aircraft, is the largest international luxury aviation company flying into key Russian destinations including Moscow.

In 2012, VistaJet has prioritised a number of regions for further expansion including:

-  Africa, following on from the recent successful development of a major presence on the west coast

-  China, where VistaJet is at the advanced stages of establishing a presence in conjunction with local partners with a view to commencing operations no later than the end of 2012

Thomas Flohr, founder and chairman of VistaJet, commented:

“We have reached a major stage in our development and strategic expansion. We have the opportunity to build on our established position as the world’s leading luxury aviation company with the largest fleet of business jets outside of North America.

“Flying VistaJet is as much a business decision as it is a lifestyle choice. If you are the owner of a mining company with assets in Siberia and Central Africa, you cannot afford to spend up to three days flying commercially between Novosibirsk and Luanda. Nor are you going to want to fly on some of the airlines that will get you there. With our modern, state-of-the-art long-haul fleet, VistaJet will fly you there directly and in style.”

The rapid growth in demand and the significant expansion of its route network to include longer-haul sectors has also seen a rapid expansion in VistaJet’s fleet of Bombardier aircraft.

Today, following recent deliveries, the fleet is over 30-strong. With a $2 billion order backlog, the fleet is set to double by 2015 to over 60 mid- and large-size long range-aircraft. The growth in fleet will not be at the expense of maintaining the average fleet age at less than two years and with no single aircraft being more than three years old.

Ian Moore, Chief Commercial Officer commented:

“No one else in the private business aviation sector is taking delivery of brand new aircraft at the rate we are, nor is anyone more committed to maintaining the youngest fleet in the skies. It is a bold step and another example of our commitment to providing a unique customer experience.”

Financial Update

VistaJet’s strategic expansion comes as the Company confirms that it had continued to perform strongly in 2011.

For the year ended 31 December 2011, VistaJet expects to record a 20% increase in passenger numbers and a 25% increase in revenues. These trends are expected to continue during the current financial year .

VistaJet also expects to confirm that profits for the year grew in excess of 50%.

Thomas Flohr concluded:

“Our success is a result of our proven business model and I am delighted with our strong performance. We are growing passenger numbers, revenues and profits.

“We are well on-track towards doubling the size of the business and consolidating VistaJet’s position as the leading player in its marketplace.” 

* Brazil, Russia, India, Nigeria and China

After two high-profile NetJets CEOs who were considered possible successors to Buffett abruptly left the company in the past two years, Hansell, a soft-spoken 41-year-old former lawyer, is at the controls.

Hansell has run the world’s largest private jet operator since April. Picked by former CEO David Sokol to succeed him when Sokol left Berkshire amid questions of possible trading on insider information, Hansell has taken a steady, low-profile approach to continuing the business plan laid out by Sokol in his 19 months at the helm.

The good news for NetJets: The company continues to sell off excess aircraft, add owners of its timeshare-like fractional shares and log increases in hours of flight time by owners.

The bad news: NetJets’ recovery has been slower than had been hoped a year ago.

Activity in Europe, which accounts for about a quarter of NetJets’ business, has been down significantly in recent months as the European debt crisis has roiled financial markets there.

“It’s a very difficult economic environment, on the level of what happened in 2008 in the U.S.,” Hansell said of the European situation. “It’s going to be slow for some time.”

NetJets’ much-smaller joint venture in the Middle East ended recently. Hansell said the company expects to enter a new partnership arrangement in the region in the future, but for now it will continue to serve those customers through Europe.

The groundwork for NetJets China continues to be laid, including the hiring in the summer of Eric Wong as CEO of that division. The unit still requires approval from the Chinese equivalent of the Federal Aviation Administration, which Hansell hopes might come this year.

Meanwhile, “the U.S. has bubbled along” in 2011, Hansell said.

After seeing sales gains of 8 percent for fractional shares and 6 percent for Marquis Jet 25-hour cards in 2010, NetJets has gained about 80 new fractional owners in 2011 and had about 475 new sales of Marquis cards. NetJets acquired Marquis, formerly a separate company, in November 2010. Rather than sell shares of a plane, the Marquis program sells access to planes by the hour.

