Story ID: 377
VistaJet Launches WeChat Flight Booking Platform
By: Samantha Cartaino
Caption: This new platform gives VistaJet customers access to 72 silver and red private jets via WeChat, the instant message-based communications app in China. 
Word Count: 312
Private charter group VistaJet this week announced the launch of its WeChat sales platform in a bid to connect more directly with Chinese clients. This new platform gives VistaJet customers access to 72 private jets via WeChat, the instant message-based communications app in China. Everyone from Chinese corporations and travel departments to private individuals will be able to request VistaJet flights through the app.

“For VistaJet, being global means not only flying our customers anywhere they wish to go to, but also creating a service dedicated to regional cultural demands," commented Vistajet founder and chairman Thomas Flohr. "Our Chinese consumers don’t tend to use email as a primary communication tool, and instead pointed us to the incredible popularity of WeChat. Launching a WeChat service is a huge opportunity to allow people to talk to our team – anytime, anywhere – and enable us to provide Chinese customers with the best experience in the industry.” 

VistaJet has turned to the WeChat application after noting that a majority of its Chinese customers use WeChat to directly contact VistaJet sales representatives. Now, customers will be able to contact VistaJet sales representatives around the clock through this new platform. One-off charter flights as well as blocks of flying hours are available for purchase. For inflight experiences, passengers can choose to have a Chinese tea service, a staff that speaks Mandarin and Cantonese and food from a specific restaurant or hotel.

VistaJet has been serving the China market since it placed its first Chinese-registered aircraft with Apex Air. Last year, VistaJet’s activities in China attributed to a 23 percent increase in traffic throughout the year. The company was also voted Best Charter Operator Award by the Asian Business Aviation Association in 2016 as well as Business Jet Operator Star Performer of 2017 at the China-based Hurun Report’s “Best of the Best” Awards.