Greg Johnson, CEO of OneSky Jets, spent seven years at FedEx as a logistics executive in a role he described as “the boss of Tom Hanks’ character in the movie Castaway.” Helium Report spoke with Johnson to learn how he leverages his engineering background in route optimization as co-founder of OneSky Jets, an on-demand air charter provider.

A pilot himself, Johnson (photo, below) and his partner Henry Laughlin have nearly 50 years of combined experience in the aviation industry. The two teamed up to offer what Johnson called a “hybrid of high-touch and technology” for the air charter industry.

As an on-demand charter provider, OneSky attempts to differentiate itself with both its technology and pricing. Johnson pointed out that fees for their most popular route (New York to West Palm Beach) are often less than the typical “2X round trip” costs charged by other providers. Since the lane is the most heavily trafficked for OneSky, the firm can usually find a match and provide a discount to travelers who would otherwise pay to reposition planes at the front- and back-end of lengthier stays.

OneSky offers simple, online tools to determine pricing for various routes. Unlike most other charter providers, OneSky allows visitors to search listings anonymously (no registration required), making the website the most visited charter provider according to Johnson. In addition to a simple web form, travelers can also utilize a live chat service to interact directly with a representative. An ‘empty leg’ ticker also scrolls on the home page to highlight special offers. Johnson says 70-80% of OneSky customers submit requests online.

OneSky uses ARG/US to vet the fleet of aviation service providers, requiring a minimum of a Gold rating for its FAA Certified Part 135 air carriers. Johnson says OneSky utilizes an average cost model to keep fees lower than if they were on a per itinerary basis.

Johnson also touts the firm’s live feed from the FAA, which he says helps OneSky find backup airplanes in situations where the original choice is no longer available. By using online supply sourcing, OneSky attempts to reduce the cost of repositioning airplanes, which on-demand charter firms pass on to consumers.

OneSky recently launched its Latitude Membership program which is similar to fractional card and membership programs that allow travelers to pre-pay instead of wiring funds for each trip. The program guarantees an occupied hourly rate for frequent fliers who travel more than 15 hours a year.

For more information about on-demand charter and how it compares to fractional cards and membership programs, download Helium Report’s free Decision Guide to Private Air Travel here.

OneSky Jet home page (above) and images courtesy OneSky Jets.

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