LunaJets

Last updated
LunaJets
IndustryBusiness aviation
Founded2007
FounderEymeric Segard
Headquarters Geneva, Switzerland
Area served
Worldwide
ServicesPrivate jet charter
RevenueIncrease2.svg SFr  150 million (2022) [1]
Website www.lunajets.com

LunaJets is a private jet broker with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, where it has been based since it was founded in 2007 by former Ogilvy advertiser Eymeric Segard. Additionally, they have opened offices throughout the years in London, Paris, Monaco, Riga and Dubai.

Contents

It is privately owned by two of the founders.

As an online broker, the company does not own any aircraft, but rather matches operators and private jet owners with end user private jet clients to provide on-demand shorter flights and empty leg flight services. Over the years, LunaJets has developed a global network of 350 operators and access to 4,800 aircraft. [2] LunaJets, therefore, has access to all categories of aircraft, [2] both turboprop and jet-powered, ranging in size from Very Light Jets, such as the Cessna Citation Mustang, to VIP Airliners, such as Boeing Business Jets (BBJs) and Airbus Corporate Jets (ACJs).

History

Lunajets Headquarters in Geneva (SUI) LunaJets HeadQuarters.png
Lunajets Headquarters in Geneva (SUI)

2000s

LunaJets was founded in December 2007 [3] by Eymeric Segard, the company's acting CEO, after raising $US2million from private investors. The initial concept was to create an online platform to provide "empty leg flights", [4] and last minute “empty seats” on private planes flying empty at a discount from market price. ‘Empty legs’, also called in the industry as “deadhead,” “positioning, “or “ferry flights,” are planes flying without any passengers due to the need to reposition or return to their home base, among other reasons. They can be available at a discount of up to 75% of regular prices. At the time, entrepreneur Richard Branson launched a similar concept named "Virgin Charter" with entrepreneur Scott Duffy, [5] but for Lunajets, the concept of jet sharing and the resale of private jet seats did not work. [6] Virgin Charter, who at the time employed 100 people, stopped its operation in 2009 when private jet charter dropped dramatically due to the financial crisis. LunaJets however had sold its first empty leg seat by July 2008, shortly after Eymeric Segard had created LunaJets. The same year they developed their online booking platform with proprietary technology. In 2009 they launched their website branding itself as high tech, full service and low commission on demand private jet charter flights.

2010s

In 2010, LunaJets rebranded itself as a low-cost provider of private jet charter flights under the “fly private at the best price” slogan, offering on-demand charter flights and empty legs, and additionally opened up a new office in Hungary. In October 2014, Lunajets launched the third version of its website. In May 2015, LunaJets introduced the first version of their mobile application [7] (available on iOS, RiM and Android) presented by CNBC as the Uber of private aviation. As of 2015, LunaJets opened a regional office inside the Private Jet Terminal in Olbia, Italy and in Dubai and a new office in Ibiza. At that time, they had expanded to around 25 employees.

In 2017, LunaJets employed 40 individuals from 20 different nationalities, speaking 12 languages. The company reported 60 million Swiss francs in annual sales in 2018, a 40% increase from 2017. [8] That year, LunaJets organized approximately 5,000 flights, a 35% increase compared to the previous year. [8] In 2018, the economic magazine Bilan awarded LunaJets the title of Best Employer of the Year.

In 2010, LunaJets sold around 550 seats and had approximately 10 employees. By 2019, the company had increased its operations to 6,000 flights and expanded its workforce to 50 employees.

2020s

In 2021, LunaJets reported over 100 million Swiss francs in annual sales and organized more than 8,000 flights. The company employed 60 people across six key locations, including Geneva, Paris, London, Riga, Monaco, and Dubai. LunaJets experienced a record year in 2021, particularly in flight volume, as they served over 1,100 new clients for long-range flights spanning all continents. Additionally, LunaJets opened a new office in Monaco and relaunched their London office in 2021. In August of that year, the company also operated emergency charter flights out of Kabul.

In 2022, LunaJets continued to grow, with over 12,000 movements and 1,250 new clients, generating more than 150 million Swiss francs in revenue, a 40% year-over-year increase.[ citation needed ]

LunaGroup Charter, a sister company of LunaJets, also reported a 290% year-over-year increase in 2022. In February 2023, LunaJets inaugurated a new office in Dubai, its first location outside Europe, and plans to open additional offices in Zurich and Madrid in 2023. Over the past two years, Luna Aviation Group has expanded its presence to include locations in London, Paris, Riga, and Monaco.

