JetOne becomes fourth charter air service concession at airport

Sept. 21, 2007

Sep. 20--Long lines at security checks in major airports and too many flights that are late or canceled have led to a growing demand for charter jets in many cities.

And a new Owensboro company -- JetOne -- sees a growing opportunity in this area.

"There's a need for corporate travel here," said Malcolm Bryant, who created the company with Tres Sterett. "It's important for the region to have a corporate atmosphere."

Many business people can't afford the time required for some commercial flights today, he said.

Between getting to the airport two hours early and having to change planes at least once for many destinations, an entire day can be lost, Bryant said.

JetOne will become the fourth charter air service concession at Owensboro-Daviess County Regional Airport when an agreement is worked out, Airport Manager Tim Bradshaw said Wednesday.

For the time being, it's operating under Modern Transportation Co.'s concession.

MidAmerica Jet, the airport's oldest charter service, has been in operation since 1981.

The fourth concession, Watts Brothers Aviation, was approved as a charter service in 2005 but isn't currently active in charters, Bradshaw said.

JetOne, like its name says, has one jet -- a Learjet 31 that was formerly used by Singapore Airlines to train pilots.

"These jets start at around $2 million and go up from there," Bryant said.

The interior was refurbished in Canada before the plane came to Owensboro last spring.

It can carry up to eight people for a day trip or five with luggage, cruises at 525 mph and has a range of 1,665 miles.

Bryant said the plane can fly anywhere in the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.

A trip to Louisville takes 14 minutes. And Chicago is only 45 minutes away, Bryant said.

A one-day round trip to Chicago for one to eight people would be in the $3,500 range, he said.

But prices depend on the extras involved.

JetOne will pick you up and take you to the airport, provide movies, food and beverages during the flight and arrange ground transportation at your destination.

Two pilots -- Pete Ashby and Greg Leach -- are with the plane on all trips.

Ashby has been flying for 10 years and Leach for seven.

"I taught Greg to fly," said Ashby, who is also the company's flight operations manager.

"Pete and Greg were traveling out of town to work," Bryant said. "We're glad that they decided to come with us and be part of the team."

Ashby was working in Evansville and Leach in Louisville. Both were in aviation.

After four months in business, Bryant said the flights are evenly divided between business and leisure travel.

"We're way ahead of our original projections," he said.

"We haven't made any trips out of the country yet," Ashby said. "But we've had a couple of calls from people wanting quotes on trips to the Caribbean. We're expecting that to be popular this winter."

Flights to the Caribbean require a stop in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. But the actual flying time is about three hours, Ashby said -- 90 minutes to Fort Lauderdale and 90 minutes from there to most of the islands.

There are no plans now for more jets, but Bryant said, "We're entrepreneurial enough to consider all options."

For information, check www.FlyJetOne.net.

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