JetBird moves closer to air taxi launch
 

HI ALL,

DO You have any infos which marketing channel they utilize?
Personally I have not seen any adverts. yet. Who are their target customers?

Thanks for your thoughts..:ok:

Source: JetBird moves closer to air taxi launch

Air taxi start-up JetBird has taken a step closer to the commercial launch of its pan-European operation in September with the unveiling of its online flight booking system.
JetBird has firm orders for 59 Embraer Phenom 100 very light jets and has an option on a further 41 Phenom 100s and/or Phenom 300 light jets.
The start-up says the booking system - which is now in its testing phase - is unique to the European private jet industry. "While most scheduled commercial airlines currently offer an internet-based, real-time booking service, no existing European private jet operators, whose services are by their nature unscheduled, provide such a service. Instead, only web-based quoting services are provided, while booking must be completed on the phone or via an intermediary."

I would be a bit cautious. I'm not putting down the VLJ airtaxi thing, but I don't believe the timing is right to do this type of thing. Getting financing is not an easy thing these days. They will require financing to supprt their plans for 5000 VLJ orders or whatever. (I just love how these companies say "Yes, we believe our business model will afford the expansion of 100 jets in the first year). Wow, have these folks been stuck in a time capsule the last 2.5 years? Hey, I hope it works, but don't hold your breath, ok. Keep it real.:ok:

de Flyingdog
 

the problem is that even with financing in place you still need customers !!!
when you see the very slow activity for well established and known air taxi operators I really wonder how you can begin succesfully such an operation :confused:
Is it enough to be new on the market to attract people ? Does it mean that old operators failed to provide a good service ?

Chrispler,

good question but no answer so far...

Quoting you:

DO You have any infos which marketing channel they utilize?
Personally I have not seen any adverts. yet. Who are their target customers?


In my view: they have done nonthing and will fail..............

Where are the passengers?
 

I agree to the question just where the customers should come from. Right now every operator is struggling to stay afloat and potential customers shop for the best offer before committing. It's a cut-throat competition and I am asking myself, how they are going to run this thing.

Airplanes do cost money and the hardest way to find out about that is by sitting on the ground fo a while.

I saw people being laid off from outfits which - apparently - had unlimited growth-potential, Netjets is sending 300 pilots home and so on.

Good luck, boys! I would not bet on your success. At least not right now...

Pessimists Stay Home
 

I am a 13 mil hour pilot, typed in 330 and 320. 6 years long-haul, tired of jet lag and chronic fatigue. My jump at the offer with FJB is like a glimpse of
clear skies after a night of Cb´s.....
I am not new at this, so please refrain from sarcasm. There are several other heavy duty long haulers like myself that have gladly traded their grandiose wide bodies for a fun
modern 6 seater like the Phenom. The business project is viable. Otherwise why would we be here ?
My point is that please refrain from the negative b.s. and save your bets; those of us hired as captains at FJB have been there, done it and one thing is for sure: Negativity gets you nowhere and I find your futuristic gloomy prediction irritating as hell.

Who are you.."the little engine that could" ??

ADFS - Jeez, aren't you tired...?!

I can picture you in the cockpit singing with your co-pilot, "raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens......." :ok:

Yes, 6 years of long haul.....lord have mercy! You should create a new column simply titled, "God".

"The business project is viable. Otherwise why would we be here ?"

And you are qualified to know that how?

.......No offence...but...:rolleyes:

Should the people on here with 37 trillion hours of actually running light jet charter business' really stop voicing their opinion because you who have no relevant experience believe the marketing literature?

PB

"Been there, done it", eh? But did you get the T-shirt, that's what I want to know.

If not, there's a few people on here who'll lend you one. Though they might be a bit raggedy, on account of having had so much use.

:ugh:

ADFS,
I hope something was lost in translation!
6 years in longhaul, just aint a lot that's all!

