US charter operator and aircraft management company Planet Nine has added two high-specification Gulfstream IVs to its Part 135 AOC. The latest arrivals boost the number of Gulfstream family aircraft models in its fleet to seven. Planet Nine has also taken on eight additional Gulfstream GIV pilots.

Both aircraft will be based out of Planet Nine's Van Nuys, California home, each offering a non-stop flying time of nine hours, with a 4,200nm range and featuring comfortable cabins, configured for 13 passengers in a versatile layout to work, dine and relax. Up to six passengers can be accommodated in lie flat sleeping. Onboard wi-fi is by Gogo. Both aircraft have generous galleys for food preparation, plus two lavatories.

“We are pleased to be expanding with this popular fleet type. This long range aircraft is especially good to service domestic travel requirements within the US,” says co-founder and director Matt Walter.

This Easter and into the summer, Planet Nine is seeing more demand for North America, for example, with a lot of requests for charter flights to Hawaii, Mexico, Florida and the Caribbean.

“Europe has notably dropped off a little, and that was a trend we were hearing at last week's Schedulers and Dispatchers gathering,” he acknowledges. But the team is pleased with how the business has advance in aircraft management as it approaches its fourth anniversary.

“Our team has worked admirably to build our reputation for reliability, focusing on customer care and service, and we are proud to be attracting new owners as a boutique provider in the ultra-long haul business jet market," adds director of operations James Seagrim. "The referrals we get are usually word of mouth from existing owners or client endorsement. Our floating fleet business model is popular with clients and owners equally, meaning we can respond to international charter demand more swiftly.”