Million Air Winter 2023/24

INSPIRE TOPJETS

VOLATO Embraer’s Phenom 300 has been the dominant light jet in fractional and jet card programs for the better part of a decade. It now has competition: 2021 start-up Volato is selling its HondaJet share and membership options on the world’s largest fl eet of the popular VLJs as a more cost-e ff ective way to fl y groups of four passengers or fewer on missions under 1,000 miles. Executives point to the quiet cabin and lower costs for the short fl ights. Of note, the company’s share programs are structured so you can fl y as many or as few hours as you wish, and don’t have to worry about losing your hours or buying more if youare fl ying more than expected. What’s more, you get a cut of the charter revenue from your jet, o ff setting some of the expense. Volato has also launched a pair of jet cards — Stretch and Insider. Both reward fl yers who are fl exible, giving them fl ight credits if they agree to move departure time or to a nearby airport. Next year, Volato will bring its alternative approach to the Gulfstream G280 as it launches the fi rst fractional program using the popular super-midsize jet. Founder and CEO Matt Liotta says the fi rm’s plan to go public via a SPAC merger o ff ers consumers more transparency. In the meantime, the operator has achieved IS-BAO Stage 3 status, the highest safety rating from the International Business Aviation Council, a nonpro fi t international trade association. fl yvolato.com

FLYEXCLUSIVE In less than a decade, owner and CEO Jim Segrave hasgrown fl yExclusive to be the fi fth-largest operator in the US ranked by charter and fractional hours — but that was mainly by selling to the wholesale market. In 2020, the fi rm launched its fi rst jet card program with an innovative approach that rewards e ffi cient fl ying, for longer fl ights and those of you who need to make multiple fl ights on the same day. It also made its mark by buying and leasing pre-owned aircraft that it then painted and refurbished in-house at its custom-built facilities in Kinston, North

Carolina. Now, it is bringing a di ff erentiated approach to the fractional market with a pair of orders for new aircraft from Textron Aviation. The fi rst of up to 30 Cessna Citation CJ3+ jets is due later this year. A second order calls for up to eight Cessna Citation XLS Gen2 midsize jets and six Cessna Citation Longitudes. Unlike most other fractional programs, fl yExclusive doesn’t charge a monthly management fee, instead using a daily access fee, providing private fl yers with a new option to consider. fl yexclusive.com

Right and below Inside Textron Aviation’s Cessna Citation XLS Gen2; Cessna Citation CJ3+ Opposite page Cessna Citation Longitude