In the Media

Private Jet App

Using a private jet app saved us $3,000

A private jet app in Australia?

You read correctly, back in 2018 Airly was the first Australian private jet business to launch a dedicated private jet app. The idea was streamline and simplify the reservation process while easily displaying trip itineraries.

Over the years we continued to add or adjust as our business developed. And our app has even more incredible updates in the works.

By simply booking a private jet via the Airly app customers recently saved just under $3,000 on a Sydney to Gold Coast flight.

Private Jet App

We provide these market-leading rates without the need to sign up to a membership, or pay an annual fee.

These rates are available to anyone using the app.

But why are others more expensive?

At Airly we do things a little differently.

Due to our expansive network of customers along the East Coast we are able to be more efficient. By ‘threading’ flights together we can save money on empty flying and pass those savings onto the consumer.

Our vision was, is, and always will be private aviation made simple, accessible and more cost-effective.

By launching our now at-capacity and invite only card program, we tested a theory around affordability. That is if we could make flying private a little more within reach, would more people use us?

After 18 months of the card program’s operation, the answer to that theory has been a resounding yes, just take a look at our private jet card year in review article.

Airly partners with GlobeAir to expand international operations, creating a luxury ecosystem aimed at the affluent traveller

Hörsching (Linz), Austria and Melbourne, Australia, 28 July 2022 – GlobeAir AG and Airly have entered into a long-term strategic business partnership.

Austrian operator GlobeAir, the leading and award-winning private jet charter company in Europe, is proud to announce a new alliance with Australia’s most trusted private aviation company, Airly. GlobeAir will increase its presence in Australia by partnering with Airly, and both operators will transform their offerings to provide world-class service within Europe and Australia.

The new GlobeAir and Airly alliance will collaborate its commitment to maximising efficiency and putting more travellers back in control of their schedule, bringing together both organisations’ collective knowledge and experience to always keep the focus on the client.

‘’Through this new alliance, we will be able to offer enhanced travel services, international expansion efforts supported, and operational efficiency increased, resulting in win-win cooperation that will benefit our organisations and our customers.’’ Luke Hampshire, Airly CEO

Both organisations already have a growing clientele within Austria and Australia. The partnership will leverage both companies’ strengths to offer a better experience, especially with the upcoming European Winter and Australian Summer. Through this partnership, customers will receive discounted rates already agreed upon by both companies.

This new partnership will allow GlobeAir and Airly to expand their network and access over 1,600 airports in Europe and Australia. In addition, it will increase their exposure to the global aviation market.

‘’Globally, consumers are demanding more choice and convenience. In order to meet those demands, GlobeAir and Airly are able to collaborate to offer customers a better experience and higher flexibility within our respective regions.’’ Jonathan Berdoz, VP Sales & Marketing.

With a focus on digital transformation, GlobeAir and Airly lead within the Private Business Aviation sector and will maximise their existing infrastructure with passengers able to book flights within minutes using WhatsApp. This fantastic service provides quick and accessible services for travellers who want a quote or need help booking flights on the go.

With the popularity of WhatsApp as part of daily life, this service helps make travelling more efficient for passengers from the comfort of their cellphone, transforming travellers’ journeys from A to B, one flight at a time.

Customers can still expect to receive tailored travel solutions from the dedicated concierge service. Both organisations pride themselves on tailormade bespoke unforgettable travel experiences after every landing.

About GlobeAir
With more than 50% of the market share, GlobeAir is Europe’s leader in the entry-level private jet sector, including a premium experience. With 160 employees (80 pilots), the company generates about 96 per cent of its revenues abroad. GlobeAir is available 24/7 all over Europe with 21 private jets connecting European cities like London, Geneva, Zurich, Paris, Nice, and Milan with small airfields that are difficult to reach such as St. Moritz or Lugano and 950 more. The company has achieved its success through dedication and by offering bespoke service before, during and after the flight. Charter rates start from € 4,400, and empty legs from € 990.


*Prices per Cessna Citation Mustang Jet

About Airly
Airly is an Australian-based private aviation provider that was founded in December of 2015 launching charter and empty leg services.  Airly’s vision is to make flying private simple to understand, accessible to more, and at a palatable price point.  This vision was realised in June of 2021 with the launch of ACCESS by Airly.  The first program of its kind in Australia where card holders could pay a fixed, occupied hourly rate on the Cessna Citation Mustang along the East Coast of Australia covering destinations including Sydney, Melbourne, Gold Coast and Hamilton Island on the Great Barrier Reef.

