The ash settles
Eyjafjallajokull and it’s volcanic ash cloud have provoked a media storm over the last couple of weeks – not to mention huge disruption for passengers across Europe and beyond. It’s been an unprecedented time for the private aviation industry as vast numbers of stranded travellers who would not normally consider taking a private jet have sought to do just that. For the most part, it’s been a great opportunity for us at PrivateFly – and the whole of the industry – to showcase the flexibility of private aviation charter: With such a large operator network at our disposal, we were able to help clients in a number of ways – including using European airports and operators outside of the no-fly-zone (organising ground/rail transportation to get clients there) and, for shorter journeys, using traditional piston aircraft which were still able to fly.
Our clients over this period included:
- Michelle McGovern from Dublin, who was left stranded in London after a planned business day trip and unable to get home to her newborn baby. Within three hours of her call, PrivateFly arranged a PA31 Piper Chieftain propeller aircraft from Lydd airfield in Kent to Dublin Western airport with operator LyddAir. Michelle said “It was very worrying but thankfully PrivateFly were able to respond so quickly. It was such a relief to get back to my family”.
- The US-based board of a leading international publishing group were in London for meetings and urgently needed to get back to New York. The Executive PA called PrivateFly on the Monday morning and at midday the clients departed from London in a mammoth 14-hour limousine transfer to Barcelona, via the Eurotunnel. Operator Aerodynamics Malaga arranged a Legacy 600 from Barcelona to Teterboro airport, which departed on the Tuesday morning via a refuelling stop in Santa Maria in the Azores. By Tuesday evening they were back in New York. The Executive PA commented “I cannot thank you, and your team, enough for the help and assistance you have given us. You have all been fantastic! Your calm and reassuring manner throughout made my job a whole lot easier”.
- Telecommunications executive Andrew Reid and his wide Katy were facing the prospect of missing the Scottish wedding celebrations of Olympic cycling star Sir Chris Hoy. PrivateFly arranged a flight from Kemble airfield to Aberdeen International with operator PropStar on a Cessna 182 piston aircraft. Andrew said “We were so thrilled to make it against the odds and it certainly added a note of drama to the occasion! We enjoyed the flight too – it was a great way to travel”.
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