Private jet charters are increasingly being used by corporations to impress clients and close deals. Companies will brand the interior and exterior of charter planes with their logos to create the impression that they own the plane. This treatment gives clients the impression they are dealing with an elite company. However, some argue that arriving by private jet solely for appearances could backfire, as it may not align with a company's environmental values or appear financially prudent. Instead, the true benefits of private jets for businesses are the substantial time and money savings they provide for frequent travel between locations.

1. 27MARCH/APRIL 2015 | www.exeCutIvePA.COM
Privatejetcharter,perhapsmisguidedly,
conjures up images of the rich and famous,
A-listers and business oligarches enjoying
the trappings of their wealth, flying VIP
style wherever and whenever their itiner-
ary demands, regardless of costs. But this
is no longer an exclusive club – chartering
a private jet can be a justifiable option to
consider if your boss has an extensive
travelitinerary.Butitalsohasitsotheruses.
In today’s competitive market, making a
good impression is paramount – but does
arriving by private jet give off the right or
the wrong impression?
“We have often flown for corporates
who are trying to make an impression on
their clients,” reveals Wendy Courtenay,
Business Development Director at Private
Jet Charter. “For example, a luxury car
company, launching a new model flew 50
owners of the current model to Nice to
showcase the new car. The aircraft was
branded on the livery with its company
logo and inside the aircraft anything
that could carry the corporate logo was
branded. So the headrest covers, coasters,
napkins, even the gin and tonic swizzle
sticks!” she explains.
“The prospective owners were wel-
comed on-board as if the corporate com-
pany owned the plane. It’s impressive. It
gives the client the impression that they
are dealing with a top end company. The
‘captive audience’ were treated to an on-
board sneak peek preview video of the
new car and on-board announcements add
to the hype. Plied with first class catering
and Champagne, I would say definitely
yes, deals are closed on this sort of stuff.”
Sarah Longhurst, Digital Marketing
Executive at Smart–Aviation agrees: “One
of the bonuses for chartering a jet for com-
pany business is that anything, within rea-
son, is achievable in order to promote the
company (or product), and provide a last-
ingimpression.Ifthecustomeraskswewill
doourbesttoprovideit.Crewcanbeasked
to wear company branding on badges or
accessories e.g. scarfs for flight atten-
dants. Depending on the size of the com-
pany and budget the outside of the aircraft
could even be liveried with your logo.
Another plus for the personal touch is that
the flight crew can personally greet clients
in the executive terminal, escort them to
the jet, and welcome them on board on
behalf of your employer.”
But, is a private-jet using image the one
you really want to project? In these finan-
cially constrained times and with envi-
ronmental issues still being a big part of
a company’s ethical ethos, flying in to
meet a new client by private jet purely to
give off a certain impression may backfire.
Private Jets: only achievable for the super rich or
are the benefits far reaching? Could this be the ultimate
way to impress your clients, asks Maria Fuller
TRAVEL
Soaring high
“Whilst there is a small element of
prestige being a factor in the decision
making process for business aviation
users in the USA, Russia and Asia, there
is strong evidence to suggest that the
opposite is true in Europe,” explains
Director of Centreline Air Charter, Phil
Brockwell. He believes that the good
impression comes from having the busi-
ness nous to see the benefits of a private
jet for what they really are.
“The strength of the financial and time
saving benefits of chartering private air-
craft to do business far outweighs any
other consideration. We are seeing more
and more companies using our services
for regular travel between business loca-
tions saving them huge amounts of time
and money. The prestige comes from
businesses being seen to behave in a
‘savvy’ way when it comes to travel.”
There may not be conclusive evi-
dence that hiring a private jet will sway
your clients to sign on the dotted line, but
for time-poor execs it can certainly make
good business sense. E
“We are seeing more and
more companies using our
services for regular travel
between business locations
saving them huge amounts
of time and money.”