Business - Locally-owned jet company offers alternative to airline travel

When traveling by air, be it two hours or a half a world away, getting to a destination is a day-long affair.

Saratoga Springs resident Frank Figliomini sees this everyday from his office at Albany International Airport.

Figliomini, CEO of Javian Jet Traveler, launched his private jet company in January 2008 after working for a private concierge company. He watched the chaos at airports and the aggravation they cause travelers.

“I watched airline travel begin to crumble, and it’s only going to get worse before it gets better,” he said. “I began to think that there has got to be a better way to travel.”

Instead of waiting around for the better way to come, Figliomini started his business.

“While private jets are not cheap and typically thought of as an elite service, I am trying to make private travel more efficient and affordable for the middle class,” he said.

The company offers weekend packages for six couples in Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket that include jet travel, hotel costs spa treatments and dinner for just over $1,000 per person.

“This enables the middle class to share an experience they might otherwise not get to have,” Figliomini said. “That’s what we are trying to do. Make the whole vacation, including travel, an experience.”

His business strives to meet all of his clients’ needs. Like a concierge service, Figliomini can book rental cars, hotels and personal services throughout his client’s trip.

“We will take care of everything from the moment the jet takes off until our client gets home,” he said. “I have yet to see any other company do this.”

Figliomini said Javian Jet Traveler is one of the only companies of this kind in the country. While the company is based out of Albany International Airport, jets can also pick up passengers in any of the smaller local airports, such as Saratoga, Washington and Warren County airports, and leave at any time. Private planes can also land anywhere as long as the landing strip is long enough.

“Commercial planes are in a gridlock. A delay in Los Angeles could cause delays in ten other airports. Flying privately you can come and go as you please,” he said.

If a larger group wants to rent out a private plane, Figliomini has access to anything as small as a six person VLJ (very light jet) to a Boeing 737.

“We gear each plane to the customer’s needs. If they need a large plane, we can get it. There are all kinds of planes available for private use, and they are only good if they are flying,” he said.

Figliomini makes each individual trip accessible for his clients. He arranged for a group of six men to take a weekend golf trip to Hilton Head, S.C., a ladies’ weekend in Cape Cod and family trips including small children and the family dog.

“We handle each case personally. If a group has specific needs, we’ll do our best to meet them. We’ll call our clients directly if something changes or if they can only have a certain number of suitcases. That’s not something a commercial airline is going to do, but for us, it’s just part of our job,” he said.

For more information, visit www.javianjetraveler.com or call (518) 242-2591.