Davis addresses past company insolvencies as his 1 Hop Club launches member charter flights on six-seat private aircraft for under $1,000.
After a string of business failures, including the Instajet Club private jet membership program, Nicholas Justin Davis has launched 1 Hop Club.
Davis tells Private Jet Card Comparisons, “A career in pioneering new travel and aviation models over several decades naturally comes with both significant milestones and well-documented market challenges.”
He adds, “The lessons learned from these highly volatile sectors over a multi-decade career have directly shaped the rigorous risk-mitigation frameworks we have put in place today.”
A former Instajet Club jet card member this week said that, despite numerous promises of a refund, he lost over $200,000 on prepaid flights that were never fulfilled.
The former member says Davis “just disappeared.”
The Instajet Club website has been offline since 2024.
Instajet Club launched in 2021.
Davis pivoted from low-priced fixed-route private jet charter flights to charter-by-day, then to half-day.
Instajet Club also sold prepaid jet cards.
Instajet Club is listed as active with Companies House UK, with Davis as the only director.
Davis says, “We have consistently worked to address outstanding legacy obligations within the legal and financial frameworks available.”
Davis’ new entry, 1 Hop Club, promises cheap private flights starting at GBP 600 (U$ 793) for whole aircraft charters with six seats.
On its Facebook page, the start-up describes itself as an “on-demand travel club for island and remote communities by air and sea.”
The 1 Hop Club website teases a start on July 1, 2026.
According to the 1 Hop Club website, “A new way to travel is coming.”
The website says, “1 Hop Club is connecting island communities via a members-only on-demand travel club – travel when you need to, not just when the timetable allows you.”
It continues, “Whole aircraft fixed prices for up to six passengers – with per-seat booking available on broadcast positioning legs.”
The new private aviation program promises, “Fly for a fixed price between the Channel Islands, northern France, and selected destinations on mainland UK.”
A posting on its Facebook page reads, “We’re not trying to be your everyday airline. We’re the option in your back pocket for when you absolutely need to move — medical appointment, work meeting, get the kids back for school, important date you can’t miss.”
“Tiered membership options available for frequent travelers, occasional visitors, and businesses booking travel for guests, clients, or employees,” according to 1 Hop Club.
In a section titled “Pricing for flights to/from any Channel Island, in any direction,” rates start at GBP 600 (USD $793).
The website says “prices shown are for the whole aircraft seating up to six passengers.”
The lowest pricing is for flights to and from the UK Channel Islands, Cherbourg, and Granville, France.
Caen and Dinard, France, are listed at GBP 1,000.
Rennes, France; the Isle of Wight; Lee-on-Solent; Shoreham; Bournemouth; and Exeter are at GBP 1,500.
Denham, Fairoaks, and Blackbush are listed at GBP 1,000.
“To benefit from fixed price whole aircraft flight pricing, you must be a current 1 Hop Club member,” according to the website.
Three levels run from GBP 25 to GBP 1,000 per month.
At the top tier, you can book the “next available departure” and fly on empty legs for GBP 50 per seat.
The website enables online membership purchases.
Featured aircraft include the BN 2 Islander and Piper PA 31 Navajo.
1 Hop Club is acting as a charter broker.
Air charter services are to be provided by Osprey Aviation Ltd., per the 1 Hop Club website.
It states Osparey Aviation is a Guernsey 2-Reg AOC holder.
A search of Companies House UK shows that an entity, Osprey Aviation Ltd, was dissolved in insolvency in October 2025.
A company with the same name was registered in Guernsey as of October 2024.
A person with the Guernsey Aircraft Registry confirmed that Osprey Aviation Ltd. holds an air operator certificate that allows it to conduct charter flights.
The person declined to provide additional information.
The Osprey website link listed did not work, and several attempts to contact the operator were unsuccessful.
A Piper with tail number 2-OSPR is featured in a 1 Hop Club Facebook post.
It shows as registered to Osprey Aviation in Guernsey from January of this year.
Per the Guernsey registry, it is the only aircraft registered to Osprey as of June 1, 2026.
It is unclear whether the UK and Guernsey companies are connected.
Davis, responding by email, tells Private Jet Card Comparisons:
‘1 Hop Club operates as the exclusive booking platform and member program for Osprey, which serves as our sole aircraft operator. The pricing of GPB 600 to GBP 2,000 for a six-seat aircraft charter is based on a highly optimized, regional shuttle model utilizing Osprey’s fleet. Because of this dedicated operational partnership, availability is managed via direct, real-time integration with Osprey’s scheduling, ensuring that member bookings are confirmed instantly against guaranteed aircraft capacity. As demand grows, capacity will scale directly through the expansion of Osprey’s fleet.’
At Instajet, Davis claimed to have an agreement with a U.S. charter operator to fulfill flights.
Davis said back then, “We’ve leased our own aircraft. The first two Citations I’ve got. I’ve taken them from Woodbine Aviation on lease.”
The operator later said the agreement was never executed.
A company representative from Woodbine Aviation LLC, which owned the two aircraft Davis identified as being part of his by-the-day charter programs, emailed us, “We do not have now or have we ever had leased aircraft to Instajet, but we have had conversations with them regarding aircraft leases with them.”
During a subsequent telephone interview, Davis said, “The airplane was exceptionally late. It is still not ready. As the industry is aware, slips happen. We couldn’t just wait.”
Asked about why he told us he had leased the aircraft, Davis said, “A lease agreement takes three minutes to sign. It’s not that tricky.”