NetJets moved its official headquarters to Ohio from New Jersey in 2009. Since then, it has brought more than two dozen information-technology jobs to Columbus from India and is looking to fill another couple of dozen positions.

Under Sokol’s cost-cutting measures, NetJets laid off more than 800 corporate employees across the country, plus 495 pilots who remain furloughed.

Work on NetJets’ new home at Port Columbus continues. In March — two months ahead of schedule — NetJets plans to start moving the 500 employees now in leased office space at Easton to its new $21 million building next to its longtime operational headquarters at Port Columbus, which is already home to 800 employees working in round-the-clock shifts.

NetJets has faced continued discontent among workers who have been unhappy since Sokol undertook layoffs in 2009.

Some, including pilots union chief Mark Luthi, have suggested that the company is sacrificing safety for the sake of profits, something management has strongly denied.

In 2010, NetJets hired Cincinnati-based Aviation Research Group/U.S., known as ARGUS, to conduct safety audits against the standards of three organizations: ARGUS itself; the International Civic Aviation Association’s (affiliated with the United Nations) International Standards for Business Aircraft; and the Flight Safety Foundation’s Basic Aviation Risk Standard.

NetJets received the highest rating on all three measures.

Scott Liston, the Columbus-based executive vice president of ARGUS and a former 16-year employee of NetJets, said NetJets is one of only three companies in the U.S. that have gone through all three certifications, and it is the only one to successfully do so in a single auditing.

“I worked there for 16 years, so I’m probably biased, but even with everything they’ve been through as a company … it’s been proven that it’s the culture of a company that either permeates safety or challenges safety. NetJets doesn’t put on a show when it comes to safety; they really live it.”

Barring more financial earthquakes, Hansell expects slow but steady growth this year. The company has ordered nearly $8 billion worth of new aircraft in the past 14 months, with another large order or two to come soon.

Hansell emphasized that the purchases are the result of long-range planning, not a sign that the company expects explosive growth anytime soon.

“We want to be a steady performer for Berkshire,” Hansell said. “We’re focused on providing the safest option and highest level of service in the industry.”

Leading aircraft charter provider, Air Charter Service, has seen an increase of 36% in its private jet business in its half year results.
Joel Fenn, Director Executive Jets commented: “The private jet business is still on the up after the economic slump of a couple of years ago, but this is a considerable rise. Some reports in the media suggest that the market is still slow, but that has not been the case as far as we are concerned. Our executive jet department is our largest department in terms of volume of flights and is constantly growing. We also opened our Los Angeles office in the first half of this year which hit the ground running and has already started adding to the figures.”

The company, which was recognised this week in The Sunday Times Top Track 250 list, is also reporting huge growth in the commercial jet market – which, although being buoyed earlier this year with tens of thousands of expatriates needing evacuation charters from Egypt, Libya, Tunisia and Japan, still showed significant underlying growth.

Fenn concluded by adding: “We are very optimistic about the continued future growth of the private jet market over the coming months and into the new year.”

The company, whose network accesses over 7000 aircraft based globally, says the funds will be used to deliver a roll-out to new international markets, significant usability upgrades across all its platforms, including those for mobile apps and enhanced real-time integration of pricing and availability with aircraft operators.

PrivateFly’s chairman, Richard Carrick, commented: “The recession has been a catalyst for change in the private aviation industry, with increased cost-consciousness creating a clear demand for more price transparency and immediacy. PrivateFly.com has used this to its advantage, delivering significant enhancements in response speed, price and ease of use within the charter segment.

“The successful fundraising demonstrates investor confidence in the industry, particularly the ad-hoc charter market. Other private aviation segments, such as fractional ownership, have struggled post-recession due to the customer requirement of upfront cash commitment. Challenging market conditions give greater opportunity for profit and PrivateFly.com is a highly-scalable, low-risk, low-cost investment opportunity with a lean, online business model and aggressive pricing strategy. It ticked all the investor boxes”.