Oh how nice to hear so much positive feedback from all you guys. Sarcasm and sarcasm...6 years longhaul, I agree, big deal. Add another 18 years, cargo, executive and I think I qualify to speak my mind. I approach FJB with positivity, it isn´t my first start-up airline, and anyway, it will be my last post on the subject...brockwell, I suggest you learn to learn to express yourself properly in english, I haven´t a clue what you mean; 744again/Sepp and specially ipokijuhyt....take a hike, you act like children in your stupid replies:=

Am i bovvered, lol? ;)

C'mon everyone, if you have a different opinion to ADFS, please keep it to yourself, this is not the sort of place to exchange different opinions in a light hearted way.

ADFS, best of luck with that optimism, and the English lessons!

I agree with ADFS
 

There's been enough negativity in this industry the past year without condemning JB before it even starts. Good luck to them and all involved. Looks like a fantastic job from where I'm sitting (made redundant last year).

A change in attitudes won't fix the industry, but it will help.

Brockwell/ Sepp, you really are annoying, the both of you. I´m sure you´d be tender little wannabees over a beer at the bar, you hypocrites. In any case, somebody of your likes are anything but welcome at FJB, snotty little smart-asses, or any other professional airline for that matter. Typical new generation know-it-all attitude, pathetic:yuk: end of subject. Unless of course you want to meet face to face with me and then we see how really smart you are with your wisecracks. PM me and be a man.

I apologize, my tolerance for wise-guys is at an all time low. So long:ugh:

ADFS,

More than happy to make your acquaintance at my usual hangout - I'll show you some of the work I did building business models for VLJ ops - and why, in my opinion, it won't compete with more than 3 bases of 7 aircraft and 2 types (IMHO Phenom-100 and 300, or CJ1 and CJ2). Hopefully you won't find that level of research "pessimistic" and "annoyng", however, going toe to toe could be fun.

On the positive note, if I am to be proved wrong (it has been known) the Phenom Ops are the ones likely to triumph over the Mustangs.

Was that a handbag? Do you know, I believe it was.

If they are hiring pilots like him, we dont have a lot to worry about !!

Martin Barnes:

spot on.

Phil
 

If only they knew how long some of us have been around:ugh:

Boring!!!
 

Does it matter how long you guys have been around...I think your egos are writing cheques your body can't cash!!!:} (I crack myself up)

If you have been around for a while then great, maybe you can advise the likes of JB, Blink and whoever else on how to run a successful business. Lets stop the tiresome little jibes and sarcasm, it's so boring!:zzz:

I think JB is something fresh in these dire times so why don't we all wait and see, hope for the best and be more positive. If you are intelligent enough to have a bit of foresight, you might realise that new companies mean more jobs, that's a good thing right?

Been Around for years!!
 

Running a fying school with someone elses King Air and CJ is not the same as running a successful corporate operation with a fleet of business Jets.

So all this Phil Brockwell's a font of all knowledge garbage really must stop!

I am absolutly positive that Phil's great plans do not look at all the angles, these accountants are very clever you know!

If Phil was so great I am sure his company would be growing at the rate of other companies. Like Hangar 8 which started in much the same sector and now has over 22 aircraft!

Stir it up!!!

Melia,

I'm with you on that one, but let's be fair, there aren't many on here who have met, or worked with me. I'd quite happilly forego the undeserved legend status believe me.

I'm not altogether sure your description of our Op is quite up to date or correct, but nevertheless, as my wife keeps telling me, size isn't everything, and it could be viewed that a small Op with a good reputation, owned aircraft and profits is better than a loss making ramp of shiny metal, but I digress.

This is supposed to be an area that we can swap ideas and opinions, most threads I have no opinion on at all, but I spent 3 months of my life looking at the VLJ / Low-Cost type market (not to be confused with a more traditional approach such as LEA), and in my opinion it isn't a money maker in the currently available formats of Blink and Jetbird's fleet projections and mindsets.

Some people share my opinion, some people think I'm wrong, and at this stage nobody knows who is right, time will tell.

If I have an opinion that is not positive, it does not mean I am a pessimist (who could work in aviation expecting one day to make some money if they were a pessimist) if I had no knowledge I wouldn't have an opinion.

