Two leading US fractional ownership companies have rolled out new incentives designed to lower the cost of entry and renew interest in their fractional schemes. Bombardier Flexjet has introduced a finance lease programme called Jet Rich Quick, which allows customers to spread the cost of the initial cash downpayment on a fractional share over a two- or four-year term. The programme is only available on vacant shares of Learjet 45, Learjet 60 or Challenger 604 business jets.
The monthly payment ranges from roughly $4,600 for a 1/16th share of a Learjet 45 over a four-year term, to $12,000 for a 1/16th share of a Challenger 604 over a two-year term. "The programme offers all the advantages of ownership, including potential tax depreciation benefits," says Dallas, Texas-based Flexjet. Payments are based on the purchase price of the share, plus programme fees that cover finance charges and expected depreciation, divided by the number of months of the term selected. Flexjet owners also pay the standard monthly management fee and occupied hourly rate, Flexjet says.
Flight Options is offering a low occupied hourly rate for 24 months to shareowners of its Embraer Legacy super mid-size aircraft, as it builds a customer base for the new fractional scheme. The rate of $1,990 rivals the operating cost of mid-size Raytheon Hawker 800XP, says the Cleveland, Ohio-based operator, which has taken delivery of four core fleet aircraft to date.
Source: Flight International
