USHERING IN FLEXJET’S 30TH YEAR AS A GLOBAL LEADER IN PRIVATE JET TRAVEL
December 30, 2024
2024 was a year that brought new aircraft Owners and aircraft deliveries, greater onboard connectivity and unique opportunities for creativity. With the best yet to come, here’s a look into a few of the ways we plan to continue leading the global private jet travel industry forward in 2025—as well as what you can expect to see in Flexjet’s 30th year as the finest provider of fractional private jet travel.
MORE ULTRA-MODERN PRIVATE JETS
More than 50 aircraft joined Flexjet’s fleet in 2024, cresting the total globally to over 300. Deliveries spanned all aircraft types – ranging from additional light-cabin Embraer Phenom 300s, mid and super-midsize Embraer Praetor 500s and 600s, new Bombardier Challenger 3500s, all the way up to ultra-long-range Gulfstream G650s. Stay tuned in 2025 for some industry-defining developments on the horizon!
ADVANCING STARLINK PRIVATE JET WI-FI INSTALLATION
A past resolution of Flexjet was to identify and install the best cabin-connectivity solution available for aircraft Owners. Throughout the year, Flexjet continued to lead on that front with the fleet-wide installation of Starlink. This high-speed, boardroom-quality Wi-Fi solution has been fully installed on all ultra-long-range Flexjet Gulfstream G650 aircraft. By the end of the first quarter of 2025, the full installation of Starlink will be finalized on Flexjet’s large-cabin Gulfstream G450 fleet.
As 2025 progresses, installation will proceed onto the super-midsize Praetor 600 and Challenger 350/3500, the midsize Praetor 500 and eventually the light-cabin Phenom 300 fleets.
THE PROFESSIONALS DOING THE FLYING
Respecting the importance of pilots in providing Flexjet aircraft Owners the best experience in private aviation, Flexjet continued to be a leader in pilot compensation. In the spring, entry-level pilot pay was increased by over 40%, in conjunction with raising minimum flight times for applicants to 3,000 hours. This is in stark contrast to the approach of other large fractional operators, who lowered their minimums to 1,000 flight hours to more easily fill their open positions.
Coupled with raising pay at strategic points in a pilot’s career to incentivize them to not just join Flexjet but remain for the duration of their career, Flexjet has seen not only the quantity but quality of our pilot recruits soar this past year with career-minded crews seeking to join an operator with a pilot-centric culture.
PROVING WHY MAINTENANCE MATTERS
While aircraft maintenance may be a complex and technical subject matter – learning how it can impact your choice of private jet provider is not. It remains a key purchasing consideration directly related to aircraft Owner service levels and availability. In 2024, Flexjet’s decision to invest in building the industry’s largest in-house maintenance organization provided a significant competitive edge for aircraft Owners. Unlike other providers, Flexjet is in control of when an aircraft undergoes scheduled maintenance. This ensures the Flexjet fleet is more available during periods of peak travel compared to other operators subject to the schedules of third-party maintenance providers.
This resulted in a year of industry-leading aircraft dispatch availability. For a user of private jets, that means having as many aircraft as possible at the ready to send to aircraft Owners when needed. A service-enhancing breakthrough achieved in conjunction with records set for the busiest flying demand days in the 29-year history of the company.
INNOVATION IN CABIN SERVICE
In its first full year of operation, Flexjet’s Red Label® Training Academy, located outside of London, came into its own as a center for excellence globally, with both U.S. and European Flexjet Cabin Servers trained by experts in their fields to deliver unprecedented hospitality in the skies.
Going forward, these thoughtful enhancements are designed to engrain a level of service mastery and polish that is unrivaled in the fractional private jet industry, Flexjet’s existing team of 130+ Cabin Servers progressed through advanced training focused on service refinement. In addition, new-hire classes were put through a rigorous training curriculum to uphold Flexjet’s promise of providing the very best cabin experience in private aviation. As with pilots, recurrent Cabin Server training will be an ongoing mission of the academy, which incorporates individual workspaces, cabin and galley mock-ups, meaning Cabin Servers can be conveniently trained to work in Flexjet’s different aircraft types, all from the state-of-the-art facilities at the Farnborough base.
THE HELICOPTER DIFFERENCE
As the only private jet travel provider with a fleet of owned and operated helicopters, 2024 was the year this genuine differentiator truly took off for Flexjet. Throughout the past 12 months, the number of Flexjet private jet shareholders interchanging hours for use on Flexjet’s fleet of Sikorsky S-76 helicopters grew by 300%. This utilization spanned everything from airport transfers to more easily reaching weekend homes and regional hops between city center central business districts, just to name a few.
Operating in the U.S. Northeast, Florida/Bahamas and London helicopter service areas, Flexjet helicopters can be seamlessly accessed by Flexjet fixed-wing aircraft Owners but are also available to those desiring a helicopter-specific 10-hour card or lease.
FLEXJET AT 30 – ONWARD AND UPWARD
Flexjet’s 30th year will bring exciting aircraft additions, further expansion of our global footprint as projects like the construction of a private terminal at London’s Farnborough progress and other thoughtful innovations along the way to further differentiate Flexjet from other providers in the marketplace.
Want to learn more about Flexjet’s unmatched services and industry-leading differentiators? Contact our team to discuss your next luxury travel experience.
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