In a response letter to CrowdStrike attorney Michael Carlinsky, Delta attorney David Boies states that the software company has no basis to suggest the airline was responsible for the faulty software that crashed systems around the world.

“When the disaster occurred, dedicated Delta employees across the company worked tirelessly to recover from the damage CrowdStrike had caused,” Boies states in the letter. “Their efforts were hindered by CrowdStrike’s failure to promptly provide an automatic solution or the information needed to facilitate those efforts.”

• READ MORE: GA, Private Aviation Dodge Worst of Cyber Outage Impact

Among several points addressed by Boies in his letter, he notably asserts that CrowdStrike showed no sense of urgency for the damage it caused, and the cybersecurity company’s offers to assist Delta were too late. Boies states that CrowdStrike’s offers of assistance during the first 65 hours of the outage simply referred Delta to CrowdStrike’s publicly available remediation website, which instructed Delta to manually reboot every affected machine.

“While CrowdStrike eventually offered a supposed automated solution on Sunday, July 21 at 5:27 pm ET, it introduced a second bug that prevented many machines from recovering without additional intervention,” Boies states.

As for CrowdStrike CEO George Kurtz’s offer to support Delta CEO Ed Bastian, Boies said that Kurtz offered this assistance on the evening of July 22, and it was unhelpful and untimely.

“When made—almost four days after the CrowdStrike disaster began—Delta had already restored its critical systems and most other machines,” Boies said. “Many of the remaining machines were located in secure airport areas requiring government-mandated access clearance. By that time Delta’s confidence in CrowdStrike was naturally shaken.”

• READ MORE: CrowdStrike Disputes Negligence Claims in Letter to Delta Attorney

Additionally, Boies addressed claims that Delta’s IT technology was not up to par for handling the disaster.

“Delta rejects CrowdStrike’s misplaced attempt to shift responsibility for its failures to Delta’s ‘IT decisions and response to the outage,’” Boies states. “First, those ‘decisions and response’ had nothing to do with the cause of the outage. Moreover, for the last several years, including prior to and following its recovery from the Faulty Update, Delta’s operational reliability and customer service has led the airline industry. Delta has achieved its industry-leading reliability and service due, in part, to investing billions of dollars in information technology.”

Boies ends the letter demanding CrowdStrike “accept real responsibility for its actions” and compensate the airline for damaging its business, reputation, and goodwill.

Delta Details Financial Impact

The letter comes after Delta detailed its previously reported $500M loss in revenue due to IT outages in an 8-K form published on Thursday.

The report states that the incident caused around 7,000 flight cancellations over the course of five days, leading to $380 million in customer refunds, $170 million in expense reimbursements and crew-related costs, and $50 million in estimated fuel expenses. This has impacted the airline’s projected year-over-year September quarter 2024 capacity growth by approximately 1.5 points.

“An operational disruption of this length and magnitude is unacceptable, and our customers and employees deserve better. Since the incident, our people have returned the operation to an industry-leading position that is consistent with the level of performance our customers expect from Delta,” said Bastian in a statement included in the 8-K form.

Bastian doubled down on previous litigation threats, stating in the form that Delta is pursuing legal claims against CrowdStrike and Microsoft to recover at least $500 million in damages caused by the outage.

Both CrowdStrike and Microsoft have denied Delta’s allegations of negligence for the software update that caused airline disruptions nationwide on July 19. Both companies also claimed that Delta had refused free assistance from their IT teams to help with the airline’s ongoing issues throughout the week of the outage.

Class Action Lawsuit

The U.S. Department of Transportation warned airlines were legally obligated to provide passengers cash refunds shortly after July’s IT outages. Law firms Sauder Schelkopf and Webb, Klase & Lemond filed a class action lawsuit this week on behalf of Delta passengers whose flights were canceled due to the outages.

The complaint alleges that nearly every airline had managed to recover and resume normal operations by the end of the week, except for Delta, which continued to cancel flights.

“On Monday, July 22, it was reported that Delta canceled more than 1,250 flights. These cancellations accounted for nearly 70 percent of all flights within, to, or from the United States that had been canceled on Monday,” Sauder Schelkopf’s website states. “No other U.S. airline had canceled one-tenth as many flights.”

