Flights of Fancy

Palm Beach
May 2006

. . . He says that for people who make primarily quick day trips, charter, with its significantly lower per-hour charges, is a sensible choice. And some charter operators are attempting to simplify the way their business works. For example, Todd Rome, president of Blue Star Jets, says his company charges customers only for occupied hours and is fast gaining popularity among people who can afford to take their pick of aviation options.

"We have people that book 15 to 20 trips -- New York to Florida, Florida to New York -- for the whole season," he says. "So all they need to do is walk up to the jet and fly. People who are going to Nice, Cannes, St.Tropez, Monte Carlo -- we fly from Florida, New York or California directly to Nice airport, and usually the plane waits for them for a week or so and then takes them home. And usually the catering is off then charts -- we've done everything from caviar for lunch to surf-and-turf for dinner." . . .

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