Delta AirElite has added a Bombardier Learjet 45 which will be based in Tulsa, Oklahoma and serve both Fleet Members and charter customers.
The airline said the expansion is down to increased customer demand ” just last October the company added two Learjet 45XRs and a Citation CJ2.
The Bombardier seats up to eight passengers, and has a range of 2,200 miles (3,540km).
”As demand for private jet travel continues to grow, we are committed to offering our customers access to the most popular, late-model aircraft for their travel needs,” said Delta AirElite Business Jets sales director, Brandon Greene.
”This latest aircraft addition will support our Fleet Membership programme as well as serve charter customers.”
Delta AirElite is the only business jet operator owned by a major US airline. Its 22-strong fleet is based throughout the US and includes Bombardier Chellenger, Learjet, Gulfstream, Hawker and Cessna aircraft, and members can buy flight time in increments of ten, 25 or 50 hours, and use those across separate journeys whenever needed.
”We are only the only airline offering a ten-hour card and there are a lot of people that can afford that - most others start at a 25-hr card,” a Delta AirElite spokeswoman said.
”We also have access to around 500 jets through our affiliate network, and we”ve seen a dramatic upswing in demand since 2005 because it”s more affordable for one thing, and there are more options for businesses. You have more guaranteed availability, there are more ways to charter, and more types of aircraft.”
AirElite lets companies hire jets on a pay-as-you-go basis, or generate revenue by chartering their own jets through the airline.
”The Learjet 45 is very popular because of its range capabilities and comfortable cabin ” it”s considered a mid-size aircraft,” said the spokeswoman.
”In this country commercial airline travel has become more challenging, with the security issues going through airports ” it”s a lot more arduous. And there are 500 airports served by commercial airlines in the US, but 5,000 that business jets can get into. If you”re going to Chicago for example, O”Hare International is very challenging but in a jet you could go to a smaller airport where you”re not in a queue of 12 planes to take off.”
The minimum charge for a 10hr charter of a light jet is $43,000 (”22,000).