Boston, Massachusetts-based Magellan Jets has expanded its jet card and membership programmes, adding the Explorer100 private jet membership as well as a number of programme features designed to help guests fly with greater freedom, flexibility, assurance and certainty than ever before. They can even exercise a refund clause if market changes force them to reconsider their private aviation investment.

"As our programmes have grown, we have experienced some of the highest levels of volume we've ever seen combined with some of the biggest challenges in aviation history, and we've learned a lot about what our clients need in today's re-opening market," says president and co-founder Anthony Tivnan. "Everything we're announcing is a direct result of our singular belief in listening to our customers' needs. All of these programme enhancements serve our passion for helping people live their best lives."

Current features will be retained, such as guaranteed no re-quote backup and recovery.

Explorer100 is Magellan's new, funds-on-account membership programme based on its popular and award-winning Explorer membership. Magellan's members enjoy fixed rate pricing across four cabin size categories; with a starting account of $100,000, members secure Explorer100's 12 month rate lock and unlock additional amenities including guaranteed wi-fi and long-leg/round-trip discounts.

Magellan has re-focused its legacy jet card programme around only the most popular and most-requested aircraft, such as the Phenom 300, a favourite among clients because of its spacious cabin volume and large baggage capacity. While many savvy flyers enjoy the ability to purchase jet-specific jet cards popularised by the fractional jet model, lower hourly rates are available for those who only need access to a specific category of aircraft.

In a major move that will save money for customers making shorter flights, daily minimums, the minimum amount of flight time charged per day, are being reduced to as little as 60 minutes. According to Private Jet Card Comparisons, a buyer's guide tracking jet card and membership programmes, light jet daily minimums averaged 103.9 minutes at the end of Q2, a 33 per cent increase from the end of 2019.

Jet card owners who purchase hours in larger blocks can take advantage of additional benefits such as fuel discounts and 18 month rate locks, which hold tremendous value for long-term planning and budgeting.

To provide guests with even more confidence in their investment despite widespread economic uncertainty, both Explorer100 members and jet card owners now have the ability to exercise a refund clause in their account in the event they need to re-assess their aviation needs.

"We've seen hesitancy among companies and individuals around making large, multi-year investments right now without knowing what the impact could be months and years down the line," says Tivnan. "While other providers continue to lock their customers into multi-year agreements, we want to provide an additional layer of risk and recession-proofing by allowing customers to recoup their unused investment if the need to pivot their business travel plans arises."

To meet the needs of returning corporate customers, both the Explorer100 membership and Magellan's jet cards provide the flexibility to shorten their callout time even further and book a jet within as little as 24 hours' notice.

"In the last six months, we've seen corporate business once again become a larger part of our customer base, and we want to ensure our travellers have the products that work for their business," he continues. "Callout time is important for our business clients. What has become certain is business travel uncertainty, and flexibility in scheduling and re-scheduling is critical. As market challenges have begun to subside, we've adapted, going from 72 hours down to the 24 hour call out ability."

Additional programme announcements include the unification of Magellan's primary service area to include all 48 contiguous United States, as well as the addition of several popular international destinations including Jamaica and the Cayman Islands.