Additionally, the class action lawsuit alleges that Delta failed to give some affected passengers automatic refunds for canceled flights and oftentimes conditioned its offer of partial reimbursements to passengers on a waiver releasing Delta of all legal claims passengers have against Delta.

Editor’s Note: This article first appeared on AirlineGeeks.com.

The post Delta, CrowdStrike Spar Over July Meltdown appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

“Restoring trust starts with meeting our commitments, whether that’s building high-quality, safe commercial aircraft, delivering on defense and space products that allow our customers to meet their mission, or servicing our products to keep our customers running 24/7,” Ortberg’s message said. “It also means meeting our commitments to each other and working collaboratively across Boeing to meet our goals. People’s lives depend on what we do every day, and we must keep that top of mind with every decision we make.”

Boeing’s reputation took a tumble in the wake of the 2018 and 2019 737 Max crashes that were attributed to a design flaw, resulting in a 20-month FAA grounding of the aircraft and the January 2024 loss of a door plug during an Alaska Airlines flight.

The latter has been the topic of two days of hearings before the National Transportation Safety Board. NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy noted that the agency still needs to determine how the jet (Alaska Airlines Flight 1282) left the Boeing factory in Renton, Washington, missing four crucial bolts that held the door in place.

• READ MORE: NTSB Hears Testimony of Boeing Retaliation for Workers’ Mistakes

Ortberg will be based in Seattle, stating that it is important to be close to the place where the bulk of Boeing’s aircraft are made. William Boeing, the founder of the company, chose the Puget Sound because the first airplanes were made of spruce, and the area was rife with spruce forests. When aircraft manufacturing turned to metal, Boeing adapted, creating Washington factories in Everett, Renton and Seattle.

In 2001 when Boeing moved its headquarters to Chicago, and later Virginia, many industry experts suggested the aerospace giant’s focus had shifted from turning out quality products to increasing profit, even if it meant cutting corners. They also predicted that having the headquarters so far from the main factories would result in a degradation of product quality.

Ortberg announced he would be spending his first day on the job on the factory floor in Renton, “talking with employees and learning about challenges we need to overcome, while also reviewing our safety and quality plans.”

Ortberg, who brings more than 30 years of experience to his new role, vowed to be transparent with Boeing employees.

• READ MORE: Boeing Names New CEO to Lead Through ‘Consequential Period’

“Soon I’ll be visiting many of our sites and I look forward to meeting with teammates around the world,” his message to employees said. “In speaking with our customers and industry partners leading up to [Thursday], I can tell you that, without exception, everyone wants us to succeed.”

In addition to winning back the trust of the air traveling public, Ortberg will be faced with improving Boeing’s financial situation. The 737 Max crashes and door plug accident have sent the company’s stock prices into a nosedive.

The post First Day at the Office for New Boeing CEO appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The massive July 19 computer outage at Delta disrupted the airline’s crew-tracking system for nearly a week, preventing the company from locating pilots and flight attendants to operate flights. As a result, Delta had to cancel some 30 percent of its flights.

• READ MORE: GA, Private Aviation Dodge Worst of Cyber Outage Impact

Speaking to CNBC on Wednesday, Bastian said the carrier is prepared to pursue legal action.

“We have no choice,” Bastian said. “We’re not looking to wipe them out, but we’re looking to make certain that we get compensated, however they decide to, for what they cost us—half a billion dollars in five days.”

Bastian said Delta’s recovery was significantly hampered due to its heavy reliance on CrowdStrike and Microsoft for cybersecurity. The airline had to manually reset 40,000 servers to restore operations.

CNBC reported that Delta has engaged prominent New York City-based law firm Boies Schiller Flexner to seek damages from CrowdStrike and Microsoft.

Editor’s Note: This article first appeared on AVweb.

The post IT Outage Cost Delta Air Lines $500 Million appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The aviation industry data intelligence company reported that in week 30—July 22-28—bizjet activity in France was up 17 percent compared to the same time last year. Europe has seen a 4 percent increase overall. Paris saw a 58 percent jump in bizjet arrivals compared to last year. 

