Private Flights Could Become As Cheap As Commercial Airlines

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KinectAir is the latest venture to tout itself as the Uber of private aviation. In the public imagination, rideshare startups have dramatically transformed the taxi industry by providing a cheap and convenient service through smartphone apps. However, chartered flights can either be convenient or relatively cheap, but not both.

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KinectAir is, as its name suggests, an app-based service that connects potential passengers with private plane operators. According to CNN, the service aims to be competitive in the marketplace by focusing on shorter routes. KinectAir utilizes turboprop and piston-engined aircraft, slower than a typical airliner powered by turbofan engines. However, these planes are cheaper to operate.

The reduced operating costs reflect the per-hour rate charged to customers. The service’s Co-CEO Katie Buss told CNN:

“We want to change the way people think about short flights. People think it’s only for the Bill Gates and Elon Musks of the world. It’s by no means cheap, but it’s more accessible than most people think. Instead of just going to Delta, we want people to see what flying private would be like… It’s a totally different way of travel.”

The potential savings are even more substantial when a passenger books a place on a flight that was going to happen without them. Offering charter services will have to fly repositioning flights, where a plane has to be flown to an airport to meet a customer. It’s not uncommon for there to be no passengers onboard during these legs.

Private operators could generate revenue easily if they find someone willing to pay to be on board. KinectAir claims that its tickets start at $111, so it’s competitive with mainline commercial carriers. However, tickets this cheap rely on other people paying full price and creating a need for repositioning.

At a glance, it can be challenging to see a place for a flightshare app in an environment where major international airports are capping flight numbers to deal with the strain on air traffic control and other systems. Smaller airports are the real potential market for KinectAir. Many of these facilities rarely see a broad selection of services from airlines, and carriers tend only to operate flights from small airports to larger hubs.