Air Partner Business Travel Charter Solutions: Beyond Business as Usual

With up to four classes of seating, from economy to business, to first, squeezed into their cabins, commercial aircraft would appear to offer something to accommodate every level of corporate clientele, but not quite. There is much more than leg and elbow room for corporate travel planners to consider when sending employees under their care far and wide for their companies.

"While private charter is not the solution for every individual trip or group movement, given the right circumstances, the benefits of private aviation for business travel justify the cost," said Erica Merrill, Director of Business Development at Air Partner, whose extensive background includes experience managing corporate travel accounts across multiple industries. "Too many companies try to cut costs on transportation for business travel, with potentially detrimental results, including decreased productivity and missed opportunities. Among the biggest regrets are lost time and lost opportunity. It is time for them to rethink the equation by focusing instead on how the comforts and conveniences of private aviation can maximize employee performance both on the road and back at the office."

Nothing makes sense in business unless it makes money. From that perspective, travel pays off, even at a time when video-conferencing services are accessible on every laptop, desktop, and mobile device. According to a 2021 report from American Express and American Express Global Business Travel, for instance, 85% of decision makers surveyed said that business travel leads to higher profit and revenue, while 90% agreed that it helps advance the professional growth of their employees*. More recently, according to a study by Oxford Economics, each dollar invested in business travel produces $12.50 in revenue and $3.80 in profits.

With the above in mind, for companies presented with frequent travel across the globe, private aviation offers wide-ranging benefits beyond the security and privacy that come with sharing a cabin with colleagues. Indeed, traveling with fellow workers alone is much more encouraging for meetings, strategy sessions, and preparation for the business matters that will be at hand after landing.

To that end, Air Partner account managers rely on connections built over the company's 60 years in global aviation to secure the right aircraft at the right price for their clients' needs. That includes access to over 7,000 aircraft from very light jets ideal for short hops with up to 4 passengers on board, to large jets and global jets boasting multi-zone cabins sized for a dozen or more passengers. And should a last-moment hitch arise, a backup aircraft is guaranteed. In addition to access, Air Partner's expertise also accounts for a deep knowledge of ever-changing international travel requirements to minimize stress and eliminate research and guesswork on behalf of travelers.

Private aviation also offers time savings that commercial airline passengers can only dream about. Aircraft sized for modest corporate charters are typically able to access many if not all of the 5,000 or so private airports in operation across the U.S. That means passengers can expect to arrive closer to their business destination and depart closer to their homes, eliminating the need for time-consuming travel through traffic to major airports, which are often convenient only to the large cities they neighbor.

Along with geographic convenience, small private airports used for private aviation are also far more conducive to working remotely compared with their plus-sized competition. So, no need to arrive an hour or more early for check-in or to stand in line to reach a TSA security checkpoint, much less make a long hike to the gate where the actual boarding process may run up to 50 minutes for a major air carrier before the doors close 15 minutes prior to departure.

And all that is assuming commercial aircraft stick to their schedule: According to recent analysis by NerdWallet of arrival data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, delays occurred on from 19% to 32% flights from the 10 largest U.S. airlines between January and March 2023.

Beyond the potential of lost productivity, travel via commercial airline also multiplies the negative physical and mental implications that are part and parcel of the business travel experience for many. According to a study published by the Harvard Business Review that cited a Columbia University School of Public Health Survey, frequent business travelers who spend 14 or more nights away per month had significantly higher body mass index on average and demonstrated clinical symptoms related to mental health problems like anxiety and depression.

The convenience of private aviation can do much to alleviate such negatives by removing causal factors such as time away from home and family, unhealthy or irregular meals, and disrupted sleep schedules. Air Partner account managers and the global team behind them offer clients catering services with the option of choosing exactly what they'd like to eat and drink on board and can eliminate inevitable hassles of international flight by collecting and completing customs and immigration paperwork for clients before their private aircraft even leaves the ground.

"Time is money, whether it is spent in traffic, at the airport, or above the clouds, so it makes sense for companies to utilize the fastest, most convenient, and comfortable means to get their business travelers where they need to be," noted Simon Moore, Air Partner's Group Charter - U.S. Senior Vice President. "Air Partner's charter services are geared to work for companies by providing transportation solutions that enhance business travel for employees on the move, rather than make it a grind."

About Air Partner Group, a Wheels Up Company

Founded in 1961, Air Partner Group, a Wheels Up Company, is a world-leading international aviation services group providing aircraft charter, aviation safety and security solutions, and managed services to industry, commerce, governments, and private individuals, as well as civil and military organizations.

The Air Partner Group has two divisions: Air Partner Charter and Air Partner Services (previously Safety & Security). Air Partner Charter comprises of group charter, private jets, cargo, and specialist services. Group Charter charters large airliners to move groups of any size. Private Jets offers the Company's unique pre-paid JetCard scheme and on-demand charter for up to 19 people. Cargo charters aircraft of every size to fly almost any cargo anywhere, at any time.

Air Partner Services comprises Baines Simmons, Redline Assured Security Ltd, and Kenyon International Emergency Services. Baines Simmons offers aviation safety management and fatigue risk management. Redline Assured Security delivers government-standard security training, consultancy, and solutions to regulated, high value and high threat environments. Kenyon International Emergency Services is a world leader in emergency planning and incident response.

Air Partner works with Climate and Development experts Climate Impact Partners, to allow clients to offset carbon emissions in support of projects that not only cut carbon but also alleviate poverty and improve lives.

Air Partner Limited is a Wheels Up company, the leading provider of on-demand private aviation in the U.S. and one of the largest private aviation companies in the world. Wheels Up is headquartered in New York City and operates in 25 locations across three continents and employs 2,700 professionals globally. Air Partner Group is ISO 9001:2015 compliant for commercial airline and private jet solutions worldwide. More information is available on the company's website (www.airpartnergroup.com).