KinectAir – a new app-based service provider (similar to Uber), has started connecting potential customers with private plane operators. According to reports, the company will allow customers to book, a seat, at a relatively affordable price, on any “empty leg” repositioning flight all across the USA.<\/p>\n
Repositioning flights are those charter planes which fly empty to an airport to meet & pick up a customer. Considering the first leg of the flight would be empty, it allows the private operators to generate revenue by finding someone willing to book a seat on that journey. For customers, there is a huge potential saving to book such private charters since the flight will go to the destination airport with or without them. KinectAir states that prices for such private flight tickets could be as low as $111.<\/p>\n
The company claims that these “empty leg” flights offer a discount of up to 75% of a regular private aeroplane price. Also, most of the bookings are on short notice, with the company claiming three-quarters of them being made within 72 hours before travel.<\/p>\n
KinectAir also stated that to reduce prices further, the company is working with turbo-prop & piston-engine aircraft, which although fly slower are much cheaper to run than jet-powered aircraft. Also, the offerings are limited to short distances; within 500 miles.<\/p>\n
Katie Buss, Former pilot in the US Military & current Co-CEO of KinectAir, stated, “We want to change the way people think about short flights.” She added, “People think it\u2019s only for the Bill Gates and Elon Musks of the world. It\u2019s by no means cheap, but it\u2019s more accessible than most people think. Instead of just going to Delta, we want people to see what flying private would be like. It\u2019s a totally different way of travel.”<\/p>\n