Sikorsky Aircraft's charter subsidiary
Associated Aircraft Group has launched a service linking New Jersey's Teterboro Airport with Manhattan New York.
Associated Aircraft Group announced Monday it has an aircraft at Teterboro to take executives into New York in less than 10 minutes.
Carolyn Marino, director of AAG's sales and marketing, said the company has reached agreements with the airport that, along with the designated aircraft, will allow faster response times to meet clients' needs.
"We're seeing a slow increase," she said of business travel. "Our fractional ownership program is continuing to expand.
"AAG, acquired by Sikorsky more than a decade ago, manages a fleet of S-76 executive helicopters. Some are owned by one customer for whom AAG manages and maintains the aircraft. It also offers fractional ownership in the helicopters and manages those, too.
It appears to be a good time to expand service, according to one veteran Fairfield County travel agent.
"Business travel has been picking up for us with increased air bookings," said Nancy Yale, owner and president of Fairfield-based Cruise Resorts and World Travel Inc. "Our clients don't use as much of the Internet conferencing they had been doing over the past few years. The value of personal meetings has certainly led to increased business travel.
"She said the demand for business travel is heating up enough to prompt midsized companies to begin booking with travel agents again.But, so far, helicopter service remains a fairly exclusive service and has not reached into the larger business community, she said.