Coastal Jet Service offers an executive shuttle between LA and New York in just four hours. They operate on a scheduled basis and sell individual seats just like commercial airlines, but offer the experience of chartering a private jet without the extra costs. Andrew Cavaluzzi, the Chief Marketing Officer of Coastal Jet Service, answered a few questions about this new type of luxury travel.
WHITEWALL: Coastal Jet Travel Services provides private jets from New York City to Los Angeles. What compelled you to have flight solely on this route?
ANDREW CAVALUZZI: We decided on LA due to the popularity of the route. We offer all of the conveniences of private jet travel (no lines, no lost luggage, gourmet cuisine, personalized service, and time savings) without the associated cost of flying private.
WW: How has the economy affected the demand for private jets? How has Coastal Jet Service responded and adapted to the suffering economy?
AC: Conventional business aviation has been significantly effected by the current economic climate. Business aviation is down about 30% in the first quarter of 2009 compared with the first quarter of 2008. The current economic environment is one of the key reasons we launched Coastal at this time. Travelers are not flying private due to the high cost and/or the negative public perception associated with private jet travel.
WW: What routes do you plan to add?
AC: Coastal is planning to add additional scheduled routes in the 4th quarter of 2009. South Florida will be the first addition with Chicago and Dallas in 2010.
WW: What sets you apart from other private jet services? What aspects of your services are unique to your company?
AC: We fly scheduled routes, similar to commercial shuttle flights…but that is where the similarities to commercial air travel ends! The majority of private jet companies fly charter flights (the customer rents the jet), fractional flights (the customer spends a large amount of money to own a percentage of the jet…think property timeshare), and/or jet card (pre-paid hours on the jet size of your selection. Coastal offers the traveler the opportunity to fly private and experience all the benefits of flying private, without the typical high cost associated with private jet travel.
WW: Who flies on Costal?
AC: Corporate executives who need to travel long distances in a short period of time, without the high cost and/or associated negative public perception of typical private jet travel. They also demand the privacy and security associated with private jet travel. Regarding privacy, imagine an executive of a private company reviewing confidential documents on a commercial flight while the passenger next to you can see all? This would not make a shareholder very happy! At Coastal jet this would not happen – all left and right seats are separated by an aisle.
