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XOJET Continues Momentum in the First Half of 2011 as New Programs Drive 40% Growth

Dépèche transmise le 10 août 2011 par Business Wire

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--XOJET Inc., a leader in private aviation, today announced that it has achieved 40% year-over-year growth for the first half of 2011—highlighted by several consecutive months of record utilization and revenue. XOJET’s first-half growth is ahead of expectations and compares favorably to the 2% overall growth in the private aviation industry. To meet the ever-increasing demand for its services, XOJET also announced that it is continuing the expansion of its fleet with the addition of four* new Challenger 300** aircraft, the construction of a new Operations Center, and further investment in building the XOJET team by adding pilots and additional personnel in customer services, flight management, marketing, and sales.

“This center will enable us to leverage our position as an owner/operator by combining operational best practices we have developed and proven state-of-the-art technologies in a single facility unlike any other in the industry”

XOJET attributes its remarkable growth in part to the strength of its growing client network. “We have been truly humbled by the number of customer-driven referrals that we have received,” said Blair LaCorte, XOJET’s Chief Executive Officer. “Our clients appreciate our unique approach and are recommending us to their friends and colleagues. As the only company to own and operate our own fleet, we can control variables that others can’t. This operational control translates into a consistently high-quality customer experience, operational flexibility, and a tremendous private aviation value.”

Another key driver of XOJET’s growth has been two new programs the company introduced during the first half of this year. In February, XOJET announced XOJET Coast2Coast™—the first and only guaranteed program designed exclusively for transcontinental flyers. Only XOJET Coast2Coast addresses the unique needs of transcontinental flyers with the youngest fleet of 100% WiFi-enabled super-mid aircraft that make longer flights both comfortable and productive. In June, continuing its leadership and innovation, XOJET announced XOJET Preferred Access™, a unique program that provides members a menu of money-saving options for each flight, allowing them to avoid paying for unnecessary guarantees or other flight attributes that they don’t need or value. These two new programs have extended XOJET’s portfolio of innovative value-driven offerings. XOJET remains the only private aviation company to offer a complete range of services and programs from its popular Fixed Price and Custom Charter to Preferred Access programs and fully customized guaranteed-access Membership programs.

To address increasing demand, XOJET will add four new Challenger 300 aircraft to its fleet over the next several months, and expects to add more in 2012. “The XOJET team has impressed us with their focus on the customer experience and finding innovative solutions that introduce our products to the market in a whole new way,” said Steve Ridolfi, President, Bombardier Business Aircraft. “The XOJET Challenger 300 is a unique aircraft with numerous upgrades, including the quiet cabin sound package, enhanced avionics, and high-speed wireless Internet connectivity.”

XOJET is also nearing completion of a new 22,000-square-foot state-of-the-art Operations Center in Sacramento, CA, on the former site of McClellan Air Force Base. This new center will house XOJET’s flight planners and schedulers along with members of the XOJET management and customer service teams. “This center will enable us to leverage our position as an owner/operator by combining operational best practices we have developed and proven state-of-the-art technologies in a single facility unlike any other in the industry,” said Tracy Chaplin, Vice President of Procurement for XOJET. “The results will only serve to enhance our industry-leading safety and customer service programs.”

XOJET is also investing in its world-class team of aviation professionals. XOJET has added over 40 highly experienced pilots in the last 18 months, and the last half of 2011 will see the company add at least 40 more pilots. XOJET will also respond to continued growth in New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco with additional marketing, sales, customer service, and business development personnel in each market.

“Carefully managing our growth is of critical importance,” said David Cox, XOJET's Chief Operating Officer. “We are investing in our future and making sure we are building on a solid foundation that combines proven best practices; rock-solid systems and infrastructure; innovative, thoughtful use of technologies; and the best people in the industry.”

XOJET also achieved another milestone in recent months. In just one year since XOJET announced that it had installed wireless high-speed Internet connectivity on its entire fleet as part of its “Why Fly Without WiFi?” campaign, XOJET clients have downloaded more than 1 terabyte (TB) of data, indicating the increasing popularity of this free service with clients. XOJET is the only aviation company that offers its customers consistent, reliable access to the youngest fleet of upgraded super-mid aircraft in the industry – and includes high-speed wireless Internet connectivity on every flight.

As an owner and operator of its entire fleet, XOJET is structured differently than other private aviation companies. The operational control and flexibility that XOJET alone enjoys has allowed the company to develop a highly efficient asset optimization system that drives asset efficiency 40%-50% greater than standard fractional or charter models—while taking into account the more complex and qualitative elements of customer service. The integrated approach to optimizing both services and asset utility ensures that XOJET can deliver the best possible service at the greatest value to its customers.

For more information, please visit www.xojet.com.

About XOJET

XOJET, a TPG portfolio company founded in 2006, has become one of the fastest-growing private aviation companies in history, serving more than 3,500 customers worldwide. Our unique business model combines private jet membership, flexible programs, and fixed-price charter with a singular focus on providing the highest level of customer service at every point of the client’s experience. XOJET’s commitment to safety leadership has earned the highest safety ratings in the industry, and XOJET is the only business aviation provider to rank either #1 or #2 in all twelve ARG/US Platinum safety rating categories. In July 2010, XOJET became the first private aviation operator to enable its entire fleet with in-flight Wi-Fi Internet connectivity by equipping every Citation X and Challenger 300 in its fleet. For more information, please visit www.xojet.com.

* Order disclosed by Bombardier Aerospace on September 25, 2007.

** Trademark of Bombardier Inc. or its subsidiaries.