Peter H. Leiman
A long hot summer
Discover your passions
We’re fingers crossed that England gets some sunshine this summer – not least so that we get blue skies at Blackbushe, our aircraft operating headquarters and primary UK base, just down the M3 from London. But even if the UK gets another wash-out, you can be sure of finding hot weather somewhere in Europe – even last week it was 30 degrees plus in the shade in Greece, Portugal and Spain. And Blink plans to get you there and to many other hot spots the next few months, with a seasonal programme of great fares to more than 200 summer airports.
Blink’s summer bases
Our fleet of 7 mustangs is already busy at work helping customers get the summer breaks to which they’ve been looking forward since last September. Whether it’s a weekend city break, a day at the seaside, a glamorous wedding or the first of long lazy days at the villa, Blink is delighted to get your summer started.
Escape with Blink
Every month, we’ll be advertising special promotional fares, some to everybody’s favourite hot spots, others to more exotic destinations off the beaten path. From our bases in London and Geneva, Blink and we’ll get you anywhere from Malaga to Malta, Dubrovnik to Stockholm.
EBACE 2010 – an opportunity to be excited
Once again, we’re approaching EBACE, the European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition, in Geneva (4-6 May 2010). EBACE is the largest educational event in the aviation industry in Europe. Now in its tenth year, EBACE brings together business leaders, government officials, manufacturers, corporate aviation department personnel and all manner of people involved in nearly all aspects of business aviation.
As usual, Blink will be participating with our Geneva office and aircraft hub on the door step to the show. We are also flying several clients directly to the show.
Conference agenda
This year’s conference themes are somewhat disappointing: EASA requirements, safety forums, aircraft leasing workshops, and a lot of hand-wringing over how and when the economy will turn. While these are important issues, they are hardly exciting or upbeat. Instead, the industry seems passive and pessimistic.
Blink’s agenda
Blink has a different message that we will be conveying. The industry can help itself out of its crisis by re-orientating to meet customers’ current needs for transparent, value for money travel solutions. Blink’s message has been resonating with our customers over the past few months and has given us reason to be excited.
You’ve asked for it and it’s coming….
I thought I’d give you a sneak peak of some of the exciting changes which we will introduce over the coming weeks. Since Blink launched, our core values of simplicity, innovation, and value-for-money have guided how we are differentiating ourself from our competitors. These new developments continue to reinforce our position as Europe’s air taxi service.
Website
We are introducing new functionality and features which we think you’ll find very useful.
- Online pricing and booking: you will finally be able to price your trips online and make a booking
- Last minute fare sales: we will be introducing new last minute “flash” fare sales which will enable to you take advantage of extraordinary deals on last minute trips
Summer bases
Beginning in mid-May, we will open our seasonal summer bases across the Mediterranean.
- Cannes – opens Thursday, 13 May 2010
- Olbia – opens 1 June 2010
- Ibiza/Palma/Mahon – opens 1 June 2010
We look forward to welcoming you onboard Blink in the near future. Visit our website regularly for the latest updates.
Blink, and your children are there
Flying is fun
For kids, plane rides are a grand adventure, a fascinating and fun experience. For parents, flying with children can be an adventure of a different type: dealing with crying children, baggage restrictions, long queues, and unpredictable delays can be quite an ordeal.
There is, however, an alternative where both parents and children of all ages can enjoy the journey, making the process of getting from A to B an enjoyable experience for all.
Blink’s air taxi service is ideally suited to families, with children of all ages, travelling together. We’re here to bypass all the hassle involved in flying commercially – the busy road to the major airport, the queues at the departure gate, the intrusive security controls, the frequent delays, lost bags, and the occasional but ruinous cancellations.
Children of all ages
With Blink, you just need to get to a small local airport and we’ll have you and your family and belongings up and away in 15 minutes. And that includes the kids – whatever the age. Babies under 24 months can sit on parents’ laps, and for those older, a car seat does the job. Strollers, prams and small cots all fit in the back. Just sit back and enjoy the ride – and let the kids get to work on their latest masterpiece…
Blink’s Captains are ready to show youngsters around the Mustang’s super-sophisticated dashboard, and to point out wonderful sites from the window as we swoop up into the sky. We’ve got snacks and drinks too, and we’ll make sure we pack crayons and paper.
Important child related facts
- Babies under 2 years old may sit on an adult’s lap; each adult flying may carry a baby, up to a maximum of 5 passengers (adults + children)
- Car seats are required for children over 2 who do not yet fit into a real seat with a seat belt; you can bring your own or Blink can provide a car seat
- Strollers, prams, and buggies fit easily in the luggage hold, while baby care bags, toys and other items required in-flight are welcome inside the cabin
- Blink is committed to your safety at all times, and ensures that necessary child-sized safety equipment is onboard when children are flying
The Blink Flight Services team is available to answer any questions you may have about travelling with children. Simply contact us via phone, email or online form.