“As predicted, the Olympics venues have attracted business jet arrivals from all over the world as dignitaries, heads of corporations, and celebrities flocked to the opening ceremony and sporting events,” said WingX managing director Richard Koe in the announcement. “The Olympics appear to be very popular with U.S. visitors, many coming via the UK. The Olympics bounce is helping the market recover from a relatively weak H124, with year-to-date trends now flat compared to last year.”

• READ MORE: Canada’s Olympic Soccer Team Busted After Spying on Rivals With Drone 

Paris Le Bourget recorded 713 bizjet arrivals last week, up 53 percent over last year. New York saw a 200 percent increase in bizjet flights to Paris airports year over year. Vista Jet and NetJets lead flights from the United States to France, WingX found. 

On July 26, the day of the Olympics opening ceremony, 382 bizjet arrivals were recorded into French airports.

North America 

Florida, California, and Texas had the most bizjet departures in the U.S. Florida and California were each up 2 percent over last year, and Texas was up 1 percent. 

Bizjet departures were on par in week 30 compared to the same period last year in North America, with most activity originating in the U.S. 

Europe 

The United Kingdom saw a 10 percent increase in bizjet flights. 

Activity lags behind in popular European summer destinations. Bizjets to Mykonos, Greece, have fallen compared to five years ago, only ahead of 2020. Olbia, Italy, has been busier than any July in the last five years, while Ibiza and Mallorca, Spain, are behind the last three years.

Rest of World 

Bizjet activity declined outside of North America and Europe. Activity fell 16 percent in the Middle East in week 30 compared to last year, with notable declines in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. 

Africa saw a 23 percent drop in bizjet activity, with declines in South Africa cities Johannesburg and Cape Town, and Lagos, Nigeria. 

The post WingX: Olympics Lead to Record Bizjet Arrivals in Paris appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

According to Boeing, Ortberg will begin in the position on August 8. He replaces Dave Calhoun, who earlier this year announced he was retiring. Calhoun had served as president and CEO since January 2020 and been on the Boeing board of directors since 2009.

Ortberg, 64, comes to the position with more than 35 years of experience in the aerospace industry. He recently served as president and CEO of Rockwell Collins, a position he held since 2013.

Ortberg was instrumental in the company’s integration with United Technologies and RTX. He holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Iowa, has held numerous leadership positions in the aerospace industry, and is the former chair of the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) board of governors.

• READ MORE: FAA Head Vows Increase in Boeing Oversight

“The board conducted a thorough and extensive search process over the last several months to select the next CEO of Boeing, and Kelly has the right skills and experience to lead Boeing in its next chapter,” said Steven Mollenkopf, chair of the board. “Kelly is an experienced leader who is deeply respected in the aerospace industry, with a well-earned reputation for building strong teams and running complex engineering and manufacturing companies. We look forward to working with him as he leads Boeing through this consequential period in its long history.”

The board also thanked Calhoun for his services, noting the past few years have been challenging for Boeing, beginning with the two 737 Max crashes in 2018 and 2019, respectively, resulting in the deaths of 346 people. The FAA ordered the grounding of the aircraft while the accidents were investigated. Boeing’s manufacturing and certification processes were called into question.

• READ MORE: Boeing Presents Quality Control Improvement Plan to FAA

The aerospace company announced it had worked through the issues and made changes to its manufacturing procedures to mitigate them. Then in January a 737 Max 9 operated by Alaska Airlines lost a door plug shortly after takeoff from Portland, Oregon, resulting in rapid decompression and minor injuries.

Next week the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is scheduled to conduct an investigative hearing on the door plug loss.

In the meantime, the families of those killed in the crashes are campaigning for Boeing to face criminal prosecution and the U.S. Department of Justice to fine the company $24 billion, alleging criminal negligence and violating the 2021 agreement that allowed the company to previously avoid criminal charges.

The post Boeing Names New CEO to Lead Through ‘Consequential Period’ appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Different sources have estimated the number as between 11 percent and as high as 20 percent. The company issued a statement to Private Jet Card Comparisons, an online news source that specializes in shared ownership aviation companies and their pricing programs.

