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DayJet trippers
New air service in Naples has attracted 70 members from 33 area companies
MICHELLE LE / Daily News
Julie Murphy, DayJet director of sales, speaks to newly signed DayJet member Ed Turville, who is managing director of REMS Group, at DayJet’s open house at Naples Municipal Airport on Wednesday. DayJet launched its service at airport on Jan. 9.
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Ready to DayJet?
Longtime Naples securities attorney Tom Grady has done it eight times. And other busy business executives in Collier County are doing it, too.
Since DayJet launched its service at the Naples Municipal Airport on Jan. 9, 70 people from 33 area companies have become members, allowing them to fly on the new, regional, on-demand air taxi service that shuttles passengers to smaller cities.
The airline hopes to get a lot more local customers, with the official launch of its DayPort this week in Naples. At an open house Wednesday at the Naples airport, the company’s CEO Ed Iacobucci said DayJet had already handled more than 60 flights in Naples, and it’s quickly catching up to other areas with DayPorts.
“Our schedule is your schedule,” he said to a crowd of about 50, who gathered for the open house.
Balloons in DayJet’s signature rainbow colors floated among colorful posters on easels. One of those posters caught everyone’s eye. “Seize the day. Naples business travel is set for a complete departure,” it stated.
“This is a great day for the business community. What this means to the business community is just phenomenal,” said C.J. Hueston, incoming board chairman of the Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce.
She encouraged everyone attending the event to spread the word about DayJet.
It was a second try at having an open house. The first one, scheduled for a few weeks ago, was canceled because of heavy fog. This time the company promised the event would go on “rain or shine.” It rained.
DayJet now flies to 45 locations. The company spent more than five years perfecting its technology that’s the key to handling its per-seat, on-demand service. Iacobucci promises “over 99 percent availability.”
There are now seven DayPorts, mostly in Florida. Besides Naples, locations include Boca Raton, Gainesville, Lakeland and Savannah, Ga.
“The network has grown,” Iacobucci said. “Last month we did close to 1,000 changeovers, which is 1,000 takeoffs and landings.”
DayJet has a fleet of 28 airplanes. It expects to grow that number to 100 by the end of the year, and one day there could be more than 1,000, depending on its success, Iacobucci said.
Business and political leaders at the open house talked about how the service will make it much easier for them to get to Tallahassee from Naples, a trip that’s next to impossible by air without spending a ton of money and five or six hours traveling.
“This city has just been waiting for a service like DayJet,” said Naples Mayor Bill Barnett.
The service has the potential to lure more businesses here and to encourage others to expand, said Tammie Nemecek, executive director of Collier County’s Economic Development Council.
“We are hoping it will become a day base,” she said.
By that she means that planes, pilots and other crew members would one day be stationed here, returning home at night.
Collier County Commission Chairman Tom Henning said despite an economic slowdown, people still want to come to Naples for its warm climate, natural attractions, shops and fine restaurants, and he thinks DayJet will help bring more visitors here.
“We have a great story here and you’re going to help us share that,” he said.
Grady stood up to say how grateful he is to have the service and how he’ll need it even more if his campaign to become a state representative is successful. He described the airline’s Eclipse 500 planes as amazing.
“This is a green airplane,” he said. “It sips fuel.”
He too encouraged others at the event to sign up as members. That requires a $250 annual fee and a promise to fly at least four times a year.
“Guys fly it,” Grady said. “It’s great.”
DayJet’s prices depend on the flexibility of flyers. The one-way cost from Naples to Tallahassee could range anywhere from $350 to $1,100, Iacobucci said.
After the speeches, DayJet offered tours of the planes, which carry two pilots and up to three passengers. Crew members shuffled people into the planes, carrying umbrellas to keep them from getting drenched. The inside of the airplane is the size of a minivan.
Naples Airport Authority Commissioner Peter Manion said the new service, along with the launch of new Continental flights to Miami and Tampa today, will help soften the blow of losing Delta’s daily flights in October.
“We’ve been working hard on adding carriers in here,” Manion said. “We’re still trying to get American Airlines in here for service to Miami.”
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I think it is an interesting idea, and it will probably work. $700 to go to Tallahassee, round-trip, sounds steep to me, but if your a lawyer or a banker, and your billing a third party....what the hell.
What I really noted was that Collier County Comm. Chairman Tom Hennig made the following statement:
"You have a great story here, and you are going to help us share that". That smacked of using the press to publicize their service. He must have an interest in the business, I would surmise. I could be wrong.
The same man of influence delighted us with this wisdom. He says DayJet will bring more visitors here. True. But if the planes currently hold 3 passengers, how many people can they get down here with the current 28 planes?
All publicity is good publicity, the adage goes. This Henning guy must of had too many mimosas in the celebration.
#1 Posted by volochine on February 14, 2008 at 12:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Great concept and much needed here...
#2 Posted by daily_reader on February 14, 2008 at 12:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Don't think we will see the $350.00 tickets when it cost $550-700 roundtrip on Continental APF/TLA.
Hey Billy! exactly what handful of the city has been waiting for this? and Tammie is so excited, I just wonder what kind of econimic freebies were granted?
Grady clients,look for new line item charge on next bill.
"Got a good reason, for taking the easy way out now"
Day Trippers, Yea!
#3 Posted by Stugots on February 14, 2008 at 4:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
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