Oct. 4--DayJet, an on-demand jet service that launched its new company Wednesday, will offer occasional service to the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport but will not have a base of operations here.
The Delray Beach company announced five DayPorts from which flights are based -- Tallahassee, Boca Raton, Gainesville, Lakeland and Pensacola.
DayJet officials visited SRQ last year to explore the possibility of establishing a DayPort here.
Malcolm Murphy, manager of governmental and community affairs with DayJet, said SRQ may be considered for a DayPort in the future.
"You weren't passed over in any way, shape or form," Murphy said. "There were a number of airports who have invited us to inspect their facilities, and I have to say that not all those airports have been visited. The guys and officials I met with (at SRQ) were very accommodating, and also you have an amazing airport."
SRQ will be among more than 70 "DayStops," which are airports DayJet will serve only through special charter arrangements, Murphy said.
DayJet's niche is flying business professionals to under-served communities.
The company is starting its air service with 12, five-seat Eclipse 500 jets. DayJet expects to have 300 jets serving airports in the Southeast within two or three years, Murphy said.
DayJet differs from a jet charter in that passengers pay by the seat.
The more flexibility a passenger can offer in booking his or her flight, the cheaper the fare, Murphy said.
He gave as an example a passenger wishing to fly from Tallahassee to Boca Raton, an hour-and-a-half flight.
"If they gave us a timeline of about seven-and-a-half hours (in which to fly), you're looking at about $470 one-way," Murphy said. "If the timeline was only two hours, you'd be looking at $1,400 one-way."
Someone wishing to fly to or from Sarasota would have to charter the whole aircraft, Murphy said. Charter pricing is done on a case-by-case basis, and Malcolm was unable to provide a ballpark cost for SRQ flights.
Michael Walley, director of development and community relations at SRQ, said it wasn't necessarily discouraging that the airport wasn't selected as a DayPort by DayJet.
"We very much appreciate our tenants and the companies that do business at SRQ," Walley said. "We do understand that some companies choose other cities to do business. We believe we have a very strong market here and will continue to support all companies that do business at our airport."
Similar jet services like NetJets, a fractional jet ownership company, already fly in and out of SRQ, Walley said.
"NetJets do fly out of SRQ on a constant basis," Walley said. "It's not as if we don't have that type of service."
DayJet flight pricing information is available at www.dayjet.com [http://www.dayjet.com].
New DayPorts
The Delray Beach company announced five DayPorts from which flights are based -- Tallahassee, Boca Raton, Gainesville, Lakeland and Pensacola. SRQ may be among the firm's "DayStops."
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