“As a matter of policy, Wheels Up does not comment on personnel matters out of respect for the privacy of those involved,” the Wheels Up statement read in part. “However, given the release of internal communications, we do feel it is our responsibility to publicly acknowledge the macro industry factors were the largest contributor to our decision. The sharp decline in our pilot attrition rates in the first half of this year, due in part to a reduction of pilot hiring at the commercial airlines and pilots choosing to stay at Wheels Up, created the staffing imbalance that led to today’s actions.”

The statement cited that aligning its pilot roster with the size of its fleet is critical and “the abnormalities in the industry over these last few months made appropriate staffing forecasting against regular attrition challenging.”

Wheels Up did not immediately return a phone call Tuesday from AVweb for comment.

Despite a $500 million funding package from Delta Air Lines and a new management team, Wheels Up has continued to report losses, though executives still expect to return to profitability by the end of this year. The company reports it fleet includes around 170 aircraft: 59 Beech King Air turboprops, 43 Cessna Citation X super-midsize jets, and 35 Hawker 400XP light jets.

Earlier this month, according to a Jet Card Comparisons report, Wheels Up reduced daily minimum flight times for its jet aircraft and cut back the number of peak days for its entry-level program customers. In September, Wheels Up divested its aircraft management division.

Editor’s Note: This article first appeared on AVweb.

The post Wheels Up Confirms Pilot Layoffs appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

“Part of the safety mission of the FAA is identifying risk early on, and that’s exactly what we’re doing on public charters as usage expands,” said FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker in a statement. “If a company is effectively operating as a scheduled airline, the FAA needs to determine whether those operations should follow the same stringent rules as scheduled airlines.”

In August 2023, the FAA requested comments on the proposed rulemaking, receiving over 60,000 in less than a year. In its comment, JSX called the move “a lobbying-inspired, targeted regulatory barrier to entry, erected to protect influential parties that are prepared to fabricate safety concerns.”

Both American and Southwest along with the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) have pushed for changes to public charter operations like JSX, calling on the FAA to close a so-called ‘loophole.’

“Some airlines use the public charter loophole to cut costs by skirting lifesaving safety rules, but if they run similar operations as commercial scheduled airlines, then they are not operating as charter, and that’s an issue,” said ALPA president Jason Ambrosi in an August 2023 statement.

The FAA argues these changes are necessary to ensure consistent safety standards across all passenger air travel. Public charter operators currently adhere to Part 135 regulations, which are less demanding than the Part 121 rules that govern scheduled airlines. This difference applies to areas including pilot training requirements and maintenance protocols.

Opponents of the proposed changes, including JSX itself, argue that their current safety record is “excellent” and that stricter regulations would stifle innovation and potentially limit service options, especially in smaller communities. JSX says that some of its safety protocols even exceed current FAA standards.

“JSX supports the Federal Aviation Administration’s efforts to maintain the safety of civil aviation and applauds FAA Administrator Whitaker’s plans to evaluate a new operating authority for certain Part 135 operations,” the carrier said in a statement on Monday.

Small Community Air Service

JSX has repeatedly added that changes to public charter regulations would “jeopardize” service to small communities. Last year, the carrier committed to ordering over 300 hybrid-electric aircraft. The goal of these aircraft, the company says, is to deploy them in small communities.

“These airplanes are custom built for nine, 19, and 30 seats, and they’ll be much more efficient…than the planes we’re flying today. And that’s going to lower costs, and that’s going to make more of those [airports] available,” JSX CEO Alex Wilcox told AirlineGeeks in a December interview.

Noting these concerns, the FAA said in a June 17 press release that it would launch a risk assessment panel to “assess the feasibility of a new operating authority for scheduled part 135 operations in 10-30 seat aircraft.”

“At the same time, we want to look at how future innovation might cause us to think differently,” Whitaker said. “Safe air travel options should be available to everyone, not limited to only those living near a major airport. We want to put a safety lens over the options of future innovation, as we work to further connect small and rural communities to open up more options for everyone at the same high level of safety.”

Contour Airlines, which operates public charter flights to several smaller communities, is also likely to be affected by the regulatory change. The company is part-owned by SkyWest, which has a public charter subsidiary called SkyWest Charters.

