Avantair
Since JonJuan and I rarely agree on numbers, I do not know who he would buy his Marquis card from but he could get a better deal directly from the company.
On the Marquis side of the business, I believe the XLS is more like $6760 per hour + fuel adjustment.
You can be in the XLS/Excel fleet at NJA for about $4100 hour + fuel adjustment, + depreciation (but if you but a pre-owned share at today's rate depreciation would not add up to much), plus cost of funds of about $400/hr. So that is about $4500/hr + fuel adjustment.
There are many advantages to being in the NJA fleet (like upgrading) which are not possible at Avantair. Also, the Piaggio is competitive for short flights, but not longer ones.
I am sure JonJuan will argue, but what does YOUR monthly statements say JJ???? I am not picking a fight, but JJ is not too accurate when it comes to facts.
I think Avantair has its place, I hope they stay around a while, improve service, etc. And I may be a Piaggio share owner one day. I have looked at them very closely and hope they succeed. They fill a big niche I need, but I am not yet comfortable with them. Maybe I am too conservative. I measure most things I do by a cost/benefit analysis (maybe it is my microeconomics degree), but when it comes to putting my family or collegaues on a plane that curve shifts dramitcally in favor of benefit, not cost. This is not to be interpreted as a "dis", but as an uncertainty in the analysis. And for these missions, I try to eliminate or minimize as many incertainties as possible.
Good luck Avantair -- you have come a long way from Fairfield!
Fly safe.
