Here come the very-light-jet air taxis

After many months of development, a new wave of air taxi services in the U.S., using next-generation small jet aircraft, is starting to take off. The four- to six-passenger “very light jets” (VLJs) are bringing a new economic model to the business, because they cost much less than earlier, larger business jets. A combination of these planes and sophisticated scheduling/booking technology allows operators to offer on-demand air taxi flights for sale on a per-seat basis, instead of requiring whole-plane charters. The FAA predicts that the number of VLJs in U.S. skies will grow by some 500 a year starting in 2008. The big advantage for business travelers is that air taxi operators will be able to serve 5,400 airports in the U.S., vs. only 660 used by commercial airlines.
Among the latest developments:

• Florida-based DayJet (www.dayjet.com) last week started new per-seat, on-demand air taxi service with Eclipse 500 VLJs. Initially serving five Florida airports, the company said prices start “at a modest premium to equivalent full-fare economy coach airfares.” It promises to expand soon to additional airports in the southeastern U.S.

• Linear Air, based in Concord, Mass. (www.linearair.com), an air taxi operator that currently uses Cessna propjets for flights in the northeast, said last week that it plans to expand nationwide and acquire some 300 VLJs over the next five years, hiring 1,000 pilots.

• One of the most talked-about VLJ air taxi start-ups is POGO Jet, Inc. – because its CEO is American Airlines’ legendary former CEO Bob Crandall. POGO recently filed a registration for an initial public offering of stock, and last week it launched a new web site at www.flypogo.com. POGO plans to use a large fleet of VLJs, initially serving airports within 600 miles of New York City, plus some in Canada. POGO said its flights will cost 25 to 50 percent less than existing light-jet charters and fractional programs. The company said it will start hiring in 2008 and start flying in 2009.