Online Index Reveals Top Ski Locations For Private Jet Travellers

Nov. 8, 2011 - PRLog -- Verbier, Courchevel and St Moritz are among this year’s hotspots for Europe’s discerning skiers, according to online search data released by private jet booking platform PrivateFly.com.

The company, which provides online search and pricing functionality for worldwide private jet charter, reports the top private jet airport destinations for ski travellers within Europe, based on searches on its Quick Quote flight search during October 2011. The search tool is available through its website and mobile applications.

The analysis focussed on searches with a travel date between November 2011 and February 2012 and including a European airport close to ski resorts. Of over 7,000 searches, the three most popular were Sion (34%), Samedan St Moritz (22%) and Chambery (12%). Sion is a private jet airport close to the resorts of Verbier and Zermatt; Samedan airport is just minutes from the ski resort of St Moritz; and Chambery airport provides access to resorts such as Courchevel and Meribel. The analysis also showed that over half (56%) of searches were for trips lasting four days or less.

Adam Twidell, CEO and co-founder of PrivateFly.com, comments: “Our search data shows that the 2011/2012 winter sports season is already top of mind for private jet travellers. And their preference is for airports which offer short ground transfer times to Europe’s ski areas – clearly a priority for time-starved travellers using private jet charter and helicopter transfers. This is especially relevant for shorter trips, where maximising time on the slopes becomes a key priority.

“With a private jet charter, the door-to-slope time from London to St Moritz can be just over two hours, rather than over seven hours using scheduled airlines*. That’s a saving of over ten travelling hours on a return journey, which skiers can spend on the slopes instead. Using smaller airports in the heart of ski areas can significantly cut both the resort transfer time – as well as the wasted hours spent at the airport. Of course, the VIP luxury adds considerably to the enjoyment of the holiday but it is the compelling time-saving benefits that attract many customers – some of whom would not normally consider private jet travel.”

PrivateFly.com, which has a global network of over 7,000 accredited charter aircraft, also provides a competitive online marketplace for private jet users to obtain the best prices. A private charter from London to Samedan St Moritz airport is around £10,550 return on a Cessna Citation small jet (from £1,758 per head based on six people travelling). Helicopter transfers, which can cut some journey times even further, start from £1,500 for Sion - Zermatt each way (£300 per head).

Twidell adds: “Many people are surprised at the per head cost of private jet charter. As the price paid is for the whole aircraft, it can be a realistic option for groups travelling together or for special occasions”.

-Ends-


Notes to editors:

PrivateFly’s guide to European ski resorts: http://www.privatefly.com/inspirational-jet-flights/ski-r...

*COMPARISON 1: LONDON TO ST MORITZ
Scheduled airline:
Route: London – Zurich
Check-in: 2 hrs
Flight time: 1 hr 40 mins
Baggage claim/arrival airport waiting time: 30 mins
Ground transfer to resort: 3 hrs
Total journey time each way: 7 hrs 10 mins

Private jet:
Route: London – Samedan St Moritz
Check-in: 15 mins (can be as little as 5 mins)
Flight time: 1 hr 35 mins
Baggage claim/arrival airport waiting time: N/A
Ground transfer to resort: 10 mins
Total journey time each way: 2 hrs

TIME SAVING BY PRIVATE JET:  10 hrs 20 mins return (5 hrs 10 mins each way)

COMPARISON 2: LONDON – VERBIER
Scheduled airline:
Route: London – Geneva
Check-in: 2 hrs
Flight time: 1 hr 40 mins
Baggage claim/arrival airport waiting time: 30 mins
Ground transfer to resort: 2 hrs 30 mins
Total journey time each way: 6 hrs 40 mins

Private jet:
Route: London – Sion
Check-in: 15 mins (can be as little as 5 mins)
Flight time: 1 hr 35 mins
Baggage claim/arrival airport waiting time: N/A
Ground transfer to resort: 50 mins (20 mins by helicopter)
Total journey time each way: 2 hrs 40 mins (2 hrs 10 mins with helicopter transfer)

TIME SAVING BY PRIVATE JET:  8-9 hrs return (4 hrs each way - or 4 hrs 30 mins each way with helicopter transfer)


About PrivateFly.com:

PrivateFly is an online booking network that makes it quicker, easier and more cost effective to arrange private jet charter.

With over 2700 operators registered worldwide, PrivateFly is the only online aggregator for private jet charter in Europe.

PrivateFly combines online efficiency and transparency with offline expertise to offer a full-service VIP charter service to direct customers and partners. The bespoke software has been created in-house specifically to meet the needs of charter customers and operators. In 2010 PrivateFly launched the world’s first iPhone application to provide instant private jet pricing on a mobile phone and now offers the equivalent application for the Android platform.

PrivateFly.com was awarded Website of The Year in Flight International’s ‘Webbies’ awards earlier this year, which recognise online excellence across the whole of the aviation industry - the judges describing it as “the iTunes” of aviation. It was also announced as one of the Smarta 100 companies in 2010, by a judging panel including Dragon’s Den’s Deborah Meaden and other leading entrepreneurs, such as Bebo founder Michael Birch.

Founded in 2008, PrivateFly is based in St Albans, Hertfordshire. In September 2011 it announced successful investment fundraising of £2 million, enabling international expansion plans and further enhancements to its technology platform.


For further information, interviews or imagery, please contact:

Katrina Suppiah
Publicité Ltd
T: +44 (0)20 8543 6582
E: k.suppiah@publicite.co.uk

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PrivateFly is an online booking network that makes it quicker, easier and more cost effective to arrange private jet charter. With over 2700 operators registered worldwide, PrivateFly is the only online aggregator for private jet charter in Europe.