Adam Twidell, PrivateFly’s CEO and co-founder, added: “The money raised will be used to invest in innovative technology which will bring considerable efficiency benefits to customers and registered aircraft operators. It will also allow us to open up our distribution through investment in marketing, including to new territories.

“The race is now on, with other players testing different disruptive technologies to turn this traditional market on his head. The traditional broker with legacy business practices is being threatened by new business models, just as online travel aggregators challenged high street agents several years ago. The opportunity for change is significant and PrivateFly can now accelerate forward to our goal of delivering ultimate choice and agility to the global private aviation customer of tomorrow”.

AIRCRAFT PART OF CURRENT US$2 BILLION ORDER BACKLOG

FLEET SET TO DOUBLE TO 60+ MID/LARGE LONGER-RANGE AIRCRAFT WITHIN 4 YEARS

AVERAGE FLEET AGE TO BE MAINTAINED AT LESS THAN 2 YEARS

VistaJet, the world’s premier luxury aviation company with the largest wholly-owned commercial fleet outside the Americas, today announces that it has taken delivery of three new Bombardier Challenger 605* aircraft.

The new deliveries, which take VistaJet’s current fleet to more than thirty aircraft, are part of the company’s US$2 billion order backlog.

VistaJet is seeing rapid growth, particularly in BRINC* countries and other fast-growth developing markets, and has been placing significant orders for mid-size to large aircraft capable of flying the longer-range sectors demanded by its growing customer base.

In total, VistaJet’s current order backlog will take the fleet to over 60 aircraft in four years and maintain its average age at less than two years with no single aircraft being more than three years old.

Thomas Flohr, founder and chairman of VistaJet, said:

“We are delighted to see these new 12 seater Challenger 605 aircraft delivered into our fleet.”

“VistaJet is experiencing unprecedented demand across all its service areas and these new aircraft will play a key role in our ongoing success.”

“For our customers, the Bombardier fleet provides the ‘aircraft of choice’ whether flying medium or long haul and in the level of comfort that they come to expect from VistaJet.”

 “No one else in the private business aviation sector is taking delivery of brand new aircraft at the rate we are, nor is anyone more committed to maintaining the youngest fleet in the skies. It is a bold step and another example of our commitment to providing a unique customer experience.”

Further deliveries for additional ultra long-range Global 6000 and long-range Challenger aircraft are scheduled to begin end 2011. These include 10 Bombardier new Global 6000** aircraft and 10 Global 8000** that will significantly increase VistaJet’s ultra long-haul capability in response to rapid market growth across its BRINC* and other fast-growth developing markets such as the Middle East, West Africa and Russia / CIS.

VistaJet customers are currently able to fly in new Bombardier aircraft, including Global 6000** (previously known as the Global Express**), Challenger 850**, Challenger 605**, Learjet 60XR**, and soon Global 7000/8000** jets. The streamlined fleet also offers unique cost benefits which are passed directly to customers who receive superior flight solutions matched to individual flight profiles.

* Brazil, Russia, India, Nigeria and China

**Trademarks of Bombardier Inc. or its subsidiaries

***Under certain operating condition

Jeremy Bogle, Executive Vice President for JetSelect Aviation commented, “We are pleased to have another Wi-Fi enabled private aircraft in our fleet to serve our charter customers. Having this private jet based in Washington, D.C. opens up opportunity in the surrounding cities and highlights our commitment to the northeast region of the U.S. We have further additions of private jets for business or individual charter coming in the near future and look forward to sharing them with the private jet community.”

JetSelect, LLC d.b.a. JetSelect Aviation is a premium aviation services provider offering On-Demand Private Aircraft Charter, Private Aircraft Management, and Private Aircraft Maintenance to both businesses and individuals. JSA focuses on safety, service, and efficiency; in that order. JetSelect’s on demand private jet charter operations are conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 135, FAA approved certificate #U5QA550L. JSA bases there private jet aircraft at strategic locations across the United States in order to provide immediate personalized private jet charter service from most major cities to anywhere in the world. Learn more about them at http://www.jetselectaviation.com.