Press Contacts
GlobeAir AG
Monika Zvonic
Marketing Manager
E-Mail: monika.zvonic@globeair.com
Phone: +43 (664) 8489906

Fly Airly Pty Ltd
Alexander Robinson
COO & Director
E-mail: alexander@airly.com
Phone: +61 (0) 422 446 701

How likely will your Melbourne – Sydney flight arrive on time?

We’ve been patiently waiting for the airline’s on time performance results from June.

Recently, there’s been substantial coverage on airline cancellations, delays and security queues going as far as the eye can see.

Our patience has been rewarded.

Less than half a chance of arriving on time from Sydney to Melbourne

Saying less than half is probably too nice.

If you flew commercial from Sydney to Melbourne you had a 42.5% chance of arriving on time.

A total of 15.3% of flights were cancelled too.

By all reports, July is looking no better as the airlines continue to fight their low cost staffing solutions, flu/covid and a lack of ‘match fit’ travellers (their words, not ours).

Remember George? In June he arrived to his destination right on time, every time.

This article is a bit of a throwback.

Remember George? He was the first card holder we introduced you to several months ago.

A multi business owner and super busy father of two, George was continually left stranded by the airlines.

This resulted in him being stuck at airports instead of being home to enjoy dinner with his young family.

He found our Access by Airly program back in June last year. We’re sure he’s watching the chaos ensuing in the domestic terminals not missing it one bit.

Airly acquires EmptyJets

Airly acquires EmptyJets

Airly, Australia’s fastest growing private aviation company, announces that it has entered into an agreement to acquire EmptyJets, a private jet empty leg booking platform.

Airly acquires EmptyJets

Founded in 2003, EmptyJets was the first company in the country to provide members with a unique opportunity to fly on a private jet at a fraction of the cost. EmptyJets’ leading position in the empty leg space will be complimented by Airly’s membership success and product simplicity.

Luke Hampshire, CEO of Airly.com says: “EmptyJets was the first in the country to challenge accessibility and affordability in the private aviation industry. We have always been inspired by them and perhaps considered ourselves healthy competitors a few years ago. But as we transitioned into innovative membership products we felt the need to feed the empty capacity being generated by us into a reputable independent platform. We cannot wait to add our touches to the EmptyJets product and continue its success into the future.”

What does that mean for EmptyJets members? EmptyJets will continue to operate as its own entity. We are planning technology improvements as will as simplifying how members consume our product including the membership structure.

Will anything change at Airly? Over the next few months we will transfer the empty leg facets of the business over to EmptyJets. Airly will then focus on premium private jet charter solutions along with its SHARED and ACCESS Programs.

More importantly, members will gain access to exclusive Airly generated empty legs that cannot be found on any other platform. Airly’s operations team are also engaging with every possible operator in the country to ensure we can build a reputable supply of empty legs to cover every budget.

Lee Teirney, Airly’s VP of Membership will assume the General Manager role of EmptyJets and lead it into an exciting phase of rejuvenation.

The former team of EmptyJets have showed an enormous appreciation of their members’ loyalty and cannot wait to see what lies ahead.

We look forward to bringing a touch of Airly to the EmptyJets brand, but most importantly provide the best possible value to the EmptyJets membership.

Embraer partners with Porsche

Imagine pairing your Phenom with a Porsche.

It can be some effort pairing your meal with the perfect wine.

But imagine pairing your private jet with a car.

Embraer partners with Porsche

Embraer recently turned heads partnering up with Porsche in providing an extremely limited edition duet of their world-leading Phenom 300E private jet with Porsche’s 911 Turbo S.

There are only 10 of these ‘sets’ available at a price starting fro $11m USD taking over 12 months from order to delivery.

It’s all about a “seamless transition” of road to sky, says Boris Apenbrink, the director of Porsche’s internal Exclusive Manufaktur department, during a video call to Executive Traveller about the collaboration.

“The jet is meant to be piloted by the owner himself, and we also wanted the car that was the most fun to drive itself.”

“This is about making dreams come true for our customers,” he continues. And yes, it’s a bit of stunt marketing in the process.

Neither party’s are saying whether this will be the first and final collaboration, so we wonder if the best is yet to come?

Airly Co Founder Luke Hampshire

‘Essential travel hasn’t stopped’: Australian private jet startup Airly has seen an 80% rise in usage during the coronavirus pandemic

View the full article here.

While the travel industry has taken a massive hit from the coronavirus pandemic, the number of people using Aussie private jet startup Airly has risen.

Airly, which launched in 2016, is an app-based service where members can book flights on a private jet – either by opting-in to an existing flight, or initiating a new one.

