Story ID: 
Gotham Air Speeds NYC Airport Commute
By: Mark Huber
Caption: A fleet of Bell 407s will whisk travelers from Manhattan's three heliports to New York area airports in as little as six minutes.
Word Count: 198
A new crowdsourcing helicopter service is being launched that will enable travelers to purchase single seats on helicopter flights among Manhattan’s three heliports and JFK International or Newark Liberty airports for an introductory fare as low as $99 one way. Regular fares will be priced at $199 to $219. Gotham Air is an electronic booking service that is aligning with New York’s Helicopter Flight Services and will use the latter’s fleet of seven Bell 407s to whisk travelers from heliport to airport in as little as six minutes. Using an app downloadable from the Apple iTunes store, Gotham Air promises “a helicopter in your hand.”

Regularly scheduled flights are expected to begin later this spring. Travelers who book through Gotham Air will be treated to a variety of amenities, including complimentary hors d’oeuvres provided by Chef Thomas Keller’s Bouchon Bakery, beverage service on afternoon flights, private lounges and ground support concierge, helicopter interiors featuring Hermes leather and door-to-airport service in new Tesla S electric sedans in the rare event weather grounds a helicopter flight.

Gotham Air is the brainchild of entertainment producer Tim Hayes and travel industry veteran Colleen Cowan.