Web-Based Exchanges Matching Charter Passengers with Flights

Air charter buyers are increasingly turning to the Web to find flights, and facilitators such as CharterX and Avinode are leading this trend.

CharterX, which describes itself as the largest marketplace for air charter and private travel, says it has just signed up 25 new members, has exceeded one million air charter requests, and is now handling over 2,000 requests per day.

More than 1,500 business jets have availability data updated by the CharterX's Industry XChange each week, according to company, and its system currently stores information on more than 1,500 empty legs on any given day.

Because of its disparate market, air charter and unscheduled air taxi operators have unique requirements communicating information to potential clients on airplane availability, scheduling and pricing.

"As new aircraft enter the fray, new buyers and sellers join the market, and the overall business is maturing such that being connected is vitally important," according to Jim Betlyon, CharterX's  president.  "An online system optimizing and matching the demand and supply is absolutely necessary for air charter to thrive."

Gothenburg, Sweden-based Avinode, has quickly established itself in Europe as an important marketing channel for unscheduled smaller aircraft, and is now expanding into the U.S. as well.  02-06-2006.

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