Story ID: 
VistaJet Reaches 100,000-flight Mark
By: Kerry Lynch
Caption: The milestone flight follows a year in which VistaJet added 15 new business jets to its all-Bombardier fleet.
Word Count: 319
VistaJet has completed its 100,000th flight just 13 years after Thomas Flohr founded the charter and membership-based service, the company announced on Tuesday. The company has connected 250,0000 passengers to more than 1,600 airports in 187 countries.

The milestone was reached as the company continues to add to its all-Bombardier fleet.VistaJet took delivery of 15 new business jets last year, which the company said equaled a 26 percent fleet growth. The fleet now numbers 71 aircraft, including the largest stable of Global 6000s and Challenger 350s in the industry.

It also is attracting more youthful customers, with some as young as 25, the company noted. A number of the younger customers come from the technology industry. In fact, major technology firms purchased 400 flight hours last year.

VistaJet believes it will continue to grow as it captures business from the increasing number of millennials entering the business aviation market.

But VistaJet also noted that it has gained members from other corners of the industry, reflecting the difficult market last year. As much as 40 percent of VistaJet’s new business came from former aircraft owners and fractional share owners.

“What we’re seeing is that, due to broader uncertainty and changing attitudes toward ownership, while entrepreneurs and corporations want the flexibility and convenience of using a business aircraft, they don’t want the asset risk or the up-front costs,” said Flohr, who is chairman of the company. “Our 100,000th flight is a real indication that customers have found the answers they are looking for in our business model.”

The VistaJet Program, a membership program tailored for individuals and corporations that fly more than 50 hours a year, accounted for the majority of the company’s business in 2016.

Also in 2016, the company moved its global headquarters to Malta and expanded its offices in cities including Los Angeles, New York, Hong Kong, Seoul and Lisbon.