Flexjet releases strong performance results
Legacy 500
Flexjet has released its 2016 performance results, including a 20 percent in new business in 2016 versus 2015, and significant increases in both referrals and owners coming to from its competitors.
“Our investment in the world’s most modern aircraft, innovative programs and unprecedented levels of owner services resulted in tremendously positive and telling results.”
Michael Silvestro, CEO of Flexjet said: “Our investment in the world’s most modern aircraft, innovative programs and unprecedented levels of owner services resulted in tremendously positive and telling results. This success can be attributed to, in part, the recent introduction of the Red Label offering, which features flight crews dedicated to a single aircraft, highly distinctive artisan interiors and the world’s youngest fractional jet fleet.”
“We are especially enthused that much of our growth has come from Owners who formerly were customers of other fractional providers, as well as referrals by existing Flexjet Owners to their friends and colleagues, validating the fresh approach and innovations we have brought to the fractional private jet industry,” added Silvestro.
Flexjet has seen business from customers completely new to Flexjet was up 20 percent.
Half of new business in 2016 came from customers who previously patronised another fractional private jet provider, the highest level ever for such “conquest sales”.
Business generated through referrals from existing Flexjet owners grew 23 percent in 2016 versus 2015; in addition, owners joining as the result of a referral increased the number of hours they purchased by 60 percent in 2016.
One-third (33 percent) of all Flexjet owners are now flying under the Red Lebel by Flexjet premium offering, which launched only in the fourth quarter of 2015.
In 2016, 100 percent of the hours available on Flexjet’s fleet of Gulfstream G450 large-cabin aircraft were sold; this paves the way for further G450 deliveries in 2017 as well as new additions to the fleet, including the ultra-long-range Gulfstream G650 in late 2017 and the large-cabin Gulfstream G500 in 2018.
Flexjet continued to accept deliveries of new aircraft in 2016; in the past 36 months, it has received 55 new aircraft from Gulfstream, Bombardier and Embraer. Deliveries in 2016 included the company’s first Embraer Legacy 450, an aircraft Flexjet introduced to the fractional industry. The Legacy 450 will be the backbone of a midsize-cabin program that is seeing unprecedented demand alongside the ever-popular Challenger 350 super-midsize-cabin offering.
Among the factors in Flexjet’s success was the launch in late 2015 of Red Label by Flexjet, which delivers to fractional owners a private flying experience as personalised as whole aircraft ownership. Red Label features access to the world’s youngest fractional jet fleet, custom cabin interiors that are some of the finest ever to traverse the skies and flight crews dedicated to a single aircraft, something that is unique in the fractional market. The customization alone is unprecedented: Currently, there are more than 20 unique designs available in Flexjet’s LXI cabin collection, available through Red Label.
Another factor in Flexjet’s attractiveness was the opening of the first of many Flexjet-exclusive private terminals. The launch facility, at Naples Municipal Airport in Naples, Florida, serves Flexjet owners flying in and out of Southwestern Florida. It provides a variety of amenities including sheltered and shaded parking spaces, onsite Owner Experience representatives, conference rooms, private workspaces and Wi-Fi access. A second private terminal will open at Westchester County Airport in New York early in 2017, and others are planned throughout the country.
Flexjet also continued to receive recognition for its commitment to safety. It recently earned its fifth consecutive Aviation Research Group/US (ARG/US) Platinum Safety Rating. Flexjet has now received the biennial Platinum rating for five consecutive two-year periods since 2008. Earlier in 2016, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) awarded Flexjet its 17th consecutive Diamond Award for Excellence. Flexjet has garnered more FAA Diamond Awards than any other provider of private jet travel and earned its 18th award just this month. With Flexjet’s growing fleet of ultra-long range aircraft, the company also pursued and completed the IS-BAO audit and is registered as compliant with the global standard. This compliance is an international standard of excellence in safety programs.