READ: Caveat Emptor: Avoiding private jet scams, bankruptcies, and shutdowns
A review of filings with Companies House UK and media reports shows Davis had affiliations with multiple companies that have failed.
That included several significant shutdowns.
Scoot Ferries Limited went into administration.
In December 2015, it closed, leaving over 30 staff unpaid and out of work.
Zoe Ombler, the CEO and a director, told BBC, “I very much hope that this is not the end for Scoot and believe there is an immediate opportunity to find the necessary investment to allow us to continue to operate.”
Companies House UK records show it was insolvent in 2016.
A 2017 administrator’s report shows claims against Scoot Ferries of GBP 391,953.
Davis was also a director of the company.
Davis tells us, “I resigned as a director on July 8, 2015, six months prior to the business failing in December of that year, following an MBO.”
He continues, “At the time of the closure, I was retained strictly as an employee (fleet head of training) for the shareholders and directors, with no financial or operational control over the outcome of the business.”
Davis’ failures include a charter airline.
Aviation Week reported in December 2017, “Ski specialist airline Powdair has confirmed that all flights this winter have been canceled but has vowed to relaunch in 2018, operating its own aircraft.”
Over 5,000 passengers had booked flights, according to the report.
“Powdair was set up by Zoe Ombler and Nick Davis, who had previously been behind other disruptive transport projects, including Scoot Ferries, which went bust just five months into the operation,” according to UK Aviation News.
Davis says, “The proposed ski airline was forced to halt operations before launching due to the sudden collapse of our ACMI provider, Backbone Aviation, which informed us a week before launch that they could not meet payroll.”
Davis says, “All ticket-holder funds were fully returned, and the brand was subsequently sold to investors.”
There was also a failed security firm known as GoACT.
The Independent reported, “More than a dozen Britons are among those left high and dry in treacherous waters, including off the coast of Somalia, when Lymington-based Gulf of Aden Group Transits collapsed last week.”
The report continued, “(While GoAct was failing), Davis has managed to establish more companies this year. In April, he set up 888 Aero, which, for a flat fee of more than GBP 20,000, advises on buying and selling aircraft.”
Companies House UK shows 888 Aero was incorporated in April 2014.
By September 2015, it had been closed voluntarily.
Davis told the Independent at the time, “I’m trying to sort out a big mess. My focus at the moment is to recover what’s owed and get anyone who is owed money what they are owed. There’s no big fat pot of money somewhere that anyone is going to get anything from.”
One source for the article estimated the company owed as much as GBP 4.7 million.
Davis tells Private Jet Card Comparisons, “[D]ay-to-day control had already been transitioned while I focused on related entities.”
He adds, “While I accept accountability as the sole owner and director who scaled the business from inception to a US $23 million annual turnover, the operational oversight failures during that final period provided profound lessons in corporate governance.”
Davis claimed his 2021 Instajet Club launch would disrupt the charter, jet card, and fractional-ownership segments.
Its Route Card promised cheap flights on specific routes.
At the time, Instajet Club said:
‘Our Route Card subscription comprises more than 300 routes and aircraft combinations. With no blackout dates, no large fund deposits, and no limits on the number of flights you can take, it is perfect for business and leisure travel alike.’
The company claimed, “With its per-flight business model and escrow-based unlimited financial protection for every flight, Instajet reassures passengers that they are making safe and secure, risk-free, flexible flight reservations.”
Members who paid Instajet hundreds of thousands of dollars were not provided with flights or refunds.
That included a Chicago business executive, who asked not to be identified.
He alleged that Instajet never returned unused funds after canceling its jet card program.
In an email dated Sept. 5, 2022, Davis wrote to the jet card client, “It is with deep regret, but the board has taken the decision to terminate the prepaid hours program with immediate effect due to market pricing conditions and aircraft availability not being financially viable for the business to continue to offer this product.”
Davis continued, “I am sorry for delivering this news, and I will now start the process of getting the paperwork together to both terminate the program in writing as well as arrange for the return of funds on balance, and I must ask for your patience in this regard as I have to deal with banking partners as part of that process that are slow at the best of times.”
In March of 2022, the businessperson says he gave Instajet $306,000 to buy 75 hours of flight time in a midsize jet.
The customer says he used $69,900 of funds before Instajet terminated the program.
After we tried to contact Davis about program changes, he responded, “Had an interesting call last night and heard you have been contacted by a client. Suggest you let me know who as otherwise, there’s going to be a whole bunch of expensive lawsuits flying around, including some for defamation.”
When reached via phone, Davis declined to comment on the dispute.
He called the discussions “confidential,” adding, “You don’t know the full story… He’s a client I wouldn’t wish on anyone.”
The former customer says he never received his promised refund.
Instajet Club’s website has been offline since 2024.
Davis filed to incorporate Romship UK in March of this year.
On June 12, 2026, he filed to change the name to 1 Hop Club Ltd.
Davis is listed as director and secretary as of March 2026.
We asked Davis why he should be trusted on his latest venture.
He says, “1 Hop Club was built from the ground up with consumer security as a core pillar,” adding, “Because we are partnered exclusively with a single, vetted operator in Osprey, there is complete transparency over where member funds go and how flights are executed.”
Davis continued, “Furthermore, our model operates strictly on a pay-as-you-fly structure, ensuring that member capital is never exposed and is directly tied to delivered services.”
READ: Instajet’s Nicholas Davis has a long trail of failures
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