Certifications and Associations

LunaJets holds ARGUS certification, [9] a widely respected symbol of excellence in the aviation industry. In 2015, the company became the first charter broker outside the United States to obtain this certification, which followed an in-depth in-house audit, [9] that is now conducted every two years.

LunaJets is a member of the European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) and the U.S. National Business Aviation Association (NBAA). [10]

LunaJets belongs to The Air Charter Association as an ARGUS certified broker member. [11] ARGUS is designed to promote higher levels of safety and customer service. [11] They offer aviation consulting, global audit standards and aviation analytics.

Subsidiaries

LunaJets is part of the Luna Aviation Group, which includes LunaSolutions, specializing in aircraft sales and acquisitions; LunaGroup Charter, catering to larger groups of passengers; and LunaLogistik, focusing on cargo and emergency charters. [12]

LunaGroup Charter is a part of the Luna Aviation Group and focuses on providing charter services for larger groups of passengers. In February 2022, LunaGroup Charter facilitated the travel of over 5,500 passengers on the same day for the Six Nations Rugby Championship. [13]

LunaSolutions, established in 2020, specializes in providing aircraft sales and acquisition services to clients interested in buying or selling private jets, including private individuals, corporations, and governments. The company aims to deliver tailored consultancy services for clients' private jet transactions. With main offices in Geneva, London, and Paris, [14] LunaSolutions has a team of industry professionals. By leveraging data gathered by LunaJets over more than a decade, LunaSolutions can estimate the history of each aircraft and offer informed advice to clients.

LunaLogistik assists private and corporate clients with air transportation services for goods, such as valuable art, important documents, hazardous materials, or large and heavy cargo. The company has main offices in Geneva and London. [15]

Business Model

LunaJets operates as an online broker, focusing on chartering private jets at competitive prices in the market. The company connects jet owners with end-user private jet clients. LunaJets' team uses proprietary technology to help find suitable options for clients.

Fleet

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Business jet</span> Civil jet aircraft used by companies

A business jet, private jet, or bizjet is a jet aircraft designed for transporting small groups of people, typically business executives and high-ranking associates. Business jets are generally designed for faster air travel and more personal comfort than commercial aircraft, and may be adapted for other roles, such as casualty evacuation or express parcel deliveries, and some are used by public bodies, government officials, VIPs, or even the armed forces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phoenix Air</span> Airline of the United States

Phoenix Air Group, often just referred to as Phoenix Air, is a non-scheduled airline headquartered in Cartersville, Georgia, USA, with the city's airport serving as its base. Founded in 1978 by Army helicopter pilot and race car driver Mark Thompson, Phoenix Air operates worldwide charter flights.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bookajet</span> British charter operator

Bookajet is a British aircraft charter and management company based at Farnborough Airport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Air charter</span> On-demand air transportation method

Air charter is the business of renting an entire aircraft as opposed to individual aircraft seats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sunwest Aviation</span> Canadian charter airline

Sunwest Aviation is an aircraft charter operator and fixed-base operator (FBO) based at the Calgary International Airport in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hawker 4000</span> Type of aircraft

The Hawker 4000, originally known as the Hawker Horizon, is a super-midsize business jet developed by Hawker Beechcraft.

Challenge Aero is a business aviation airline based in Kyiv, Ukraine established in 2002. It operates charter flights within Ukraine and to neighbouring CIS countries.

Air transports for heads of state and government are, in many countries, provided by the air force in specially equipped airliners or business jets. One such aircraft in particular has become part of popular culture: Air Force One, used by the President of the United States and operated by the United States Air Force. Other well known official aircraft include the Russian presidential aircraft, the British Royal Air Force VIP aircraft, the French Cotam 001, the Royal Canadian Air Force VIP aircraft, the German Konrad Adenauer, the Royal Australian Airforce VIP aircraft, the Japanese Air Force One, the South Korean Code One, Air India One, the Brazilian Air Force One, and the Israeli Wing of Zion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pratt & Whitney Canada PW300</span> Aircraft turbofan jet engine

The Pratt & Whitney Canada PW300 series is a family of turbofan jet engines developed by Pratt & Whitney Canada specifically for business jet applications.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beechcraft Premier I</span> American light business jet

The Beechcraft Premier I is a light business jet aircraft manufactured by the Beechcraft division of Hawker Beechcraft. The aircraft was designed to compete with the Cessna CitationJet series of aircraft.

Jetalliance Flugbetriebs GesmbH was a chartered airplane provider based in Oberwaltersdorf, Austria. It was established and started operations in 1996 and used to operate an extensive business jet network. Its main base was Vienna International Airport..