If someone can explain to me how to make money from a VLJ start-up with straight from factory airframes, I'd be really happy to listen, I wouldn't turn into Captain "My Opinion on VLJ's count coz I've steared a Jumbo", or assume that these thoroughly nice fellows (Slattery?) are pouring money into aviation because they like giving pilots jobs in these hard times!

Let's be 100% clear here, they want a monopoly - so they can reduce costs A La Debonair / Easyjet / Ryanair / Directline Insurance. No Brokers, no competition, so for those of you who work in Bizjets because you didn't want to fly for EZE / RYR, think again!

In order to get a monopoly, they will lose money to put existing light jet Ops out of business if the depth of their pockets last.

F&**K me, that was a long one.

Don't think your wife said the last bit. ;)

Oi, have some respect - I'm a Leg End you know!

You think I P15s people off on here? can you imagine having to live with me! Bless her, patience of a saint, and deaf in one ear which may be why she stays.

PB

Phil, I retract my previous reactionary comments and salute you for your sense of humor. Like " optimism " without humor we are definitely finished and keeping that in mind, I believe we as pilots have the task, and sincere pleasure, of joining a start-up such as FJB with optimism, and a sense of humor, specially in these trying times. We are not only in the middle of a serious cultural-economical breakdown but also responsible for the outcome.
I choose to integrate with faith in the project...I am of the half full bottle theory, not half empty, and what the heck, at my age you´d think I´d be worn down but I am not and as a consideration towards the near future, I believe when the turn around comes ( and it will ) FJB will be sitting on a very deserved and proven niche. If I am wrong, then , poor me, I´ll have to go back to longhaul and chronic fatigue, but I can always say I tried my best to motivate the success by positive input.:ok:

Have the Phenom's now been fitted with ADFs?

I heard a rumour that the Phenom has been placarded to land with approach flap only due to some issues with full flap handling. Is this true? It seems inconceivable!:confused:

Any news on start of operations??
 

Hi

Can anybody in the know tell us if Jetbird operations are still on track to commence September 2009? Good luck to all involved, hope to see those phenoms in the sky soon :ok:

Jet Bird Launch
 

They'll probably do a launch/anouncement - whatever at the forthcoming VLJ Europe Conference at Oxford Aviaton Academy/Oxford Airport late September - 24th/25th:

MIU Events - Conferences and Exhibitions for the Aviation Industry

They are certainly participating in that event.

Hi All

I seen on the ppjn site that someone has added that 100hrs ME jet are now a requirement for a fo, can anyone confirm this ?

Spam Up

How long before the white flag emanates from this lot? :uhoh:

LGW Vulture - I hope you're not trying to connect JetBird to Jet Republic: different product, different business model, different management, different competitors, different approach and tactics. JR had a tick in every negative box; these guys have ploughed a different route and don't deserve a link to anyone but themselves. I am unable to comment on their prospects but their business plan has a lot going for it, and very little to criticise. It remains to be seen how the market is when the first Phenom arrives.... but i wish them well and would put money on them before many others.

........different product, different business model, different management, different competitors, different approach and tactics.

Yep and still doomed to failure! :ugh:

What a negative idiot!!
 

LGW you dont deserve a job with anyone!!!!

I am appalled !!!

Oh it was only a matter of time before someone like LGW had to post their own self pity on here. The industry would fair better without people like you shouting out your own negativity. You should have your licence revoked for that comment. I wouldn't say anything until you have something constructive to say...that's a good lad!:ok:

Having looked at their pricing then I have to agree with LGW. For that price in Germany there will be a 100 local CJ1's under cutting you.

This means two things: they will not grow the market because they are not cheaper than the current CJ markt. This means they will have to fight to get excisting business rather than new business... And that is almost impossible in with a business model owning aircraft (or leasing them for that matter through the Irish connection) They will be competing with managed aircraft that fly for variable cost only... I wish them luck but it is doomed I'm afraid :ouch: