While many airlines around the world buckled under the pressure of the COVID-19 pandemic, Verijet, a new private jet company and Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered Air Taxi Service, found room to thrive.
Increased interest in private travel may have given the company a boost, but Richard Kane, chairman and CEO for the company, credits the brand’s revolutionary approach to privatized flights.
And he’s on a mission to totally disrupt the aviation industry.
The Verijet Difference
There are several factors that set Verijet apart from other private jet companies, and many of those differences start with the company’s fleet. The Cirrus SF-50 Vision Jet, the exclusive aircraft of Verijet, uses a single cruise missile engine to operate, allowing the jets to fly low and slow while leaving only one-ninth the carbon footprint of the the average private aircraft. The Vision Jets also have the ability to burn four different biofuels, making it possible to have entirely carbon-neutral flights, as well.
But these features are not only appealing for environmental reasons. They also allow Verijet to operate in more airports, which, in turn, gets clients to their destinations faster.
In the early days of commercial air transportation, people were traveling at hundreds of miles per hour, Kane explained. Now, because of increased security measures and other delay-inducing issues at most airports, he estimates that travel time is down to about 70 mph, door-to-door.
“Verijet is about changing that and bringing it back to 300 miles per hour,” Kane said. “We have a jet that can land on short fields. It opens up 5,400 airports that let you board closer to your origin and closer to your destination, basically creating a 300-mph speed, door-to-door.”
Beyond the ability to utilize more airports, Verijet also has a patent on technology that allows clients to book flights based on street address. That means passengers can type in their home address, as well as the exact address of their destination, and Verijet’s booking system will find the closest and most convenient airports for them to travel to and from.
“It’s about using the right tool for the job,” Kane said. “For short hops, the right tool is a Vision Jet.”
The Onboard Experience
Verijet offers an intimate small jet experience with room for up to five passengers and one pilot. Pets are also welcome onboard (whether or not they’re a service animal). Kane compares the inside of a Cirrus Vision Jet to traveling inside an SUV with extra perks, including plugs for your electronics and a monitor that connects to your computer for hosting board meetings in the sky. Vision Jets also have much larger windows than the average commercial airplane or private jet, so passengers get the best views possible from every seat.
For clients who may be worried about a bumpy ride on such a small jet, these aircraft come equipped with technology that actively suppresses turbulence (like stabilizers on a cruise ship) and makes for a smooth ride. (It’s also important to note that these jets don’t have any restrooms, so they’re usually used for maximum three- to four-hour flights.)
At the end of the day, there are no flight attendants. The pilot and the passengers represent Verijet, so we need crazy happy pilots.
No matter where your clients are headed, at the heart of the Verijet experience are the pilots.
“We want pilots who are safe, personable and customer-focused,” Kane said. “At the end of the day, there are no flight attendants. The pilot and the passengers represent Verijet, so we need crazy happy pilots.”
Pilots will communicate their love of aviation to passengers, show them how the jet works and allow them to be a part of the full flight experience. Charging a predetermined price per flight (as opposed to per flight time) also adds to the company’s customer-first approach.
“You are part of the process,” Kane said. “You can decide if you want to go through a bumpy cloud or be silky smooth and spend a few more minutes. We charge one price ... so if we want to zigzag around [bad] weather, there’s no economic pressure to go through something bumpy and dangerous. We just go around it. If you’ve got the time, we’ve got the time. It’s a whole different way of experiencing a private charter.”
Unique Safety Features
For safety reasons, passenger aircraft are rarely authorized to operate with only one pilot. However, Verijet was able to receive Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approval for this, as the aircraft are fully outfitted with a host of features that make them incredibly safe.
For example, with the simple push of a button, anyone — including passengers — can land the jet with safe return technology in case of an emergency. Pushing a button activates the jet’s Safe Return Autoland technology, which will then analyze current weather conditions, the amount of gasoline left in the tank and the distance to the best-suited runway. Then comes the most impressive part: The Vision Jet can land itself.
In particularly dire situations, pulling a red lever will signal the plane to level out and deploy a parachute, allowing the jet to float down to safety. And if the pilot is incapacitated for some reason, the jet will speak to passengers and guide them as to when they should pull the lever and how to exit the jet, with technology powered by Garmin. It will also call for help so an ambulance can be waiting to offer assistance when the jet lands.
Expanding the Verijet Network
Verijet launched its operations in November 2020, offering flights mostly within an 800-mile radius around Orlando, Fla. Since then, the company has flown more than 800 customer flights that include approximately 40% repeat guests.
In late July, Verijet celebrated the launch of flights in California, with Santa Monica serving as its home base.
“We can be anywhere in California and pick you up within an hour,” Kane said.
In the coming weeks and months, Verijet will launch service in Texas and the Northeast U.S. with a home base in Boston. Kane also plans to expand to Europe — a goal that could become a reality in as little as six months.
Working With Travel Advisors
For travel planners looking to book their clients on Verijet, the company does not offer commission in the traditional sense, but does allow agents to sell directly to their own clients. Verijet can even provide advisors with their own dedicated phone number or website that allows them to track their clients’ bookings.
“We love it when someone has a relationship with the customer and brings them to us; we have charter brokers and travel agents,” Kane said, adding that advisors can book the Verijet service for $2,750 per hour and sell at the recommended rate of $3,000 per hour.
When asked about Verijet’s ideal client, Kane made it clear that he is targeting travelers who are tired of waiting around airports just to receive “terrible service” from most major airlines.
Travelers without easy access to major airport hubs are also great potential customers.
“When you have to pay a premium to sit in O’Hare [International Airport in Chicago] or Hartsfield-Jackson [Atlanta International Airport] because there is no direct service and there are a couple of people traveling, that’s when you should be on Verijet,” he said.
Travel advisors can reach out to the Verijet team for more information by emailing them at [email protected]
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