Co-founder Luke Hampshire told Business Insider Australia the service had been busy during the fourth quarter of 2019 until the bushfires hit and travel started declining. Then the coronavirus pandemic struck, initially causing a decline in usage.

But, in recent months, that has changed. Hampshire said usage on the app is up 80%, with the company doubling its membership numbers over the last three months.

The pandemic threw a very large spanner in the works for airlines both internationally and in Australia. In March, Qantas suspended all international flights, around 60% of domestic flights and stood down around 20,000 workers. Meanwhile, in April, Virgin Australia collapsed into voluntary administration.

Hampshire said flights over the past two weeks have been above average with June “looking very busy”.

Airly Co Founder Luke Hampshire

“We’re in one of the best positions globally from the COVID perspective,” Hampshire said. “We’re very nimble. We’re able to move quickly, we see the demand, we see the interest [and] we can apply that model to what’s required. Whereas the airlines are slow-moving. They have a lot of assets, they have a lot of moving parts that take time to scale up.”

How Airly works

Hampshire describes Airly as a service that merges the perks of private travel with the predictability of commercial flights. “The big goal has always been how can we make private [flights] accessible and affordable to more sophisticated travellers,” he said.

Airly doesn’t require users to pay ongoing membership fees.

“We don’t want people paying for not using us,” Hampshire said. “So basically we can get members in now with no ongoing fees, let them check the app out, let them initiate a flight risk-free, get them on board and get them flying.” It was a decision the company made once the coronavirus pandemic set in, as a new way to provide value for its members.

Once you download the app and apply for membership, you get to either opt in for an existing flight or initiate a flight.

“What happens is that it sends out a notification to all the other members that the flight’s been initiated,” Hampshire explained. “The big difference for us is that you’re not paying for the whole jet, you’re just paying for what you need. And then we rely on other members to get on board, get involved and to book as well.”

Cost-wise, a flight from Melbourne to Sydney or Sydney to the Gold Coast flight costs $1295 a seat each way.

Most of Airly’s customers are business owners

Airly isn’t a scheduled operation. The company had considered it as a business model in the past but never went ahead with it.

“What we feel is the best option is to let our members decide when they need to go,” he said. “Ironically, they tend to be at similar times, which is helpful. It means you can get more than one group of members on a round trip.”

“Members who didn’t know each other prior to the flight actually become strong connections by the end of the flight,” Hampshire added.

Most of Airly’s current customer base are business owners. “Essential travel hasn’t stopped,” Hampshire said.

He explained that there was a period of time during the start of the pandemic when everyone was isolating – something Airly was advocating for as well. No one was flying through March and part of April before travellers started returning, especially business owners who have to travel to each of their business locations.

“It’s quite a contrast to everyone expecting work from home and Zoom to take over,” Hampshire said. “We’re still seeing those business owners needing to get from A to B.”

As a charter flight company, Airly is capable of doing global flights, including repatriation trips all the way from Europe. However, the company’s core focus is its shared flights – mainly from Sydney to Melbourne.

While Airly can provide charter flights for one-off destinations, its shared flights aim to capture the most popular routes. They do seasonal flights to destinations like Byron Bay and the Sunshine Coast, as well as options later in June for the snow season.

The company considers itself a supplementary service rather than a competitor to commercial airlines

Airly has coronavirus preventative measures in place

Airly uses the Embraer range of aircraft – a four-seat option called a Phenom 100 and the eight-seater Phenom 300. Hampshire said having these planes provides consistency for passengers because “we don’t want to be throwing 10 different aircraft at members.”

Embraer Phenom 300
The eight seat Phenom 300

“They’re the perfect jet for us,” Hampshire said. “They’re capable of carrying a lot of luggage, they’re extremely economical, they’re the most carbon efficient jet available in Australia and it’s just a very comfortable ride for your one to two to three-hour flights.”

Hampshire also went through the measures Airly is taking to prevent coronavirus on flights.

Each passenger is required to provide a 14-day travel history before the flight. On the day of the flight, there are temperature checks at the door, and passengers are encouraged to use hand sanitiser. On shared flights, you’ll be required to use face masks, especially when there’s more than one group of members boarding.

While Airly had under 100 members for “a long period of time” through 2019, it now has more than 180 members. It wants to become the first point of call for people looking for a flight.

“The big goal now is to aggressively expand with our investors and keep increasing flights and as borders open we get Australia moving,” Hampshire said. “Right now it’s business travellers [and] we can’t wait until we can start moving leisure travellers around again.”