As jets lag, pre-paid model takes to the skies

New Delhi: Private jet-setting is going the mobile telephony way, with the slowdown forcing small aircraft leasers to issue pre-paid packages offering steep discounts.
Jetliners such as BJETS, VistaJet and Club One Air now offer pre-paid ‘timeshares’ in which you can buy a fixed 25-hours “all-expenses-included” flying package for Rs 2.7 lakh or Rs 3.5 lakh per hour, with a validity of one year, and fly to any part of the world.
The trend was kicked off by VistaJet, Europe’s largest private jet carrier, which opened shop last month in India. “We are ready to close some new deals in the next two weeks. We offer a 7-seat Learjet 60 aircraft at $5,500 (Rs 2.7 lakh) per hour. It’s much cheaper than any other model in the market, as users don’t have to bear the expenses of crew stay, meals or fuel,” says Ankur Bhatia, executive director, Bird Group, which markets VistaJet in India.
For a 10-seater Challenger 605 aircraft, VistaJet charges around $7,000 per hour. Satellite phones and video monitors are present on all jets, and for a little extra, you can get reclining beds and internet access as well. Discounts are also on offer for trip requests made 96 hours in advance, plus additional rebates for same day roundtrips. Besides the new bird VistaJet, Singapore-based BJETS and Delhi-based Club One Air, too, offer timeshare programmes.
08/04/09 Harsimran Singh/Economic Times

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Categories: Indian Aviation- In General Apr 2009, New Apr 2009