Private jet charter firm takes biggest ever booking – via iPhone app

Private jet booking service PrivateFly.com has secured its biggest booking – for a $500,000 Boeing 737 charter – via its iPhone app.

Private jet booking service PrivateFly.com has secured its biggest booking – for a $500,000 Boeing 737 charter – via its iPhone app.


The booking, made by a family in Saudi Arabia, was for a multi-leg business trip to Europe.


The client hired a 737, with an office, board room, lounge, VIP bedroom, and two bathrooms, capable of non-stop flights up to 6,192 nautical miles.


PrivateFly CEO and co-founder Adam Twidell said: “A few years ago many industry experts said that private jet customers wouldn’t book online, never mind through a phone app – but we are delighted to be proving them wrong.


“We now see six per cent of our sales originating from our app and this is growing fast. It is particularly utilised with the new breed of jet customer, including technology entrepreneurs.


“We have seen over 100,000 downloads globally since we launched our first generation iPhone app [in 2010].


“The $500,000 Boeing Business Jet flight was a particularly significant milestone because it proves that confidence in app technology has soared to the extent that such a significant, luxury purchase is being made this way.


“We have also booked a number of flights from enquiries directly generated by our social media channels, including a flight worth over £440,000 last month from a Twitter follower.”


He added: “Expertise and personalised VIP service will continue to be paramount in this industry, but that’s not to say it can’t be delivered by a combination of an expert team and bespoke technology.


“The traditional private jet market is changing and we believe client confidence will continue to grow in using new technologies. That’s why we’re investing in further app developments, which will be launched later this year.”