Boston-based jet charter operator, Waltzing Matilda Aviation (WMA) has noted a pick up in business in the past week having experienced a quiet April and first half of May.
Based on levels of activity at its home base – Laurence G Hanscom Field Airport in Bedford, Massachusetts, WMA believes business is coming back faster than for some of the bigger national players who have been forced to furlough crews during the downturn. Having maintained full staffing levels in recent months WMA has used some of this downtime to invest in new systems and enhance its website.
Commenting on how WMA has been fielding up to 50 jet charter enquiries a day up from 5-10 just two weeks ago, CEO John Thomas, said: “With a massive imbalance in clients wanting to fly from Florida to the North East we are seeing unbelievably low pricing for one way southbound flights as low as $6,500. But we don’t expect this imbalance will last for more than a couple of weeks after which southbound pricing will rise to their more normal levels.”
Thomas added that with the FET (Federal Excise Tax) holiday until the end of December, as well as low fuel prices, now is one of the cheapest times to fly privately. “We have picked up a number of new corporate customers who have already made the decision not to allow their staff to fly commercially for the forseeable future and therefore see private aviation as the only viable option.”