Security Concerns

Many in the industry have also expressed concerns with the security requirements of public charter operators. JSX and others are not required to screen passengers through a traditional Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoint.

Former American CEO Doug Parker called these security protocols a “disaster waiting to happen” during a recent interview on the Airlines Confidential podcast.

The TSA is also reviewing security requirements for these operators, including a security screening requirement for all passengers. The comment period for its proposed rulemaking ends on June 27.

Editor’s Note: This article first appeared on AirlineGeeks.com.

The post FAA Moves to Restrict Public Charter Flights appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

But in the last few years—especially following the pandemic—this life of luxury has become more accessible than ever through the growing popularity of charter services. In this article, we’ll discuss what a charter flight is, some of the (less obvious) benefits, and how to charter a private jet.

What Is a Charter Flight?

Here’s a dirty little secret: That celebrity you follow who always posts pictures of trips on a private jet likely doesn’t own it (we’re not talking about Taylor Swift here, folks). Given that the cost of a new private jet can easily reach $70 million, plus hundreds of thousands of dollars in annual operating costs, owning a private jet is out of reach for even the average celebrity. Even at the higher end of wealth, many people opt for fractional ownership (think timeshare for planes) through companies like NetJets. 

The far more common, cost-effective, and accessible path to flying private, however, is chartering a plane. Chartering a plane is distinct from flying commercial in that, when you charter a plane, you are effectively renting the entire plane. Essentially, you tell the charter company what kind of plane you want, where you want to go, and when you want to go. It does the rest.

There are a number of benefits to chartering planes. For example, it enables you to:

• Avoid regular airport terminals and security, saving time and a lot of headache.
• Fly to smaller, more convenient airports, potentially allowing you to visit multiple. locations (i.e. that factory or satellite office) in less time. 
• Not be subject to the airlines’ schedules, providing more flexibility.
• Stay away from other passengers.

To be clear, flying commercial—even first class—will almost certainly be cheaper. But if you value your time, convenience, and flexibility, the benefits of chartering your own private jet may be worth it. Luckily, thanks to increased demand and competition, booking a private jet has never been easier.

5 Steps to Book a Private Jet Air Charter Service

From finding a plane to charter to receiving a private jet quote, charter companies have stepped up their game in recent years to make this option extremely accessible. Here are the steps you should follow to charter a private jet.

Step 1: Identify Your Executive Jet Charter Needs

If you need to fly from Los Angeles to New York City on a Monday morning and return Tuesday afternoon, you can likely find a first-class ticket on an airline that provides the convenience and comfort you desire. However, if you need to fly from Midland, Texas, to Des Moines, Iowa, for a business meeting at 8 a.m. then drop off your dog in Billings, Montana, by noon before a 4 p.m. meeting in San Diego on a Wednesday, a commercial airliner probably isn’t going to work. 

That’s where the flexibility of a charter jet can be beneficial. Most people don’t realize that in addition to the major international airports in large cities, there are hundreds of regional airports that airlines service less frequently, if at all. Private jets, on the other hand, can access these locations easily, providing greater convenience to passengers. 

If you crave such convenience, then start thinking about your budget. We’ll break down private jet quotes in another step, but generally speaking, the bigger the jet, the bigger the bill. Size depends on two variables: the number of passengers and distance to travel. Private and business jets can carry anywhere from four to 19 passengers, plus crew. However, even if you are the sole passenger, small jets simply cannot carry enough fuel to fly long range. You’ll need to pay for a larger jet with greater range if you are expecting to travel from, say, New York to Milan.

Based on your destination and passenger requirements, charter jet companies like Trilogy Aviation Group will determine the type of plane you need.  

Step 2: Research Private Jet Charter Airlines

Next you’ll want to do a little research. Unlike the extremely regulated airlines, charter companies vary in quality. The FAA’s Safe Air Charter initiative encourages customers to be weary of deals that seem too good to be true. While competition may drive down prices slightly, licensing, maintenance, and jet fuel aren’t cheap.  

Well-known companies like NetJets and Leviate Air Group have excellent safety and service records. Deciding between similarly reputable companies might come down to availability based on the size of their fleet and the type of jets offered. Some companies specialize in light jets, such as the Cessna Citation CJ3, while others may focus their businesses on longer range jets, such as the Global 6000 or Gulfstream G550. 

