April 3, 2024
AeroVanti will increase hourly rates on Jan. 1. At that time, hourly pricing east of the Mississippi goes to $2,450 from $1,950. Its flights west of the Mississippi will continue to carry a $500 surcharge.
The as available program is allowing members to buy blocks of 50 hours before year’s end at the current price. It is also honoring the current rate for 2022 flights booked by the end of the month.
As available means, your flight confirmation is based on aircraft and operational availability when you call. Otherwise, you have to be flexible.
In the email to members, AeroVanti said it has no availability for December 9, 10, 12, 16, 17, 18, 25, 26, 30, and January 2.
Founder and CEO Patrick Britton-Harr says AeroVanti currently has seven P.180s and three Citation Vs serving 150 current members.
An initial partnership with Brazos Valley Air Charter ended in September. Britton-Harr said several operators are flying the aircraft.
While the Brazos fleet was supposed to be the initial source of inventory, Britton-Harr said the fast turboprops are now coming via buy-lease agreements.
In some cases, AeroVanti is helping members buy the aircraft. It then leases them at $25,000 per month for 48 months covering management, operating, and maintenance expenses. After four years, it will buy the aircraft outright at the delta between the purchase price and lease payments.
Britton-Harr says AeroVanti is leasing Piaggios from aircraft owners on the same basis. In both cases, owners get access at $1,750 per hour, plus FET.
AeroVanti is also improving response time to customers with a new automated flight request system and plans to enhance member service in the coming months via a concierge company, Britton-Harr says.
So far, AeroVanti received mixed reviews from Private Jet Card Comparisons subscribers.
Several complained about the lack of availability and response over the summer. However, they view the start-up as a low financial risk with pay-as-you-go pricing. Memberships start at $1,000 per month, with a 12-month commitment required.
Britton-Harr tells Private Jet Card Comparisons deposits are used for operations and not held in an escrow account, something that’s not unusual among jet card and membership programs. He says the company still plans to acquire a Part 135 charter operator.
After pausing new member sales to transition from Brazos, AeroVanti now wants to have 500 members by the end of January. A Citation V program will launch next year, he says.
AeroVanti becomes the 37th jet card or membership provider selling fixed or capped pricing to raise hourly rates since June.
