Story ID: 
AeroVanti Launches P.180 Avanti Charter Member Program
By: Jerry Siebenmark
Caption: AeroVanti looks to gain members through "ultra-competitive pricing."
Word Count: 232
AeroVanti is a new charter membership program that launched today exclusively with seven-seat Piaggio P.180 Avanti turboprop twins. The Annapolis, Maryland-based company believes it can tap into an unserved part of the charter market in the Eastern U.S. with what it calls “ultra-competitive pricing.”

Monthly membership fees range from $1,000 for an individual, $1,500 for a family, and $2,500 for corporate users. Hourly rates are $1,995 and members won’t pay empty leg or positioning fees. “AeroVanti members travel for roughly the same price as first-class commercial travel while knocking off significant travel time,” said AeroVanti principal counsel Steven Leitess.

By exclusively operating the Avanti through a partnership with Part 135 operator Brazos Valley Air, AeroVanti said it is offering members a more fuel-efficient aircraft than light and midsize jets as well as other turboprops in its class.

Despite past issues among some operators having timely access to spares and support for the P.180, AeroVanti CEO and co-founder Patrick Britton-Harr told AIN that AeroVanti is working directly with Piaggio on service agreements that will provide “proper support we need to maintain customer service and keep our members flying.”

Britton-Harr added that Brazos Valley Air has the world’s largest supply of Piaggio parts at its Tulsa, Oklahoma headquarters, and AeroVanti is “confident we've positioned ourselves to keep our planes maintained to proper standards and flying accordingly.”