These considerations can seem dizzying to the average customer. That’s where a private jet broker can come in. Brokers are like realtors for planes. They match customers to charter companies based on all of the requirements discussed above, hunt for deals, and charge a commission for their service. You can also check out our guide to the best charter jet services for recommendations.

Step 3: Get Private Jet Quotes and Compare Options

Obtaining a private jet quote has never been easier online. For example, Trilogy Aviation Group empowers you to obtain a quote with just your origin and destination, travel dates, and number of passengers—it’s like Google Flights for chartering a private jet.

Keep in mind these are estimates, and the cost will be affected by a number of factors, including the:

• Type of plane 
• Distance to travel 
• Airport fees (i.e. landing fees) 
• Jet fuel surcharges, which are the primary variable costs

Additionally, insurance, cost of regulatory compliance, maintenance, and flight crew are rolled into these prices. Regardless, expect to receive quotes for hourly rates (i.e. $4,000 per hour). In rare cases you may see “all-in” fees, but these are typically only offered for empty legs.

While these fees quickly add up, keep in mind you are flying private, and chartering is usually far more cost-effective than owning your own jet. Still, with so many charter companies competing, don’t be afraid to compare quotes and negotiate certain fees. 

Step 4: Book Your Charter Flight

Once you’ve decided on a private jet operator or broker, booking is fairly straightforward. You’ll receive a service contract, which you should read carefully, sign, and remit with payment. Some companies accept credit cards, while others require wire transfers (after all, we are talking tens of thousands of dollars, in most cases). Additional fees, such as limousine services coordinated by the charter company for instance, will be calculated and added to the final bill.

While flying private offers some level of anonymity, you’ll still need to provide proof of identification and, for international flights, passports and visas (if applicable) for all passengers. Don’t be surprised if the pilots also ask about things like food or plants in your luggage, as you are required to report such items to customs.

Step 5: Prepare for Your Flight

There are a few things to know before you go. 

First of all, say goodbye to busy airport terminals. Private jets operate out of FBOs. These are usually located on the opposite end of the airport from commercial terminals, and provide all of the comfort and convenience you would expect when paying for a private jet. In most cases, you can show up just minutes before your flight, check in with the FBO desk, and have a seat in the lounge. 

The FBO will notify your pilots of your arrival, and you’ll be escorted to your plane. If you opt for limousine service booked through the operator, you may skip the FBO altogether and instead be driven directly to your plane. 

That’s right: no TSA, no luggage check. The pilots are obligated to ensure none of the baggage poses a safety to flight, but unless you’re traveling internationally, don’t expect to go through metal detectors or remove your shoes. Just hand your bags to the flight crew and settle in for a quick preflight briefing, and you’ll be taxiing within minutes. 

Depending on the size of the plane, you can expect first-class service from the flight crew, including meals if available. Many operators will allow pets and even your own beverages. Watch movies, prop your feet up, and relax. Do as you please, so long as you don’t cause a safety concern for the flight crew. 

So, Now You Know How to Charter a Private Jet…

Expensive? Relative to commercial flying, yes. Convenient and comfortable? Absolutely. If you value your schedule, flexibility, and privacy, chartering a plane can be worth the cost and has never been more accessible. 

Still, do your research and ensure the operator is safe and reputable. And most of all, enjoy it! Flying in a private jet is true luxury. 

FAQ

How much does it cost to charter a private jet?

Costs vary greatly based on the size of the jet, which is primarily determined by the number of passengers and the distance to be flown. Short domestic flights for 5-9 passengers may average about $2,000 per hour, while international flights may start around $10,000 per hour. Check out this private jet charter cost estimator for more information.

Is it worth it to charter a private jet?

If you require flexibility in location and schedule, chartering a private jet may be the perfect option for visiting multiple rural sites in a single day. Private charters have access to airfields that airlines don’t and can offer massive time savings by bypassing TSA and airline delays.

Is it better to own or charter a jet?

