Kate Sarsfield/DALLAS
Bombardier's Flexjet fractional ownership programme is planning to launch an online reservation system as part of the Canadian manufacturer's strategy to enhance and develop a "one-stop shop" initiative for its business aircraft customers.
The internet move comes less than two months after Bombardier acquired online corporate aircraft charter reservation pioneer Skyjet.com. Flexjet vice president sales and marketing Mike Riegel says: "Fractional ownership has become a very competitive market. To stay ahead of the game you need to listen carefully and act quickly."
The "owner transactional website", which is set to become operational within the next "six to eight weeks" has been initiated by customer demand.
The service will be designed to provide Flexjet customers secure access to their individual programmes, listing past travel itineraries, aircraft, hotels and catering details, and allowing them to book future travel.
Dallas, Texas-based Flexjet is the second largest fractional ownership provider worldwide and second largest user of business jet charters in the USA. It is striving to take the number one title from Executive Jets, operator of the pioneering NetJets programme.
"Our objective is to be responsive to the customer's needs. Since our programme began five years ago we have lost only two customers through dissatisfaction, while five shareholders have moved up to full ownership [of Bombardier products]", adds Riegel.
Flexjet's combined US and European programmes boast 102 aircraft and 475 customers, representing around 900 shares, with 134 aircraft and 600 customers expected by year-end. "We have been growing at a rate of around 50% a year since we began. Our problem is not attracting the customers but getting enough aircraft to keep pace," says Riegel.
Flexjet's Learjet 45 and Continental programmes are "doing extremely well" with eighteen 45s lined up for service entry by the end of next January, while delivery positions on the Continental are sold out until 2005.
• Bombardier's Learjet plant in Wichita, Kansas, has taken delivery of the forward fuselage for the first Continental super mid-size jet. The structure joins the cockpit section, which was handed over last month. The remaining structural components are lined up for delivery by the end of October when final assembly is expected to begin.
Source: Flight International
