Sunday July 12, 2009
Where the sky’s the limit
By SANDRA LOW
There’s a growing trend among the well-heeled of flying privately. Find out what it’s like to take to the skies in total luxury.
ANYONE who has ever made that mad dash to the airport, waited in line for boarding and then been packed like a sardine into economy class would have surely wondered what it would be like to travel in style.
THOMAS FLOHR If you’ve got money to spare, business or first class would certainly alleviate some of the misery of modern-day travel, but you would still have to spend hours in an airport waiting for a commercial flight.
The solution? Flying by private jet, of course!
Thomas Flohr, founder and chairman of Vistajet Holding SA, a private aviation company, says the ultimate luxury in travel is saving time.
“By travelling on a commercial flight, you are subjected to postponements or cancellations, and that can make a huge difference to a CEO or senior board member,” explains Flohr in an e-mail interview from the company’s headquarters in Salzburg, Austria.
According to him, the benefits of private travel include being able to take off and land at a client’s airport of choice and at a time that suits the traveller – subject, of course, to airport regulations.
“It is the ultimate in luxury and convenience, and the only way that our clients are able to make the most of their precious time,’’ Flohr says. “Once people experience private aviation, they do not fly any other way.”
Airline food will never be the same again once you’ve tasted what the best chefs whip up and serve in style on board the Bombardier Global Express XRS. – Photos from Vistajet Flohr tells of how he was a private jet customer when he was the European president of a company involved in IT financing back in 2003, but he still had difficulty in finding the sort of service that he expected from private airlines.
He found it frustrating that there were so many rules but hardly any service, and that the aircrafts were mostly run on the whim of the owners.
“So I acquired a plane and within three months, it was always booked out. Then, I bought another one and the business virtually funded itself,” says Flohr.
He immediately saw the opportunity to build a luxury brand and founded Vistajet in 2004.
The Learjet 60XR is a midsize corporate aircraft with a passenger capacity of up to seven. Currently, the company boasts a fleet of 23 jets and it is expecting to take delivery of another seven jets by the end of the year.
Flohrs says its fleet consists entirely of brand new Bombardier aircraft, chosen for its ability to provide the highest levels of luxury, safety and security. Its current service area includes Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
Although the aviation industry as a whole has been affected by the economic downturn, Flohr sees potential in the Asia Pacific region.
He is optimistic that Vistajet can outride the current slowdown: “Our goal is to increase international business by 30% this year,’’ he says.
His interest in setting up office here was a result of the Malaysian Government’s plan to turn part of Selangor’s Subang Airport into a regional executive aviation hub to compete with Singapore and Hong Kong.
“We identified Asia as a key region to grow the business, and the Subang Skypark (as the re-purposed Subang Airport will be called) as a hub for expanding operations in this market,” he tells.
As a result, Vistajet signed an MoU with the Skypark last January and now provides a full range of flight solutions for customers who want to travel in style.
Vistajet has three dedicated aircrafts servicing the Asian region; a Bombardier Challenger 605, a Bombardier Challenger 850 and a Learjet 60XR.
However, according to Flohr, the entire fleet is mobile and the region benefits from access to Vistajet’s entire fleet at any time.
“The business in Malaysia has started well and seen continued growth. Our client base here reflects those who typically use business aviation, like CEOs, entrepreneurs and high-net worth individuals. Our customers have included some high-profile individuals, like Formula 1 team owner Flavio Briatore.
“We are the only business jet company to offer combined commercial flight and charter options in Asia Pacific,” he points out.
Flohr says that the company recruits the best service staff from the high-end luxury hospitality industry, and pilots come from military, commercial or private aviation backgrounds.
For an unsurpassed travel experience, an unrivalled level of comfort is also essential – and that, in Flohr’s book, means luxurious tan and cream leather cabins, state-of-the-art DVD/CD players, satellite phones, LAN Internet access, video and LCD monitors, and premium sound systems to keep passengers happy on board.
Additionally, travellers can choose from queen-sized beds or luxurious seats with massage systems. Hospitality is provided on every flight and the service includes an exceptional quality of food, fine wines, and champagnes.
“No request is too big or too small to meet for our customers. Our bespoke menus are tailored to individual client requirements. If the client is travelling with young children, we will ensure that there is adequate and appropriate entertainment on board by providing toys and videogames.
“As with the best in the luxury service industry, it is the anticipation of those needs that makes flying with us such a special experience,” he says proudly.
According to Flohr, Vistajet clients are accustomed to the highest standards of living so they do sometimes have very unusual requests.
“We recently had a client who insisted that his favourite cocktail, Kir Royale, was made with only a 1996 vintage of Dom Perignon. This is renowned as being one of the best vintages available so we had some in stock and were able to grant him his wish,” he quips.
Now that’s what flying in style is all about!
■ Rates for Vistajet flights vary from US$5,000 to US$7,400 (RM17,616 to RM26,072) per hour depending on aircraft type; these hourly rates exclude overnight services, ground handling, landing permits, and navigation. For more information, call Vistajet Malaysia at 03-7846 7271 or visit vistajet.com.
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