For the 13 weeks to 31 March 2017:
VistaJet, the first and only global aviation company, has today announced yet another record quarter, again demonstrating its ability to consistently capture greater market share with its strong value proposition of asset free risk and truly global access.
The company recorded EBITDA growth of 39% year-on-year following a record Q1 sales success, and increased yields and efficiency due to its global infrastructure and a continued focus on technology.
The company’s decision to grow its fleet to a total of over 70 identically branded and globally positioned aircraft continues to support its growth, and the average utilisation trend was positive month-on-month from January 2017 to March 2017.
In the traditionally weakest quarter of the year for the aviation industry, VistaJet recorded a 22% growth in flight revenues year-on-year. The majority of growth came from VistaJet’s Program segment, with existing customers utilising and upsizing their contracts and new clients choosing to subscribe to multi-year agreements. Sales of new annual Program hours increased by 79% year-on-year, demonstrating the company’s position as the only alternative to full or fractional aircraft ownership in the private aviation market. Program customers flew more hours in the first quarter than in any other period in VistaJet’s history, accounting for 55% of total hours globally, up from 53% against the same quarter last year.
VistaJet’s On Demand segment also grew year-on-year, with revenues increasing by 14% in spite of Easter falling outside of Q1 this year. Total On Demand flight hours remained steady year-on-year whilst live hours increased by a staggering 4% as the improvement in the ferry factor drove a decline in empty flight hours. Empty legs have long been a challenge for private aviation businesses, as companies with less scale and operational efficiency have to relocate their aircraft to pick up passengers. The company recently announced a ‘Ferry Free World’ for its Program clients.
VistaJet continues to record growth across the globe. The company increased its market share not only in the U.S. and Asia, both key target growth markets, but also in the more mature markets of Europe, Russia and CIS. VistaJet saw an increase of 15% year-on-year in flight hours in Europe, highlighting that the company continues to see significant growth potential in its established markets.
The U.S. business remains a driving factor in VistaJet’s flight hour growth and prospect pipeline. Flight hours in North America increased by 54% year-on-year. The company also increased its regional customer base and the number of aircraft positioned in the area, which helped it to deliver flight hours growth of 43% also in Central and South America.
VistaJet performed strongly in Asia, and Program customers within the region accounted for 25% of total hours sold during Q1 2017. As a result of their global flying and access needs, both corporate and private individual Program customers in Asia are mainly flying outside of the region to Europe, the Middle East and North America, helping to drive an increase in global flight hours.
VistaJet will continue to grow hours and revenues on its established and leading aircraft and technology infrastructure, improving utilisation, margins and the company’s financial strength. VistaJet, as the leading global private aviation company, is continuing to benefit from the trends away from asset ownership and secure new customers who previously had to choose between whole aircraft, fractional ownership, and an inconsistent and inferior charter offering.
