Planet Airways has begun a search for additional Boeing 727s following US Federal Aviation Administration and Department of Transport certification for the start-up carrier to begin charter services.
The Ft Lauderdale-based company already owns one 727-100 trijet, configured to seat 128 passengers, and has been flying the aircraft in a private capacity for the past 18 months. "We are now bidding on several charter contracts and are looking for a couple of 727-200s," says Planet chief executive Peter Garrambone.
The company plans an initial public offering by the end of the year to underwrite the acquisition of a tour and travel company, as well as to expand its fleet to 10 jets over the next three years.
Planet has been granted FAA Part 121 approval to fly charter services at the end of a two-year "difficult certification process that required extensive flightcrew tests and significant capital investment", says Garrambone. The carrier plans to fly its first charter later this month.
Initial attention is on US domestic flights, including entertainment and political group charters and possibly international services. The company is a private venture jointly owned by Garrambone and millionaire entertainment financier Lou Pearlman.
Source: Flight International
