|Places| Up in the Air
|Places| Up in the Air Flexjet Europe managing director Marine Eugène talks about the state of private aviation now, the company’s new US billion growth prospects, and more The company has recently announced an agreement with Todd Boehly’s firm Horizon. What will this mean for Flexjet? Flexjet’s plans to become a publicly listed company on the NYSE involve combining with Horizon Acquisition Corporation II, and it is anticipated that this transaction will close in the second quarter of this year. As a category leader in global private aviation for over 25 years, with a proven and consistently profitable business model, this is intended to position Flexjet to expand its market share and accelerate the company’s next chapter of growth, including further expansion in Europe and The Middle East. You collaborated with Bentley for a fully custom Gulfstream G650 and a Sikorsky S-76 helicopter. What does the partnership mean for Flexjet? The design collaboration between Flexjet and Bentley Bacalar Mulliner has allowed us to showcase our likeminded approach to extraordinary form and function to a global audience. Flexjet’s in-house design team takes a boutique approach to cabin design through its LXi Cabin Collection interiors, mirroring the Bentley Mulliner coachbuilding ethos – bespoke design and personalisation, high performance, and exceptional service. Our design team worked closely with the Mulliner team on the design and materials including the copperhead shape and basket-weave stitching on the linen and beluga leather-trimmed seats as well as wood veneer chosen to match the car’s 5,000-year-old reclaimed riverwood veneer. How do you see the private jet market in Europe changing over the next few years? It is well documented that demand for private aviation increased significantly following the Covid pandemic, and as an industry we are now at a point in Europe when that spike in demand is starting to settle (albeit still above pre-pandemic levels). It remains to be seen how many new entrants attracted to private air travel will stay in the long term and, of course we are in a period of economic uncertainty, but at the moment we remain cautiously optimistic about the market. Flexjet appeals to ultra-high-net-worth individuals and corporates who fly over 50 hours per year, and for this type of customer, there is an increasing demand for an elevated and personalised service experience here in Europe. We have proven ourselves to be very successful at this over a long period in the US as a fractional ownership leader and are already seeing some exciting growth here in Europe in our first three years of operation. With shared ownership still underdeveloped here, the opportunity is exciting. flexjet.com --As told to Brian Noone ILLUSTRATION JÖRN KASPUHL; PHOTO © FLEXJET 24 CENTURION-MAGAZINE.COM
Sky’s the Limit Eliminating hassle, expanding access and ensuring supreme indulgence – holidaying by private jet can make for the most memorable trips. By John McNamara PHOTO © BOMBARDIER A NEW ARRIVAL NetJets, the world’s first private business jet charter and aircraft management company, continues to expand its services and its array of aircraft. The latest addition to its European fleet is the Bombardier Challenger 650. Seating up to 11 passengers, this transcontinental jet has a range of almost 7,500km, allowing for long-range journeys in the utmost comfort. One of the major features of the Challenger 650 is its cabin width – at 2.41m it is the largest in its class, and this allows for a conference table to be included for those with business in mind. It is equally adept at providing the most relaxing environs for long-distance travel, its spaciousness complemented by the customary host of NetJets’ inflight services, including its ondemand in-flight entertainment service, with HD screens, baggage which is accessible in flight and delicious onboard food and drink. The Challenger 650 marks another step in NetJets relationship with Bombardier, which will be extended when the company becomes the fleet launch customer for the new Global 8000, slated to be the world’s fastest and longest-range purpose-built business jet. netjets.com – JM SUSTAINABLE FUTURE The buzzwords within the private jet industry are climate impact and sustainability. All companies are aware of the need to build towards a greener future, and partnerships with specialists in combating the impact of the industry are growing. For example, Flexjet has combined with consultancy firm 4AIR to provide solutions to the problems of emissions reduction; global sales and management company Jetcraft has become carbon-neutral through an ambitious partnership with carbon offsetting and compliance solutions expert Azzera; and jet charter company Victor has started a scheme whereby members can purchase sustainable aviation fuel through its partner Neste. – JM Captain’s Choice This family-owned Australian firm has been flying high since 1994, and its expert-led itineraries include everything from a 15-day whirlwind tour of India to an astonishing journey up the west coast of Africa from Cape Town to Marrakech. captainschoice.co.uk Travelcoup Deluxe Swiss efficiency ensures that every trip with the company – whether it’s a small group cruise or a curated experience in Venice or the German isle of Sylt – combines hassle-free organisation as well as the highest standards. travelcoupdeluxe.com Bespoke Journeys For travellers looking to craft their own journeys, working with an experienced team of professionals can result in truly one-of-a-kind trips. North American operators TCS (tcsworldtravel.com) and Gray & Co (grayandco.ca) are renowned for their acumen across the globe, while London-based Brown + Hudson (brownandhudson.com) is the ne plus ultra in this rarefied realm. Hotels First Putting your entire journey in the hands of a hotel group can make everything easy: you’re never out of their warm embrace, and you can always be sure that you’re overnighting in a top-notch hotel. Aman (aman. com) is the global leader, with multiple journeys to choose from. Four Seasons (fourseasons.com) offers a growing number of opportunities, with more hotels to choose from. And in Africa, andBeyond (andbeyond.com) offers the ultimate multidestination safari getaway. Vistajet The private jet company has recently expanded its offerings to include curated trips that take travellers behind the scenes of the destinations. A Picasso trip, for instance, visits museums, private collections and the artist’s former homes, while a wine tour introduces you to cellarmasters of premier European vineyards. vistajet.com CENTURION-MAGAZINE.COM 25