Tyrolean Jets & Services (TJS) was established in 1978 as Austria's first executive air operator, operating business jets and management jets for Swarovski's Corporate Flight Department and for clients on the worldwide air charter market.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Starlink Aviation</span> Canadian charter airline

Starlink Aviation is a Canadian charter airline and a fixed-base operator. It is based at the Montréal–Trudeau International Airport in Dorval, Quebec.

Western Aviation is Aircraft Charter Company based in Dubai. It provides charter flights for corporates and leisure travelers between the Middle East, Europe, Asia, Africa, Russia, CIS Countries and other famous destinations like Maldives, Mauritius and Seychelles.

Aviesa S.A de C.V is a charter airline of Mexico. Its services are FBO, ACMI, handling, aircraft lease and sale, air taxi, VIP charters, aircraft management, air ambulance, cargo, aircraft repair and support for commercial and private aviation. Founded in 1986 by Grupo Hermanos Abed (GHA), the airline was grounded in 1994 after the company's demise. The airline was reborn the next year as an independent entity and in 2002 was acquired by Asclepiodoto Abed, the former director of GHA. It was under their control until October 2008, when Abed died : after his death, Aviesa was converted into a 100% individual company. Aviesa's base of operations is located at Toluca Airport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pentastar Aviation</span> Airline of the United States

Pentastar Aviation is an American aviation services company based in Waterford, Oakland County, Michigan. It provides domestic and international private charter flights, avionics, maintenance services, in-flight catering and FBO services. Originally a subsidiary of the Chrysler Corporation, the company was sold in 2001 to Ford family member Edsel B. Ford II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aerotucán</span> Mexican airline

Aerotucan is a Mexican airline based in Oaxaca, Oaxaca.

Delta Private Jets, Inc. was an airline of the United States. Its corporate headquarters was on the property of Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport in Boone County, Kentucky. It operated business jet aircraft as a subsidiary of Delta Air Lines. Its main base was Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Honeywell Primus</span> Electronic flight instrument system

Honeywell Primus is a range of Electronic Flight Instrument System (EFIS) glass cockpits manufactured by Honeywell Aerospace. Each system is composed of multiple display units used as primary flight display and multi-function display.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coral Creek Airport</span> Airport in Placida, Florida

Coral Creek Airport is a private-use airport located 2 miles northeast of Boca Grande, a community on Gasparilla Island in southwest Florida, United States. The airport itself is located in Placida in Charlotte County, about a mile north of the separately-owned Coral Creek Club. The airport is privately owned by BK IV AS, L.L.C.

References

  1. ↑ Lynch, Kerry. "Luna Aviation Group Posts Record Returns in 2022". Aviation International News. Retrieved 2023-05-03.
  2. 1 2 "A Global Network of Private Jets |✈ LunaJets". www.lunajets.com.
  3. ↑ "LunaJets launch low cost private jet travel up to 80% cheaper". The Travel Magazine. July 20, 2008.
  4. ↑ "LunaJets says empty legs bargain attracts new clients". Charter Broker Magazine. June 2010.
  5. ↑ "Virgin Charter Launches Private Aviation Marketplace". TechCrunch.
  6. ↑ "L'Économie de partage s'étend à l'aviation privée". tdg.ch (in French).
  7. ↑ "LunaJets nearly doubles revenue but forecasts clouds ahead | Magazine | Business Air News". www.businessairnews.com. Retrieved 2022-12-08.
  8. 1 2 "LunaJets vise 100 millions de revenus fin 2020". Agefi.com.
  9. 1 2 "LunaJets is first European charter broker to earn ARGUS rating". businessairportinternational.com. 11 November 2015. Archived from the original on 2018-08-01.
  10. ↑ "Our difference | Our team | Our background | LunaJets". lunajets.com. Archived from the original on 2018-09-18. Retrieved 2019-03-18.
  11. 1 2 "Members Directory". The Air Charter Association.
  12. ↑ "Luna Aviation Group |✈ LunaJets". www.lunajets.com. Retrieved 2022-06-22.
  13. ↑ "Aircraft charter for the Six Nations | LunaGroup Charter". www.lunagroupcharter.com. Retrieved 2022-12-08.
  14. ↑ "Aircraft Aviation Experts | LunaSolutions". www.lunaaircraftsolutions.com. Retrieved 2022-06-22.
  15. ↑ "Global Multimodal Logistics Experts for You | Luna Logistik". www.lunalogistik.com. Retrieved 2022-12-08.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.