Avantair "Big Announcement"

[DO-82 driver]

Can someone explain....Who is Avantair? What do they do? I can't even see these folks as major players in this business...Sorry, I just don't see it.

 

[Dilligaff]

When is the Phenom expected to fly first? How soon could these aircraft actually be on the line if ordered by Avantair?

I read on the Embraer website that the Phenom 100's will be ready for service sometime in 2008 and the 300's sometime in 2009.

Dilligaff

 

[Dilligaff]

Sorry, I just don't see it.

Open your eyes.

25 aircraft with firm orders for another 50 Piaggios by 2010 and a new fleet type to be announced soon. 100 pilots now and expected to double the size of the pilot group this year. It's a young and growing company and it is a player in this business.

Dilligaff

 

[johnsonrod]

Niche Operator

Can someone explain....Who is Avantair? What do they do? I can't even see these folks as major players in this business...Sorry, I just don't see it.

Frankly, that's a bit of a condescending attitude. Avantair seems to be a successful niche operator thusfar. It is initially focusing on a much larger segment of the flying public - those people who can't afford shares in bigger jet aircraft but still want/need private aircraft flexibility/productivity. There are more of those people than people who can afford shares in Citation Excels, Xs, Galaxies, etc. Moving to slightly larger jet aircraft like the Phenom 100/300 makes sense given the interest in VLJs and they are nearer the price point of P180s - at least a lot closer than the price point of larger jet aircraft. Avantair would be looking at cross-selling opportunities - and that makes sense. It would be easier to make the jump from a P180 to a Phenom 100/300 than to a Hawker 800XP from a share-price standpoint.

I am sure a lot of people dismissed Netjets years ago - especially a lot of corporate and charter operators. I won't suggest that Avantair will do as well as Netjets, but it will be interesting to watch. Avantair's market is a lot larger than Netjets market (due to more people who can afford cheaper aircraft). Technological advances make it easier and cheaper for people to enjoy the benefits of private air travel that only super-rich people used to enjoy... I think Avantair is trying to take advantage of that - only time will tell.

 

[RTRHD]

Good Point JR.

 

[Cavpilot]

O.K. Avantair guys, this is not a slam, but I don't see it either. It has nothing to do with your company, but everything to do with the VLJ product. Without getting into specifics, it appears that the numbers just don't add up to make money with VLJs. This is why the current major players in the fractional market have not ordered any.

If someone can explain to me how a microjet can make money in the fractional market, I'm all ears.

 

[RTRHD]

Why not the same way an Citation does.

 

[Sctt@NJA]

I am sure VLJs could work fine in a fractional model. Since they hardly even exist yet it would be a pretty bold statement to say they wont work.

I know NetJets is not interested in them but we have our segment of the market and other operators have different segments of the market.

 

[gunfyter]

I heard there is a Avanti jet coming out in partnership with another manufacturer

 

[Cavpilot]

I am sure VLJs could work fine in a fractional model. Since they hardly even exist yet it would be a pretty bold statement to say they wont work.

Bold? No, just simple mathematics. Crew costs alone make VLJs a non-viable fractional aircraft. The monthly management fee would be almost the same as other small cabin aircraft in the fractional market. So apart from a lower initial investment the costs would be the same as a larger aircraft. I believe that this is the same reason that Flight Options decided to get out of the King Air business.

I'm sure someone will try it though, using cut-rate crews.