FXAir is reporting ‘tremendous success’ since its launch in August 2020. The charter facilitator ended last year having arranged more than 4,000 premium on-demand flights for more than 8,000 passengers to 600 destinations. In addition, the company has doubled its 2020 goal for sales of its Aviator programme.

With the launch of FXAir, Directional Aviation's North American on-demand charter segment grew its revenue by 55 per cent in 2020 when compared to the year prior.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated change in a number of industries, including private aviation,” states FXAir president Gregg Slow. “While there was growing demand for premium on-demand charter service, travellers wanting to avoid exposure to the coronavirus have sought out private air as an alternative to crowded commercial airliners and terminals. From a timing standpoint, we were perfectly positioned to meet this demand and raise the bar for charter service within the US.”

With both business and leisure travellers turning from commercial airlines to minimise their risk of exposure to the coronavirus, FXAir offered private jet travel with the flexibility of charter, access to a more consistent network of premium aircraft and a higher, more refined level of service.

In September, the company introduced its Aviator programme, offering clients preferred access to second-generation fractional aircraft even on peak travel days. The programme includes complimentary catering and domestic Wi-Fi; shortened call-out and cancellation times; streamlined bookings and payments; and access to dedicated 24/7 FXAir travel advisors to simplify each flight. Clients flying on second-generation fractional aircraft additionally benefit from complimentary de-icing and international Wi-Fi.

Led by Slow, who earlier held senior positions at other private jet travel firms including XOJet, NetJets and PrivateFly, Directional's international on-demand charter provider, FXAir has brought on an experienced team to lead the firm's growing staff. The role of senior VP of sales was filled by Robert Shaplen, who previously held the same position at PrivateFly and before that served as an award-winning advisor at XOJet. Michael Hall, who over the past decade has held senior sales roles for a variety of Directional Aviation companies, transitioned from sales to serve as senior vice president of operations.

In addition to filling these key leadership roles, FXAir grew its team to 45 people in 2020 and plans to increase its staff by another 10 to 15 per cent in early 2021.

Looking to 2021, FXAir anticipates that during the distribution phase of the new COVID-19 vaccine, the air travel market will remain extremely sensitive to the pandemic to start the new year. Accordingly, travel will remain mostly focused on leisure and private functions, as families and friends fly together in personal bubbles while business people continue to avoid travel altogether.

However, during the second and third quarters of 2021, FXAir expects to see demand for business travel take off. There already is strong anecdotal evidence of business people having ‘Zoom fatigue’, and businesses have been relying on relationships fostered before the pandemic. Building new relationships will require face-to-face interaction.

“We are very confident business travel in all forms will have a strong comeback once vaccines are distributed and coronavirus risks diminish,” says Slow. “And when that happens, the thousands of people who experienced private jet charter during the pandemic will likely continue to utilise it into the future. Once someone enjoys the efficiency, comfort and safety of a premium, on-demand charter programme, they rarely want to go back.”

FXAir's network of aircraft includes the Bombardier Challenger 300 and the Global Express, second-generation fractional aircraft that are available for charter only through FXAir. The FXAir network also includes individually curated aircraft ranging in size from light cabin to ultra-long-range. Operators within its network are carefully vetted to meet the highest standards of safety and quality.