62.4 F
Laguna Hills
Monday, Mar 18, 2024
-Advertisement-

X Marks New Spot: JetSuite Plans Scheduled Flights

Irvine-based JetSuite Inc. will apply in August to carry 40,000 passengers a year on scheduled flights out of John Wayne Airport starting in January—a 20-fold increase over its charter business here.

“We have our eye on Vegas and Northern California,” said JetSuite Chief Executive Alex Wilcox.

The new operation is called JetSuiteX.

JetSuite currently flies 2,000 charter passengers on 1,200 flights annually from JWA. It handles about 18,000 passengers a year nationwide.

The airline until recently flew from JWA as a general aviation carrier with a fleet of four- and six-person aircraft.

The new scheduled flights will be on 30-passenger planes.

JetSuite wasn’t certified until March to fly scheduled flights, missing JWA’s August deadline for 2016.

“The way they allocate is a well-oiled machine,” Wilcox said. “We were too late, so we’re going for January.”

The company will debut as a scheduled airline next week with flights from Burbank Bob Hope Airport to Concord, a city in the Bay Area.

JetSuite ordered 10 reconditioned Embraer 135s directly from Embraer SA, a Brazil-based plane maker that has its U.S. headquarters in Melbourne, Fla.

Wilcox declined to disclose costs, but airline industry sources suggest the 10 planes represent a commitment of between $20 million and $50 million. JetSuite’s standard, smaller planes for charter flights cost $4 million to $8 million new.

JetSuiteX has already taken delivery of two planes—one for John Wayne Airport for charters and another for weekday flights from Burbank to Concord, plus weekend flights between Concord and Las Vegas.

The aircraft in service at John Wayne began flying in March for $7,000 an hour; it has carried wine aficionados to Napa and a Young Presidents Organization group to visit Facebook Inc. in the Silicon Valley city of Menlo Park. Wilcox figures football fans, destination-wedding parties, and other groups are potential customers.

Scheduled weekday flights at Burbank begin April 19.

“Concord hasn’t had service to L.A. in 24 years,” Wilcox said.

A third aircraft is slated to go into service at San Jose Mineta International Airport in June, flying to Bozeman, Mont., with many of the seats being sold in a partnership with Yellowstone Club, a high-end ski resort in Big Sky.

‘Private for Public’

“We see dozens of potential markets,” Wilcox said.

Fares for scheduled flights will be comparable to commercial carriers, he said.

Rates at Burbank will start at a little more than $100 each way for advance purchase of off-peak flights to Concord.

JetSuiteX has a smartphone app, a website, and a toll-free number for booking flights.

It’s promoting flights under a “Private for the Public” slogan and putting about $1 million into interior renovations of each plane for free Wi-Fi, business-class leg room, and more convenient boarding.

The overall strategy involves markets currently lacking certain routes; popular weekend destinations; and corporate clients who want a more bespoke experience.

“A tech company could bring its customers to CES in Las Vegas,” Wilcox said.

CES is a major consumer electronics show held each January.

Wilcox co-founded JetSuite in 2006 with Keith Rabin and Brian Coulter.

The company booked about $65 million in revenue last year.

Want more from the best local business newspaper in the country?

Sign-up for our FREE Daily eNews update to get the latest Orange County news delivered right to your inbox!

-Advertisement-

Featured Articles

-Advertisement-
-Advertisement-
-Advertisement-
-Advertisement-

Related Articles

-Advertisement-
-Advertisement-