Elite Traveler Spring 2021

DISCOVER

etr li at ve eler SPRING 2021 30 Aviation by Alex Martin

The JetASAP app

AWHOLE NEWWORLD

As we tentatively dip our toes into the changing waters of international and domestic travel, it comes as no surprise that the private aviation industry is an increasingly trusted option. But what is traveling going to look like in a post- Covid world? NetJets has introduced a rigorous testing regime to make sure every crew member and pilot is free of the virus through regular testing, including antibody tests, and, of course, passengers are screened for symptoms before they board. The firm has also reduced the amount of commercial travel each of its crew members take, reducing the chance of exposure outside of work, and has invested $12m into aircraft cleaning since the pandemic started. All aircraft interiors are treated with an antimicrobial barrier that provides lasting protection from various bacteria, germs and viruses like Covid-19. Its durability comes from the molecular bond it forms with surfaces once it's cured; however, as a safeguard, NetJets reapplies the product at a minimum of every 90 days. Compare this with a commercial aircraft, which has up to 400 people on board per flight and flies with far greater frequency. With such a big cabin to clean and more pressure to turn it over for the next flight, it is impossible for

commercial airlines to implement an equally thorough hygiene program. The aircraft may not even be the biggest problem when it comes to exposure; a recent study from Air Charter Service found that a typical commercial flight sees passengers come into close contact with over 600 people door-to-door. That is compared to just eight close contacts on an average private jet journey — a staggering difference. If you fly first class and enjoy the privacy of a lounge before your flight, you will come into contact with an average of 136 people. Some private jet operators are going much further than protecting you from bacteria and viruses. Flexjet, a fractional ownership specialist, has partnered with Health Nucleus to offer its owners a state-of-the-art health checkup that can identify potential health issues. The diagnostic screening gathers over 150 gigabytes of data from a mixture of genome sequencing, MRI scans and blood biomarker analysis to give patients actionable insights into their overall health. The screening can help identify cancer cells, heart disease and metabolic disease such as pre-diabetes while they

are still at an early and treatable stage. netjets.com, aircharter.co.uk, flexjet.com

We love...JetASAP This innovative new private jet company enables users to source and book their own private travel quickly and efficiently via a simple app that guides them through the process. Lisa Kiefer Sayer, CEO and founder, created JetASAP to cater to the sudden influx of first-time flyers brought to the market through Covid-19, who wanted greater control and transparency. Kiefer Sayer explains: “We are democratizing the industry by providing access to the same information on a scale previously available only to industry insiders.” jetasap.com