Seeking to expand its real-time, Web-based system for booking charter business aircraft, Skyjet.com Monday introduced MySkyjet, the first online auction for private business jet travel.
Skyjet.com said the auction feature immediately makes private jet travel available to more travelers than ever before by creating opportunities for charter operators and travelers to utilize private planes more efficiently and economically.
“From the very beginning, Skyjet.com has been committed to creating efficiencies in the charter business jet industry that result in greater access for travelers,” said Trevor Cornwell, chief executive officer of Skyjet.com. Adding that MySkyjet is a major leap forward, Cornwell said the feature has the potential to create a sea change in the charter industry.
Cornwell said many businesses are becoming interested in private jet travel as an answer to the inadequacies of commercial airline service, including crowded flights, inconvenient schedules and a lack of privacy and productivity while traveling. Also, he said the steadily increasing number of travelers turning to online travel options and the explosion in online auctions indicate a promising outlook for the MySkyjet auction feature.
MySkyjet users have a number of options. The “View Current Auctions” section has one-way empty legs listed by charter operators on which a user may bid. Users can also see if operators have posted any round-trips between desired city pairs at dates and times that are convenient. The bidder simply determines a maximum bid and is notified when outbid.
But MySkyjet also offers users “reverse” auction functionality in which a traveler creates an itinerary and names a price, and charter operators then bid on the flight. Skyjet.com said the feature is designed to be useful for the individual traveler and also for travel agencies, corporate travel managers and flight departments.
