flyExclusive enters exclusive agreement to provide aircraft management services to Volato Group Inc.

flyExclusive has announced that it has entered into an Aircraft Management Services Agreement with Volato Group, the largest HondaJet operator in the United States.

“As a fully integrated operator, flyExclusive is well-positioned to offer synergistic value to Volato’s clients and deliver enhanced value for our overall growing customer base,” said Jim Segrave, Founder and CEO of flyExclusive. “Over the years, we’ve made strategic investments to remove industry bottlenecks and grow and maintain a leading, consistent customer experience. We’re proud to welcome Volato’s customers and look forward to offering them access to our growing fleet of light, midsize and super-midsize jets.”

Under the terms of the agreement, the Company will manage flight operations, sales and expenses of Volato’s fleet, consisting of 13 fully fractionalized aircraft, 8 leased aircraft and 4 managed aircraft. The goal is to transfer aircraft to the flyExclusive certificate, which will occur over the coming months in coordination with the FAA. The Company will also execute the flights for the Volato customer base of approximately 184 fractional customers and 265 block customers on the Volato certificate, until they are moved over to FLYX agreements, in addition to Volato’s retail and wholesale business. This will significantly increase the FLYX direct-to-customer facing business as planned nearly immediately.

Volato expands HondaJet fleet by 50% to 24 aircraft

Volato a leading private aviation company and the largest HondaJet operator in the United States, has announced that it has expanded its fleet by 50% to a total of 24 HondaJet aircraft as of December 2023. The expansion includes the addition of three new aircraft delivered in December – two from direct Honda deliveries, and one managed plane. This marks a total of eight aircraft added to Volato’s HondaJet fleet in 2023.

The aircraft additions and rapid integration into the company’s operations represent execution of Volato’s strategic plan for systematic growth. Volato's growth strategy includes acquiring aircraft directly from Honda and contracting with owners to manage their planes. This approach has enabled Volato to expand while maintaining high standards in private air travel.

"Volato's measured and thoughtful approach to fleet expansion is critical to achieving our long-term plan for sustainable growth," said Matt Liotta, Co-Founder and CEO of Volato. "We have been creative and judicious in acquiring HondaJets through the open market while continuing to receive new aircraft from our HondaJet factory order. The recent deliveries allow us to expand our capacity at a pivotal time in Volato’s growth and increase our capacity to support our growing customer base.”

Volato rewards flexibility with 'Stretch Jet Card Program'

Volato, the private jet company is introducing the Volato Stretch Jet Card, the first and only jet card that rewards itinerary flexibility when you book a flight on a private jet. The in-fleet Stretch Jet Card rewards flexibility by stretching flight hours with Stretch Credits, which accrue for flight time on Volato's fleet of luxury HondaJets. When a Stretch Jet Cardholder requests their booking, they provide their ideal departure/arrival airports, departure time and a range in which they can be flexible from a quarter day to a full day. When the flight is confirmed, should their departure time or airport vary from their request, they are rewarded with Stretch Credits: fractions of hours deposited into their Stretch Jet Card wallet, thus stretching their balance of hours.  

"The industry has received an influx of leisure travellers who now represent the majority of private jet card aviation usage," said Matt Liotta, Co-Founder and CEO. "The Stretch Jet Card was designed for this growing segment of people who enjoy flexibility in their lives and rewards them for it. We anticipate strong interest from those in existing, fixed schedule programs who can secure a Stretch Jet Card for supplemental lift and potentially reduce their cost of flying by being rewarded when they or their loved ones can be flexible." 

The Stretch Jet Card Program solves a business problem within the private aviation industry by maximizing the use of assets without providing operational stress. Volato's HondaJets are ideal for missions with up to four passengers, across three hours.

"The Stretch Jet Card not only rewards those that enjoy a flexible itinerary, but it also increases operational efficiency and revenue as we can allocate flights when our fractional fleet owners are not flying themselves," said LouAnn Gray, Sales Manager for Stretch Jet Card and Volato Charter. "As our HondaJet fractional owners receive a revenue share of every live mission, they are happy to see increased aircraft utilization without impacting their own travel schedules. It's a win-win." 

To take advantage of the Stretch Jet Card Program, customers: