NetJets already exists, but it is different. It is more like owning without the headache and they also offer fractional ownership. It is damn near impossible to beat NetJets on pricing because they can finance the aircraft via Berkshire Hathaway's AAA.<p>This seems like a different market. I am not quite sure I understand it. It looks like it is flying private rather than first class on standard routes. The advantage to charters is that you don't have to go through security, and you can fly from nowhere to nowhere direct. I don't understand this business model. It seems like they are flying standard routes.<p>New York to LA on a private jet is worse than commercial because you are stuck in a 6 foot diameter pipe for 4.5 hours, rather than a first class seat on a normal airplane.
This strikes me as a good idea, on paper.<p>If I may play the traditional role of first-comment-is-negative however:<p>1. NetJets are a fractional ownership company who are probably going to remain more popular at this level of society because they're a full service outfit;<p>2. Charter companies already run their planes efficiently, so they may be in a position to match on price on some routes;<p>3. I suspect that for a lot of really <i>really</i> rich people, owning a plane is not a purely financial decision. It's a status signal.<p>All that being said ... it might just work by creating a new market segment -- people who can afford business or first class but can't quite justify private charters.<p>I think people on HN sometimes underestimate the importance of the middleman in economic life. You don't have to be B2C or B2B with a direct product or service. Often the most profitable position is as the switchboard.
Slightly offtopic:<p>What I found out the other day is that Jesse Jaymes [1] who sang the song "College Girls are Easy" founded Marquis Jets, a similar-ish service.<p>He's also married to the billionaire founder of Spanx. Extraordinary career trajectory.<p>[1] <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesse_Itzler" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesse_Itzler</a>