Taking a swipe at the traditional private jet scene, KinectAir aims to make the skies friendlier for the average Joe. Founded in 2019, this innovative platform focuses on private flights in the Pacific Northwest and offers On-Demand booking on their website. From December 2023, KinectAir promises cost-effective private jet travel by shifting flights through vacant segments across the United States[1].
They offer "Snap-deals" starting from around $111 per person, considering the price of pie-in-the-sky private jet travel a relic[1]. Speaking of prices, KinectAir's Co-CEO Katie Buss, a former US military pilot, shares her vision: "We want to change the way people think about short-haul flights. People think it's just for the billionaires and tech titans of the world. It's not cheap, but it's more accessible than most people think." She adds, "We want people to fly private, not just with Delta, but also to experience the thrill without breaking the bank or battling credit cards or concierge calls."[1]
Buss likens KinectAir to Uber disrupting taxis and Airbnb upending the hotel industry. To keep costs low, the platform relies on turboprop and piston engines, which are more fuel-efficient than conventional jets[2].
The actual price reduction comes from repositioning "empty leg" flights - flights that are already scheduled, leaving aircraft idle for passenger pickup and destination relocation. Ben Howard, the Co-CEO, states that rewards on KinectAir's products in the flight segment can reach up to 75% compared to standard private jet prices. Most bookings in this category are last-minute, with 75% of reservations made within 72 hours of the flight's departure[2].
Bass, as a pilot himself, assures security only with authorized flight operators that meet strict safety requirements.[3]
Although KinectAir's advertised fares frequently undercut commercial airline fares in economy class – especially for last-minute flights – the trade-off in speed can often be minimal. Using turbo-prop and piston engine aircraft, KinectAir's crafts theoretically keep operating costs low: "If you flew a jet to the same place, you'd pay five times as much and fly about five times faster," says Howard. "It's all about them grams, man,"[2]
There are even options available that beat the prices of commercial airlines: A nonstop one-seater flight from Phoenix to Palm Springs costs $300 with Sky Harbor International and $264 with Sun Country Airlines, with noticeable travel times and layovers[2]. KinectAir's Leerflug approach – flying single-occupancy turbo-prop or piston engine crafts – keeps costs down while avoiding lengthy check-ins and eliminating TSA checks.
The most appealing value proposition from KinectAir still comes in for last-minute flights, racketing up speed as demand increases: "In many cases, commercial airlines' per-seat costs are higher than private flights – not even considering first-class tickets," says Howard[2]. In fact, when comparing a four-person family's last-minute flight with United, KinectAir emerges as an affordable alternative.
KinectAir's most economic deal goes to a Diamond DA62 light aircraft flight, from Sunriver, Oregon, to Aurora, Oregon, on December 10, for a mere $333 or $111 per person for a 48-minute flight. Conversely, the priciest empty flight takes off from Spokane, Washington, to Bozeman, Idaho, on December 13, at a cost of $1,792 for the 80-passenger, 71-minute flight, translating to $224 per person. All these trips come without hidden membership fees or transaction costs.[4]
The closest competitor on the market to KinectAir is Airble, which eschews memberships, offers real prices instead of estimates, and provides an "Offers" section for empty leg flights. With over $10,000 for an eight-person flight from Phoenix to Palm Springs, Airble becomes the most expensive option as compared to KinectAir's last-minute offering.[5]
In summary, KinectAir seeks to disrupt the private aviation market with cost-effective solutions, leveraging single-occupancy turbo-prop and piston engine aircraft and empty leg flights. With a last-minute booking strategy, they aim to provide more affordable alternatives, even undercutting commercial airline fares for certain trips. KinectAir's target audience should be keen to embrace eco-conscious travel when considering regional air travel options.
[1] [2] [3] [4] [5]
Enrichment Data:
- KinectAir's advertising does not explicitly mention utilizing turbo-prop and piston engines in its offerings; rather, it focuses on offering private charter flights utilizing modern aircraft, as indicated in the platform's website and promotional materials.[5] However, the strategy of leveraging empty flight segments to offer discounted private jet flights is common practice in the private aviation industry, often referred to as "empty leg specials." These deals provide cost-effective options for travelers by utilizing aircraft that would otherwise return empty after dropping off passengers.[2]
KinectAir's approach to providing affordable private air travel likely encompasses other strategies such as competitive pricing, efficient operations, and possibly partnerships with other charter companies to optimally utilize their fleet. However, specific details on how they leverage empty flight segments are not provided in the existing information.[2]
