Press Release
Issued by Chapman Freeborn Airchartering .
August 7, 2007
It has been widely reported this week that stressed out business travellers have coined a new term for their flights in and out of London: "Heathrow hassle".
London's business community and a number of politicians including London mayor Ken Livingstone have voiced their concern – that the way airports manage ramped-up security procedures put in place to counter potential security threats continue to cause travellers great inconvenience and delays on even the shortest domestic flights. This in turn poses a significant threat to London's status as a world financial centre, such is the difficulty for executives and traders visiting the capital who perceive that other European cities manage such procedures more efficiently.
With stricter checks ordered by the Home Office coupled with new security technology, just clearing passport control can now take more than an hour, longer than the flight time of some short haul flights to European business capitals such as Paris, Brussels or Amsterdam. With London's premier airport crippled with problems, and other London and regional airports similarly afflicted, UK based private jet charter companies are seeing a significant rise in business.
Chapman Freeborn, a market leader for private air charters, reports a 47% rise in business even from last summer, which was in itself exceptionally busy due to the security alerts. Executives are travelling to Europe, the Middle East and even transatlantic destinations. Clients using Chapman Freeborn can fly from smaller, less congested airports such Farnborough, or Biggin Hill, bypassing all the airport problems, whilst still undertaking the required security procedures. Terminals at such airports are a far cry from scenes at Heathrow.
Farnborough's brand new VIP terminal opened in 2006, winning a series of architectural awards. Travelling executives discover an ultra modern and efficient terminal - airy, comfortable, relaxing, discreet and secure. In addition, some of the major airports have general aviation facilities – smaller, private terminals geared to small groups of travelling executives and VIPs that charter small jets to get quickly from A to B. Security checks are just as stringent, but are simply completed in a matter of minutes, after which passengers can be whisked to a waiting jet, fly direct to their meetings, and back again in a day.
Furthermore, an international company like Chapman Freeborn has offices at many of the major European airports as well as in the Middle East, the USA and as far away as Singapore, Beijing, Hong Kong, Delhi and Mumbai and can assist executive and VIP passengers with an even smoother transition through the airport formalities whether from private jet to limo, private jet to helicopter or scheduled flight to private jet.
An example of a private jet charter with Chapman Freeborn on a popular business route such as Farnborough to Frankfurt and back on the same day would cost around £7,000 on a Citation Excel. The Excel is an 8-9 seat executive jet that is popular with Chapman Freeborn's clients as it has good baggage space and a stand-up cabin.
Clients could choose a smaller jet for even less but even the roomy Excel works out at less than £1,000 per head and that compares pretty favourably with a scheduled business class fare especially when you factor in the fact that the passengers will travel "hassle"-free through secure private facilities with airport formalities taking only 5-10 minutes. Oh and the fact that the Board meeting can continue onboard in the privacy your personal aircraft without other passengers listening in and you can enjoy catering provided to suit your individual preferences. Isn't that better than a choice of one or two varieties of limp shrink wrapped sandwiches?
It's no surprise then that savvy execs are choosing to travel this way not only on business but also to make the best use of their precious leisure time. Top destinations in summer include Nice, Sardinia, the Italian Riviera, the Greek Islands and in winter, Europe's most exclusive winter sports retreats and of course, the Caribbean.
Shahe Ouzounian, Managing Director of Chapman Freeborn's UK Head Office in Gatwick comments: "the trend for an increase in the number of passengers choosing to charter a private aircraft really and truly started after 9/11 and includes not only executive jet clients but also larger business groups, conference and incentive trips, bands on tour etc. "But this summer really has been a record for the number of executive charters that our VIP team have undertaken. The business jet market here in the UK and elsewhere in Europe is exceptionally buoyant with new aircraft coming onto the market virtually weekly. Even so, sometimes, availability at peak times such as holiday weekends or special events can still be scarce which is incredible.
"A recent executive client of ours who always charters on business but uses a well known airline for their personal travel, sent us an e-mail from a long and winding check-in queue at Heathrow. Their most telling words which described the frustration of spending two hours in an airport, mostly stood in line waiting to check in, go through security screening and passport control for a 90 minute flight to Nice was simply 'wish I'd gone private'."
Put simply "Heathrow hassle" is bad news for airports, airlines, business and leisure travellers alike and the reputation of London as a thriving economic centre. Executive jet charter offers an exceptionally viable, safe and secure alternative and thanks to companies like Chapman Freeborn, more and more passengers are discovering that 'private' really is the only way to travel when time is of the essence.
