As health concerns remain and necessary precautions are taken to slow the spread of the COVID-19 Coronavirus, frequent travelers are questioning the safety of flying commercial. While a love of travel in all its forms is at the very core of who we are here at Tradewind, even those of us in the aviation industry recognize that crowded airports and aircraft simply aren’t conducive to keeping ourselves and those around us healthy.
For some, putting a long-term halt to travel isn’t a viable option. Whether you’re conducting essential business, travelling to help those in need, or visiting loved ones, private charter is a safer solution that offers minimized contact with others, streamlined processes, and of course, comfort when you need it most.
Tradewind’s private charter flights are operated on our fleet of Citation CJ3 jets and Pilatus PC-12 turboprops, which each offer spacious cabins designed for small numbers of people Citation CJ3s (best suited for medium-range flights) can accommodate six people, while Pilatus PC-12s (best suited for short-range flights) can accommodate up to eight people, depending on the configuration you choose. With smaller capacities than commercial aircraft, these planes don’t put passengers in close proximity to as many people and they give each passenger more space.
Private charters also avoid many close-contact pitfalls found in large airports. You arrive directly to private terminal or tarmac just before departure time, sidestepping bag check, security lines, and crowded gates. You also bypass baggage claim at your destination, and your bags are handled by as few people as possible. Ultimately, the streamlined nature of flying private reduces your risk of exposure as you travel.
Going beyond the inherent health benefits of a private charter, of course, Tradewind has also implemented a comprehensive plan to keep our passengers as safe as possible while they travel. Tradewind aircraft for private charters as well as our scheduled shuttle flights in the Northeast and Caribbean are undergoing extensive and regular cleaning and disinfecting. All aircraft surfaces have been treated with EnviroSystems BioShield 75 Biostatic, which is an antimicrobial protectant that has been shown to be effective against viruses. Additionally, all aircraft are disinfected and cleaned thoroughly before each flight and undergo Ozone treatments regularly. Our private lounges are also disinfected throughout the day and deep-cleaned at night, and hand sanitizer and other health and safety items are is always available for our guests and team members at our departure locations.
To offer more private travel options, we have also launched a new program called the private shuttle, just in time for the summer season. The private shuttle allows clients to secure an entire plane solely for their party at a significant discount compared to a private charter. On existing Northeast shuttle routes to Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard, ticket book holders may allocate flight credits to secure the plane. On other Northeast routing (or without tickets,) a private shuttle may be booked at a 20% discount off of normal private charter rates. Private shuttles are available at set times during the day, operated in our fleet of commuter-configured Pilatus PC-12 aircraft, and may be booked on any routing between Teterboro (TEB) or Westchester (HPN) and any location within 200 miles. Popular routing includes TEB or HPN to Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard, Montauk, East Hampton, Newport, Provincetown, Block Island, Chatham, and more!
Here at Tradewind, the health and wellbeing of our clients and team members is always our top priority and we will continue to monitor the situation and adapt to this new world. We assure you that our team is doing everything we can to keep you safe and healthy as we get you where you need to go.
To learn more about Tradewind private charters and private shuttles, or to book a scheduled flight, click here or call us at 1-800-376-7922. Tradewind also continues to operate many of our scheduled shuttle flights on our fleet of Pilatus PC-12s. To learn more about Tradewind’s comprehensive safety plan, please visit our COVID-19 Response page. For latest travel updates, please visit our Travel Advisory page.