28 November 2020: COVID-19 pandemic has sure put a dent in the passenger travel across the globe, but the post COVID-19 recovery phase has seen a jump in the passengers opting for charter flights. With the social-distancing norms in place and COVID-19 safety measures, travellers have shown preference for private charter. Many charter companies are investing in newer and advanced aircraft to meet passenger demands. Ventura Air Services recently took delivery of three aircraft, two Bombardier Challenger 604 10-passenger, twin-engine jets with a maximum range of 3,756 miles and a top cruising speed of 528 miles-per-hour. Besides this, Ventura is planning to add a two Cessna Citation Excel 560 series two-engine jets that can accommodate eight passengers.
Nick Tarascio, Ceo of Ventura Air Services said, “Ventura’s growth is reflective of the relative strength in the private aviation sector, coupled with our expansion goals. With the investment in our fleet and infrastructure, we are positioning the company as a leading air services provider in the New York region and beyond. Commercial aviation is on life support, and it’s harder to get flights. Many people are leveraging the benefits of charter flights because of health concerns, the overall convenience, and the exceptional experience we offer.”
The Post pandemic phase has seen that industry-wide, charter flights in the US have rebounded, regaining a 90 per cent booking capacity since June. Besides this, the federal government implemented a temporary moratorium on its 7.5 percent excise tax for charter air travel paid for in 2020.
Ventura has experienced increased demand for charters flights in recent months. This is due in part to the growing number of new charter travelers seeking safety, convenience, and air travel access. Ventura is also offering opportunities to make charter travel more cost-effective. Ventura is offering the opportunity to lock in tax-free flying in 2021 by prepaying for charter flights before the end of December. All prepaid customers will save 7.5 per cent and can receive additional bonus credits for savings up to a total of 11 per cent.
LIA President & CEO Kevin Law said, “This has been a challenging time for businesses in the state and throughout the country and thus we commend a successful local company like Ventura Air for its commitment to staying on Long Island, investing in our region and hiring additional employees.”
Tarascio added, “Private aviation is an important sector on Long Island and a vital part of the regional economy. I am very optimistic about the industry’s growth, as well as our vision for expansion and providing more options to our customers.”
Ventura presently employs 52 people and anticipates hiring an additional 25 over the next year. They plan to nearly double their size to accommodate the growth and hire pilots, flight logistics, and aircraft maintenance staff. They will have a charter fleet of 8 aircraft by the end of the year with aircraft which serve North, Central, South America, and the Caribbean.
According to industry sources, commercial air travel is down 75 per cent in November due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Private air charter companies report relatively robust growth among travelers seeking safer and more convenient travel methods. As an essential business, Ventura has continued to operate throughout the pandemic, including providing dozens of life-saving organ transplant flights each month. These flights are done in partnerships with several New York-area hospitals and are a significant part of the company’s business.
