Le Jet to offer private jet flights between London and Paris for £363

Le Jet Cessna Citation II F-GLTK (Photo: Le Jet)

A new company called Le Jet is planning to launch regular scheduled flights between London and Paris, using private jets.

Le Jet’s founder Christophe Ducluzeau says that he started the company as a reaction to being quoted a high price for a last minute private jet charter flight. Already in Paris, Ducluzeau needed to get to Nice during an Air France strike, and was quoted £7,000. Rather than spending the money himself, he came up with the idea of calling around some of his business colleagues, hoping to spread the cost.

After returning from the trip Ducluzeau started talking to some contacts about an idea he had, and soon he had a small series of private investors ready to fund his idea.

The result is Le Jet, and starting on November 23 the company will be offering seats on the private jet for a flat fee of £363 each way. The flights will be operated on seven seat Cessna Citation II’s of French operator Valjet.

“Travel by private jet was once only for the super rich, but Le Jet plans to open this market to a whole new audience. The collaborative economy is a genuine societal phenomenon which is changing both corporate strategies and consumer habits – we’re looking to harness that opportunity. The business community will welcome our rates and our service will also allow people to take friends and family to Paris for special trips at affordable prices.”

With no catering on the flights, Ross Gow from Le Jet’s PR company says that the real advantage is avoiding big airports and their notoriously lengthy waiting times.

Instead, Le Jet will be using Northolt Airport in London, and Le Bourget Airport in Paris, both popular private jet airports where passengers can be on a plane within 10 minutes of arriving for a flight.

“We are looking to democratise private jet travel, making it considerably more accessible. This model is ideally applicable to business air travel as currently over half of flights are empty. In light of recurrent transport problems suffered by business travellers, Le Jet is looking to leverage the resources of private businesses. Travelling in style on a quick and efficient service will appeal to not just the business community but also the tourist market, making Le Jet a very attractive proposition.” says Ducluzeau.

The company already has its eye’s on the future, should the London to Paris flights be successful. Future routes under consideration include London to Nice, and both London and Paris to Marrakesh.