Why two Blink jets are better than one larger non-Blink jet
Over the past few weeks, I’ve had numerous conversations with clients and prospective clients who wanted to charter a Blink jet but needed to travel with 6 to 8 people. These clients lamented that Blink only flies a four-seat jet, the Cessna Citation Mustang.
Two jet math: four plus four equals eight
What most people don’t realise is that it is possible to charter two (or more) Blink jets to transport more than 4 people together. In fact, not only is it possible, but it’s also cheaper: the cost of flying a larger group in two Blink jets is typically less expensive than chartering one larger, 8-seat aircraft.
In addition to the cost advantages, there are also scheduling and productivity advantages. With two aircraft, the planes can depart or return at different times to accommodate different travellers’ schedules.
The Blink fleet flying together
A few examples of instances when Blink clients have taken multiple Blink jets for larger groups:
- A group of eight flew to a summer home in Mahon on two Blink aircraft down from London. Both aircraft left at the same time Friday afternoon with one aircraft returning on Sunday evening and the other on Monday afternoon.
- A property company regularly uses three Blink jets to fly from London to the Channel Islands for board meetings. Moving 12 directors to Guernsey is a scheduling challenge for the company, not to mention that the directors live on all sides of London. Blink enables the directors to use 3 aircraft that are conveniently located to the directors’ homes. One aircraft departs from Farnborough, one aircraft from Luton, and one aircraft from Biggin Hill. Reduced commuting times give the directors more productive time in Jersey for their business. Multiple Blink jets also enable the directors to comply with their corporate governance policy which restricts the number of directors who are able to travel together on a single aircraft.
- A construction and tooling firm took six passengers on two planes from London to Jerez, Spain. Originally the two planes were going to depart together on a Wednesday with one returing on Friday evening and the second on Saturday afternoon. Shortly before the scheduled departure, the passengers learned that they needed to take a piece of tooling with them. Instead of delaying all the passengers, the first aircraft departed while the second waited for the tooling to arrive. The first passengers were able to make their meeting and tooling arrived about an hour later.
Taking off with a larger group
I’ve outlined a few examples of the advantages that travelling together with multiple jets can provide. Blink Flight Services is available to discuss your travel needs and advise you on what makes most sense for your journey.
If you do have a specific need for a larger aircraft than a Blink jet, we are able to work with our network of approved partners to charter larger aircraft such as a Citation CJ2+, a Citation XLS+, a Learjet 40/45 XR or long-haul Gulfstreams.
Next time you have more than four people travelling, be sure to ask us about how Blink could help you be more productive.
Presentation to the Jersey Airport Taskforce
Today, I presented an overview of development in European business aviation to the Jersey Airport Taskforce. The Taskforce is comprised of leaders within the Jersey business community and serves as a mechanism to ensure that Jersey stays at the forefront of aviation related developments. Jersey is an important market for Blink.
In 2009, Blink flew 540 flights to/from Jersey (which doesn’t include our flights to/from Guernsey). In the presentation, I discussed the growth of business aviation in Europe compared to the United States, the development of the air-taxi model, and how our model brings low fares to more destinations across Europe from the Channel Islands. The Taskforce asked probing questions related to Blink’s variable pricing based upon peak/off-peak periods during the day.
Below is an abridged version of that presentation (click the links below to view fullscreen, download or print):
Win a trip to Verbier – FT promotion in association with Blink
Blink has partnered with the Financial Times and Ski Verbier to offer an amazing Ski weekend in Verbier, Switzerland for up to four people. Register at www.ft.com/ski to win an all inclusive trip to Verbier. Travel in our of Blink jets and stay in one of Verbier’s most luxurious chalets.
You’ll stay in the chalet-style Hotel Mont Gelé – just metres from the piste and one of Verbier’s only genuine ski in/ski out properties, as well as an easy walk to the town centre’s excellent bars, restaurants and entertainments.
The prize includes
- Return flights, travelling in style on Blink – Europe’s air taxi service – from your nearest Blink airport
- Private transfers to and from Sion airport, just 50 minutes from Verbier
- 4 nights’ bed-and-breakfast with Ski Verbier – the leading chalet and hotel specialist – in the charming Hotel Mont Gelé, with afternoon tea and canapés included
- 4-day, full-area lift passes for your whole group
Remember, visit www.ft.com/ski to register to win!
Please note some important points from the full terms & conditions (available at www.ft.com/ski):
To enter the Prize Draw, Participants must collect 2 special Prize Draw entry codes – one entry code will be printed in each of the 13 February 2010, 20 February 2010 and 27 February 2010 editions of the FT newspaper. Participants must then go online to www.ft.com/ski and enter 2 entry codes, your name, email address and telephone number. Entry period is from 13 February 2010 – 5 March 2010.
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