Mr. Thomas, please tell me how and why you had the idea to create your own airline?
By the nature of my work, I have to travel often. I used to use the services of conventional aircraft, and a lot, even in the business class, did not suit me. Therefore, I decided to bring my vision into the sphere of quality of services, and purchased my first own plane, completely redone at my discretion. Friends and colleagues liked my idea so much that they often asked me to let them use my plane when traveling to a particular country. This is where I realized that it was necessary to create a private airline, where anyone would be provided with the level of service that he expects. Today, all of our aircraft have an internal and external VistaJet corporate identity - these are silver liners with a red stripe on their sides. The fleet of our ships is no more than three years old. On board each aircraft, we offer our customers the touch of true luxury. Comfortable leather chairs are stylishly and comfortably placed here, polished tables are installed, and there are DVD players. In general, the entire aircraft is equipped with the latest hardware and software. In addition, we offer such exclusive services as a limousine or helicopter to the ramp, VIP lounges at various airports in the world, VIP transfers at airports and so on.
What flight offers does your company have?
We offer three revolutionary programs of membership, partnership and ownership of private jets. VistaJet offers flexible solutions to its regular customers (membership card holders) that offer special discounts to membership card holders who have accumulated over 25 hours of flight time. In this option, passengers are guaranteed the provision of an aircraft, a fixed price for a flight, zero fuel surcharge, removal of restrictions on days of maximum load, 20% discount on a return flight on the same day.
The partnership program provides for 100, 200, 300 or 400 hours of flight to anywhere in the world, in which the client acquires an asset that is practically devoid of risks, much cheaper than renting an aircraft. At the same time, there are no fixed costs, maintenance costs, or monthly administrative fees. The client only needs to pay flight time at special low hourly rates.
With our full ownership program, our customers can buy the brand new Challenger 605 and start using it immediately. We will be remitted simple quarterly payments based on flight hours, which, in most cases, are lower than the standard payment for airline services. There are no fixed tariffs, maintenance costs, or monthly management expenses in this program. This is a unique offer for an aircraft of this size and with such capabilities. At the same time, of course, our airline fully incurs maintenance and various administrative expenses.
What other cities besides Dubai do you cooperate with?
Our offices are located in London, Salzburg, Munich, Zurich, Hong Kong, Moscow. In the near future we plan to open two new offices in Beijing and Delhi. In general, over the past three to four years, we have noted an increase in interest in private aviation in Asian countries. So, for example, if today about 11,000 business jets fly to the USA, then in such a huge country that is not inferior to the United States in territory such as China - only 30. We expect, thanks to our huge potential, to take advanced positions not only in Europe , but also, of course, in the countries of the Middle East, as well as Asian countries.
And how will things be with the Russian market?
I would like to separately note our successful cooperation with such a major power as Russia. To date, the annual number of hours flown by the Russian office is 1,200, which is approximately 4 hours a day. The Russians so far prefer to use our luxury aircraft during high seasons. Mostly Russian citizens fly to European countries and warm countries where they can have a good rest.
How do you replenish your fleet? Which liners do you prefer?
VistaJet fleet includes airliners such as Learjet 40 XR, Learjet 60 XR, Challenger 300, Challenger 604, Challenger 605, Challenger 850, Global Express XRS and Airbus ACJ 319. Our company recently made a deal to purchase 60 new Bombardier aircraft in the amount of US $ 1.2 billion, thanks to which the VistaJet fleet will soon have 90 aircraft, designed for both medium-range flights and ultra-long distances. The acquisition of Skyjet International, Bombardier's charter operations division, in June 2008, made VistaJet one of the leaders in the private aviation market.
What will entail opening a VistaJet office in Dubai?
We are honored to open an office in such a beautiful city like Dubai. Our future plans include expanding and strengthening VistaJet's position as the best private VIP carrier in the entire Middle East.
How has the situation in the global financial market affected your airline?
Information about the unstable situation in the world market pours on us a stream of bad news from all the media: newspapers, televisions, radio. But in any, even the most critical situation, business people both continued and continue to fly airplanes. Simply, this time, they became much more circumspect when choosing the airline whose services they want to use.
The financial crisis has mainly affected small companies with only two or three aircraft in their possession. Our company, in which we offer the best products, the best service, the best prices, has bypassed the crisis so far.
Thank you for the interesting conversation and good luck in the airline market!
