Rich New Yorkers Tapping into Private Jets for Island Hops: A Luxurious Taxi Service overposting
The ultra-wealthy in New York are utilizing private jets as frequently as taxis, according to an aviation specialist, with journeys from Manhattan to nearby holiday destinations such as Nantucket becoming more common.
Ricky Sitomer, the founder of Star Jets International, mentioned that they have witnessed a surge in requests for trips under 300 miles increasing by approximately 35 percent during the last three years.
'The private jet company’s CEO stated that they can offer any aircraft at any moment and location.'
We operate approximately 1,500 aircraft globally, serving over 5,000 airfields. Clients can secure an aircraft with just a two-hour advance notice.
Sitomer's regular short-distance travelers include 'high-profile individuals such as celebrities, athletes, real estate professionals, and C-suite executives,' along with hedge fund managers and prominent figures in the cryptocurrency world.
Sitomer mentioned that popular journeys encompass 'helicopter rides and C-liners to the Hamptons, Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard and Toronto'.
He estimates that these kinds of trips have rocketed in demand by 35 percent over the past three years.
Customers shell out thousands of pounds per trip, with an eight-person plane traveling from New York to Nantucket costing approximately $5,000 one-way.
'Short journeys abound during summertime,' Sitomer mentioned. 'However, wintertime sees an increase in requests for extended trips to the Caribbean.'
'The demand for long-distance journeys is currently rising in Europe,' he further stated.
'Formula 1 is around the corner next week in Monaco, so we have a lot of travel there.
'There's demand for the Greek islands, the south of France, Portugal and Spain. London is always popular.'
Former stockbroker Sitomer has been providing private jet services since 2001, after spotting a gaping hole in the market when personal flights were much less frequent.
'Way back when I started in the industry, I was a private jet flyer and I didn't know where to go for a private aircraft,' he told .
'The sector has expanded and developed significantly since those times. I believe there are numerous operations functioning out there nowadays.'
Regarding passenger requests, Sitomer mentioned he has received everything from orders for White Castle and KFC to items like lobster tails and caviar.
‘I’ve been through it all,’ he stated, but chose not to share any details due to respecting the confidentiality of his well-known clientele.
Certainly, travelling via private jets also imposes a significant environmental burden due to their substantial carbon emissions, along with the financial expense for those using them.
Celebrities like Taylor Swift who are renowned for their opulent travel preferences when flying are often faced criticism for opting for fuel-thirsty planes over commercial travel.
A recent study published in the the academic journal Communications Earth & Environment lays bare the figures showing just how much the rich and famous are relying on private jets for short journeys, and what this means for the planet.
'Flight pattern analysis confirms extensive travel for leisure purposes, and for cultural and political events,' researchers Stefan Gössling, Andreas Humpe, and Jorge Cardoso Leitão wrote in the report published November 2024.
'Emissions increased by 46 percent between 2019 and 2023, with industry expectations of continued strong growth.'
This equates to 15.6 metric tons of carbon dioxide, or around 2 percent of all global aviation emissions.
Titled 'Private aviation is making a growing contribution to climate change ,' the study shows that half of these private flights are shorter than 310 miles - the distance from Manhattan to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Five percent of these trips cover a distance less than 30 miles, which is akin to the span from Brooklyn, New York, to New Haven in the adjacent state of Connecticut.
'The study notes that often, private aviation choices seem to substitute for automobiles either for saving time or enhancing convenience.'
The writers of the report advocate for regulating the industry to cap the rapidly increasing emissions it produces.
Among all the celebrities, the former Google CEO Eric Schmidt stands out. accumulated the highest number of air miles In 2024, with an impressive total of 612,868 air miles logged over 495 flights, as reported by an online tracking service.
Following him was Elon Musk of Tesla, who logged 320 flights aboard his luxurious Gulfstream G650 last year, trailed by Kim Kardashian, also using the same aircraft type with 236 flight journeys.
And in January, Kim’s sister Kylie Jenner faced backlash afterwards. reportedly taking a 15-minute flight from Los Angeles to California's Camarillo Airport .
When asked about the climate impacts of his industry, Sitomer told : 'We are cognizant of the environment.
'There are a lot of things that are not good for the environment and flying private is an important way to save time, and spend more time with your family and colleagues.'
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