Story ID: 442
VistaJet Launches Membership for Empty-leg Flights
By: Chad Trautvetter
Caption: For a $10,000 annual fee, VistaJet Direct members can request bookings on all available VistaJet aircraft before they are offered to the charter market.
Word Count: 465

VistaJet (Booth C10018, Static SD30) has received a major cash infusion as it broadens its offerings and continues to experience growth. In late August, investment funds affiliated with Rhône Capital pumped another $150 million of funding into VistaJet, taking Rhône's full stake in the membership air charter firm to $200 million. VistaJet’s equity, including all outside financing, now exceeds $2.5 billion, it claimed.
	
“With the investment…and our fully scalable technology-driven business model, VistaJet is ideally placed to take advantage of the opportunities to shape the market as it further develops in the years to come,” said VistaJet founder and chairman Thomas Flohr.
	
In the first half of this year, VistaJet’s profits climbed 32 percent year-over-year as subscription program hour sales surged 51 percent and program membership revenue soared 63 percent. It also reported a 91 percent customer-retention rate of in the first half.
	
Last month, the Malta-based company launched VistaJet Direct, its new digital membership offering priority access to one-way and empty-leg flights at preferential rates. For a $10,000 annual fee, VistaJet Direct members can request bookings on all available VistaJet aircraft before they are offered to the charter market.
	
Bookings via the VistaJet Direct smartphone app are guaranteed and come with all of the company’s typical services, including sole use of a jet, a cabin hostess, catering and in-flight amenities. Through the app’s geo-location feature, members can receive a push notification when a flight near them or from their favorite cities is available.
	
According to VistaJet, the app offers real-time fixed pricing and the entire booking process can be completed “in minutes.” Members can also request flights through the app, as well as order catering and arrange other ground services.
	
In a bid to connect more directly with Chinese clients, it launched a WeChat sales platform in April. This new platform gives VistaJet customers access to some 70 private jets via WeChat, the instant message-based communications app in China. With the app, VistaJet expanded its exposure to more Chinese corporations and travel departments, as well as private individuals.
	
VistaJet also eliminated hourly ferry flight fees for new program customers globally earlier this year. “Customers now have complete freedom when booking, without bearing the burden of paying a ferry flight hourly rate for an aircraft to return to a home base or service area, and enjoying transparent pricing,” Flohr said. Depending on location, ferry fees could add tens of thousands of dollars to the overall cost of a flight, he said.
	
The company’s all-Bombardier fleet now includes more than 70 wholly owned aircraft, composed of Challenger 350s, 605s and 850s, as well as Global 5000s and 6000s.

 

 
 
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