Planet Nine Private Air comes to market

US-based long-haul charter operator Planet Nine (P9) has secured its FAA Part 135 operating certificate and has made its Falcon 7X available for charter. The company intends to have four 7Xs operational by year end with deliveries scheduled for August, September and December.

P9 is co-founded by Matt Walter and James Seagrim, both previously at Advanced Air, with offices in Los Angeles and London. It has a staff of 28 fulltime employees. In London Kirti Odedra heads the sales department and Bill Wulf, a former senior VP and CFO at NetJets, serves as chief financial officer.

Seagrim says: "Our operation will centre on a floating fleet model, and the efficiency it brings to our operations we can then pass on to our customers in the form of better pricing."

Wulf adds: "From my own experience there is an acute shortage of premium ultra-long haul aircraft available for ad hoc charter out of the US, and those charter management companies that have aircraft available have typically one or two aircraft at most. Our decision to go with a number of environmentally friendly Falcon 7Xs is going to make us appealing to a clientele that wants a special experience, and not to feel like it is traveling on an airline. The charter market is strong now, prices at the top end of the market are very frothy, and this is an opportune time for a well-funded, premium aircraft owner operator to debut. As we start to prove ourselves, delivering a reliable service and paying close attention to detail, which is hugely important, Planet Nine will become a valued niche player."