Corporate Business Rate Versus Private Air Charters

Is the corporate business rate really saving you and your company time and money as compared to private air charters?

All the bonus travel miles earned, deep discounted fares and hoopla associated with business travel nowadays has flown out the window. In a recovering economy, no one wants to throw money away with the big guns (aka commercial airlines). Whether it’s paper costs, expense accounts or employee air travel, every budget line item is studied, and new formulas are created.

What’s this new formula for 2004? Charter planes for business or personal travel help defray costs. How so? They’re cheaper when it comes to wasted time. Think back on how many executives have been held over and missed an important sales meeting. This costs big bucks.

Charter planes can come and go wherever and whenever the client needs. They are an on-demand type of service, which helps the business executive be where they need to be, when they need to be there. This is the beauty of air charters. They’re safe, cost-effective, and highly conducive to a work relationship from the moment the executive steps on the plane until his destination arrival. With the wonderful onset of the Internet, everyone can hook up, email and work no matter where, when or what time it is. So nowadays, it’s okay to really get-a-way!


According to the National Business Aviation Association, “The industry has changed worldwide since September 11, 2001. More executives are enrolling in flight school for meetings and conventions – and to avoid the hassles of commercial travel,” said Pete West, senior vice president of government affairs for the National Business Aviation Association. “Another point is that most pilot/executives who used to fly their plane for recreation are now using their aircraft for business and personal travel.”

While the number of active private pilots reached 243,823 in 2001, the Federal Aviation statistics show only a mild increase for 2002. While the charter service has wrecked havoc on the industry, one cannot forget the decline in commercial aircraft sales first began on September 11, 2001.

“Shorter trips are best for me,” says Ben Litowich who owns his own plane, but often charters his out for business interests. “I’ll take the commercial flight if it’s across the states, but for a 300 mile trip, nothing beats taking a private jet charter. The personalized service, expediency and ease the charters deliver are second to none. I can work efficiently on an air charter without interruption.”

Another successful businessman, Ken Creed who owns Fire & Security Specialists in Alsip, MI, utilizes his plane (his third since he began flying in 1980), to meet clients and check on individual jobs from Temple, TX to Murphysboro, IL.

Did you know currently the air charter market is busting at the seams? There are 55 major airports nationwide, and nearly 500 destinations serviced by commercial aviation. This leaves 4,000 rural area airports that rely solely on individual private pilots and charters. It’s time for the big guns to step up to the plate and let the little guys soar.