Unless you fly more than 300 hours a year, chartering is likely more cost effective than owning. Chartering also provides more flexibility in the types of planes on which you fly and allows you to hunt for deals across charter companies. See this analysis of owning vs. chartering a private plane for a more detailed breakdown.

The post How to Charter a Private Jet in 5 Steps appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The Duluth, Minnesota-based company said it is updating its brand identity to further emphasize its particular approach to private aviation, called “Everything in Reach.” The recent changes are part of a broad strategy to grow the aviation industry and move toward a new era in personal aviation. Cirrus manufactures and sells the SR series of piston singles and the Vision Jet.

• READ MORE: The Big Reveal: Cirrus Shows Off the SR G7

“Since [being founded in] 1984, Cirrus’ legacy of innovating, transforming, and defining the ‘personal aviation’ category has changed the way people experience aviation,” said Todd Simmons, Cirrus’ president of customer experience. “Now, in addition to its state-of-the-art aircraft, Cirrus provides a comprehensive ownership experience for world-class flight training, product services and support, aircraft management, upgrades and accessories, sales, finance, insurance, and more.” 

According to Cirrus, personal aviation serves pilots and nonpilots by offering a path of entry into the aviation community for seasoned pilots, people interested in flight training, and those who wish to own and operate a Cirrus aircraft with a professional pilot.

“Cirrus continues its legacy of delivering innovative products and services that make aircraft ownership easy and synonymous with premium car ownership,” said Zean Nielsen, CEO of Cirrus. “The new brand identity honors Cirrus’ history while positioning itself for the future where the company will leverage its intelligent aircraft and connected digital ecosystem.”   

Cirrus is known for a number of innovations in aircraft design, including the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System (CAPS), which was the first FAA-certified, whole-airframe parachute safety apparatus installed as standard equipment on an aircraft. The company said its worldwide fleet has accumulated more than 17 million hours and 250 people have “returned home safely to their families as a result of the inclusion of CAPS as a standard feature on all Cirrus aircraft.”

The post Cirrus Revises Logo to Signal ‘Next Era’ of Personal Aviation appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

VistaJet said its worldwide presence continued to improve last year with more than 50 percent of its total flight hours logged outside the U.S. During 2023 the private aviation company expanded its operation in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East in response to increased demand.

• READ MORE: VistaJet Announces Global 7500s Coming to Fleet in 2020

VistaJet said it also expanded its Global 7500 members program to guarantee the availability to clients of the Bombardier Global 7500 ultra-long range jet on every major continent. Additionally the company increased the proportion of flight hours from its program subscription clients. New subscribers who commit to a three-year term have grown at record rates for the past three years and account for about 60 percent of on-fleet revenue for the group. 

During the year, the group operated roughly 87,000 flights, or 18 percent more than the previous year and 80 percent more than pre-pandemic levels. VistaJet expects those numbers to continue upward this year.

“2023 was another year of successful performance in our business,” said Thomas Flohr, VistaJet founder and chairman. “Despite having to react to deep economic shifts and complex geopolitical uncertainty, we produced double-digit growth across all markets—achieved whilst refurbishing and upgrading our fleet ahead of schedule, further improving our service standards and significantly increasing aircraft availability.

• READ MORE: VistaJet Makes History with $7.8 Billion Bombardier Order

“Today, Vista is a truly global and recognizable brand all around the world, thanks to the 20 years in which we have delivered an unmatched service to our clients, and we are well placed to further increase our market share over the next two decades.”

Last spring, Flohr defended the company after critics suggested net losses and debt threatened its continued viability. In a CNBC interview, Flohr said VistaJet has been transparent with investors regarding its financial structure and that the company is profitable based on earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization.

The company said it has identified a market of more than 24,000 jets that it considers underutilized. These aircraft could potentially be used to boost efficiency across the industry in the same way that the members fleet of more than 300 aircraft has been “optimized to deliver the best service at the best possible rates.”

Following recent acquisitions, VistaJet has undertaken a broad program to refurbish many of its aircraft, including 93 during 2023. Today, 230 VistaJet aircraft have been updated to the company’s silver=and-red liver, and offer a more standard list of cabin amenities.

The post VistaJet Says Flight Hours Grew 17 Percent to 200,000 Last Year appeared first on FLYING Magazine.