Private Jet Central (PJC) has released an app designed to simplify crew expense management for aircraft operators, giving them precise, real-time control over hotel bookings and other costs. Down-Route.com combines expense management with hotel bookings into one app, enabling companies to monitor their crew as they travel around the globe. Minimum standards and maximum price rates can be preset to meet a company's operational criteria, saving staff time in searching multiple booking sites. The app's group buying power also allows users to benefit from discounted room rates.

The project is gaining support from operators. Tom Carstensen of Air Alsie in Denmark says: “We have worked closely with PJC on other projects and were really interested to hear about the Down-Route app. The idea of getting good rates for our hotel bookings and then linking straight in to an expenses management feature is something new and Air Alsie is looking forward to the launch of the app and being among the first to see the benefits to our business.”

The app requires no set up fee and is free to use with an unlimited number of users. After the launch, it will be continuously developed with new features based on user feedback. For operators a journey log is in the pipeline and later generations might include table booking, theatre booking and 'closed loop' crew chat and social media features.

PJC CEO Andy Hudson has formed a new company to develop and market the app and recruited Andy Baker, formerly of Hangar 8 and EBAS, as COO. Jerry Saddington has also joined the project as chief marketing officer.

“We are bringing to market a group of people who we know book 28,000 hotel rooms every night worldwide, just for business aviation,” says Saddington. “They are a group of well-paid professionals, which is an attractive proposition for hotels. We are looking to get anywhere between 10 and 20 per cent room discount from our bulk booking. We are also having discussions to include maritime crews in this in the future, who book twice as many rooms.”