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The Lounge
3 mins
Tony McCombe is a veteran of the aviation industry with over 23 years of experience, during which he owned and operated his own air charter and air ambulance businesses. Driven by his passion for aviation, Tony founded private jet charter business Djets in 2018. Acting as an aircraft search partner, Auckland-based Djets connects clients with the perfect charter aircraft, wherever and whenever they need to fly.
Tony and I discussed the value of private jet travel, empty leg deals and his charity, Uplift in Kind.
“You’re buying time” –that’s the way Tony looks at private jet travel. When flying private, you get the convenience and flexibility to fly when, how and where suits you. Let’s be honest, we’ve all experienced that sinking feeling in our stomachs when you realise you just might miss your flight, but that is a thing of the past when travelling private. If that meeting runs over time or traffic has you stuck on the freeway, you have the luxury of knowing the aircraft is at your beck and call and is not going anywhere until you are aboard.
Passengers want to feel in control and flying private offers that service; charter businesses will keep you in the loop about what’s going on behind the scenes, secure your privacy and ensure all of your requirements are met. According to Tony, along with the convenience that comes with private jet travel, Djets offers transparency, bringing the best offers to its clients.
We’re in the business of nurturing what our clients need.
Even the wealthiest of people love a good deal, and the best thing about empty leg deals is that they can suit anyone. Tony finds many of his clients use a combination of empty legs and full-price normal charters to meet their travel needs. And as Tony notes, flying a private jet, even on an empty leg, gives you pretty good bragging rights at the local pub!
While Djets keeps him plenty busy, Tony still finds time to give back to the community he serves. Founded by Tony in 2019, Uplift in Kind is a charity that offers aviation experiences for those less fortunate. The program uses charter providers and partners to provide experiences to children in need by offering spare seats, care flights and aviation adventures to those doing it tough.
It sidelines beautifully with what we’re doing. We’re sourcing aircraft for clients and then we’re sourcing aircraft for good.
A post shared by Uplift In Kind (@upliftinkind)
Uplift in Kind recently took a young girl with a serious medical condition and her dad on the joy flight of a lifetime over Milford Sound; a life-changing experience that brought joy to her life and that of her family during an extremely difficult chapter.
Combatting the bad rap that private jet travel often gets, Uplift in Kind’s catchphrase is “aviation for good”; an apt tag line for a charity that delivers uplifting aviation experiences to those who need it most.
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