April 3, 2024
U.K.-start-up Instajet Club launches discounted private charter rates from New York to South Florida from $8,000 and NY-Los Angeles from $25,000.
Private jet charter platform Instajet Club is bringing its fixed-route pricing to the U.S. It is offering a series of low-cost offerings on busy private jet routes. The first flights will begin by mid-January.
One-way prices for a light jet between New York-Teterboro or Westchester County and Miami Opa Locka, Palm Beach, or Fort Lauderdale is just $8,000, plus FET. Midsize charter rates are $12,500, super mids are $17,500, and large-cabin jets are $20,000.
Between Teterboro or Westchester and Van Nuys, Instajet is offering $25,000 one-way on a super mid. A large cabin private jet is $35,000, and all prices are plus 7.5% Federal Excise Tax.
The rates undercut major players with flat rates on transcon routes, including Wheels Up, Vista Global’s XO, and Jet Edge.
However, the Instajet rates have a more limited choice of airports.
Other Instajet discounted rates are between Austin, Dallas, and Houston, starting at $7,000. Los Angeles-to-Las Vegas flights are $5,000 for a light jet and $12,000 for a large-cabin aircraft.
The annual subscription for the Route Card is $11,500 or $1,500 per month.
InstaJet positions itself as a platform instead of a broker; hence your flight contract is with the operator directly.
However, founder and CEO Nick Davis says new contracts will mean you only have to sign a single agreement.
Instajet is chartering aircraft for one-month periods, Davis says.
The low rates are possible by running the airplanes between specific airports and avoiding repositioning flights.
The crew returns to base each night, so there are no overnight expenses for aircraft or pilots. He says that maintenance delays are also minimized by only flying between airports where the operator has resources.
While customers can specify days, departure times are sorted by morning, midday and evening, with members selecting a preference. Instajet builds the schedule, so the airplanes are running back and forth, Davis says.
Instajet has already contracted with three operators. However, Davis declined to name them. He says by limiting the airports and returning the aircraft to base each night, operators can offer better pricing.
“Happy pilots don’t leave, and being home every night means happy pilots,” Davis says. Limiting airports reduce operational stress for operators, something they trade for lower pricing.
After launching in September, providing digital hard quotes for charter flights, Instajet launched its flat rate route pricing in Europe last month.
Davis says he has signed up over 30 members so far. Plans call for selling flights via brokers as well. According to the founder, more routes in the U.S. are also on tap.
Despite record demand, several providers have been rolling out or expanding discounted flat rates. Jet Edge added California-Hawaii flights for $54,900 last week. GrandView Aviation launched fixed rates on over 70 popular airport pairs.
