PrivateFly is a global private jet charter broker company with websites covering 19 countries: (Australia, Canada, China, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Qatar, Russia, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, UAE, UK, & US).[1] The company's main headquarters are in St Albans, Hertfordshire, England. The company is a member of ACANA,[2] BACA,[3] EBAA[4] and NBAA[5] aviation industry bodies. In 2018 PrivateFly became part of Directional Aviation's OneSky portfolio of companies.[6]

PrivateFly
IndustryAviation
FounderAdam Twidell & Carol Cork
Headquarters
Key people
Adam Twidell CEO
Servicesprivate jet charter, Jet Card, City Pairs
OwnerDirectional Aviation
ParentDirectional Aviation
Websiteprivatefly.com

The company uses technology to disrupt the traditional jet charter brokering model launching a website with online estimates and quotes,[7] and also offering apps for iPhone, iPad[8] and Android[9] devices.

It provides a white-label service[10] and partners with several companies including Lastminute.com,[11] Manchester Airport Group[12] and Addison Lee.[13]

History edit

PrivateFly was launched in 2008 by ex-RAF and NetJets pilot, Adam Twidell[14] and Carol Cork.[15]

The company expanded and had several veteran figures from the travel industry on the board including Martin George[16] and Damon de Laszlo.[17]

It received awards including the Smarta's Top 100 small businesses for 2010,[18] Best Business Award "Best Innovation",[19] Flight Global's Site of the Year Webbies award[20] and Everline Future 50.[21]

PrivateFly was listed 4th in The Sunday Times Fast Track SME Export Track 100 (Britain's SMEs with the fastest-growing international sales) [22] and 46th in The Sunday Times Fast Track Tech Track 100 (Britain's fastest-growing private technology companies).[23]

In 2011, it raised a £2 million investment through several investors[24] to help further develop their European expansion.[25]

In 2016, the company opened an office in Fort Lauderdale, Florida [26] It became the first UK Argus Certified Broker in 2016.[27]

PrivateFly runs an annual poll to find the Top 10 Airport Approaches. Previous winners include Sion Airport,[citation needed] Barra Airport,[28] Sint Maarten Airport,[29] Queenstown Airport,[30] Nice Airport[31] and Malta Airport.[32]

In September 2018 PrivateFly was acquired by the Directional Aviation OneSky group.[33]

In August 2020, PrivateFly launched a new Private Jet Card offering guaranteed aircraft availability and fixed hourly private jet prices for flights in the Europe and USA.[34]

In 2022, PrivateFly has reported a record-breaking increase in jet card sales for the first quarter of this year, experiencing a 258% surge in demand compared to the same timeframe last year.[35]

References edit

  1. ^ Spranklen, Annabelle. "Young billionaires seek out bigger, long-range private jets during the pandemic". Tatler. Retrieved 2021-02-24.
  2. ^ "Private Fly". Air Charter Association of North America. Retrieved 1 March 2014.
  3. ^ "PrivateFly Ltd". Baltic Air Charter Association. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  4. ^ "Membership". European Business Aviation Association. Archived from the original on 25 March 2014. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  5. ^ "Premium Listings". National Business Aviation Association. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  6. ^ "Flexjet, Sentient Jet Parent Acquires Technology Driven Private Jet Charter Broker PrivateFly". 5 September 2018.
  7. ^ "The hottest website in travel?". The Times. 23 May 2008. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  8. ^ "PrivateFly launches iPhone application for private jet charter quotes". Elite Traveler. 3 February 2010. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  9. ^ "PrivateFly.com launches android app for instant private pricing on the move". Handbook of Business Aviation. 20 July 2011. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  10. ^ "Private jet website touts white label deals". Travel Industry Digest. 12 October 2009. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  11. ^ "Lastminute.com offers private jet charters". Travel Weekly. 15 July 2010. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  12. ^ "Manchester Airport Group, first in UK to offer online private jet booking service". Eva International Media Ltd. 4 May 2010. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  13. ^ "Taxi jets to Europe target high-flyers". London Evening Standard. 22 September 2011. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  14. ^ "How I made it: Adam Twidell, founder of PrivateFly". The Sunday Times. 8 September 2013. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  15. ^ "Carol Cork on starting private jet booking platform PrivateFly.com". Vitesse Media. 12 June 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  16. ^ "PrivateFly announces Board changes to support new expansion phase". BlueSkyNews. 25 August 2016. Retrieved 25 Aug 2016.
  17. ^ "PrivateFly Ltd". DueDil. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  18. ^ "St Albans jet company scoops awards". Great British Life. 2010-06-23. Retrieved 2021-02-24.
  19. ^ "Privatefly.com bags double award win". Global Business Jet. 1 March 2010. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  20. ^ "Webbies 2010: privatefly.com scoops website of the year in the Flightglobal Webbies". Flightglobal. 4 February 2011. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  21. ^ "Everline Future 50: PrivateFly". Real Business. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
  22. ^ "The Sunday Times Fast Track SME Export Track 100: PrivateFly". Fast Track. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  23. ^ "The Sunday Times Fast Track Tech Track 100: PrivateFly". Fast Track. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
  24. ^ "Private Jet Booking Network PrivateFly.com Raises £2 Million". TechCrunch. 28 September 2011. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  25. ^ "PrivateFly Launches in France, Germany & Central Europe". The Convention News Co. 14 June 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  26. ^ "Charter Broker PrivateFly Opens U.S. Office". Fly Corporate. 24 May 2016. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
  27. ^ "PrivateFly goes for Broker". AIN Online. 19 April 2016. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
  28. ^ "The world's top 10 most scenic airport approaches and landings". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  29. ^ Fox, Linda (January 29, 2013). "Geek alert – heavenly descents or top 10 airport approaches". Phocuswire.
  30. ^ "World's 10 most scenic airport approaches". CNN. 24 December 2015.
  31. ^ "Nice Côte D'Azur Airport wins top spot in annual poll conducted by PrivateFly". Nice Airport. 13 May 2014. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
  32. ^ "World's 10 most scenic airport approaches for 2016". CNN. 21 April 2016.
  33. ^ "PrivateFly Joins Flexjet, Sentient Jet in Directional Aviation Family – Robb Report". Robb Report. 12 September 2018.
  34. ^ "Corporate Jet Investor". Retrieved 2021-02-24.
  35. ^ "PrivateFly jet card sales soar by 258%". Business Airport International. 2022-04-07. Retrieved 2023-04-27.