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Tampa Bay Business Journal - 5:55 PM EDT Monday
Software maker launches regional "shared ride" air service
John T. Fakler [font=Times New Roman,Times,Serif]A co-founder of Fort Lauderdale software maker Citrix Systems is launching a regional, on-demand air service for business commuters called DayJet.
The venture could potentially employ up to 400 workers at its South Florida headquarters and at hubs nationally, he said.
In a press conference Monday, Ed Iacobucci and Eclipse Aviation Chief Executive Officer Vern Raburn jointly announced start-up of the airline and delivery of 239 very light jets over the next 24 months - with an option to purchase 70 more.
The combined order will make it the largest air fleet in history, Raburn said. Iacobucci put the value of the order at $300 million.
The company is expecting Federal Aviation Administration certification in March 2006 and expects the business to be airborne by the summer of 2006, Iacobucci said.
Its business model calls for larger fleets of smaller aircraft to operate within strict regional boundaries, the men said, adding DayJet is to focus on a cost-effective, no-frills, "per-seat" service. The cost, while at a 25 percent premium over standard airline fares, will save businesses time and therefore money, Iacobucci explained.
The shared-ride service is sold by the seat with advance reservations.
The business entity is two-pronged and is comprised of Wingfoot Services - a Web-based flight planning system - and DayJet. Iacobucci's Delray Beach charter Service, Jetson Aviation, is to merge into the new companies and change its name.
Iacobucci, who retired from Citrix (NASDAQ: CTRX) two years ago, said he has hired mathematicians, programmers, demographers, scientists and market planners for the real-time automated operations system he says is the first of its kind.
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© 2005 American City Business Journals Inc.
Tampa Bay Business Journal - 5:55 PM EDT Monday
Software maker launches regional "shared ride" air service
John T. Fakler [font=Times New Roman,Times,Serif]A co-founder of Fort Lauderdale software maker Citrix Systems is launching a regional, on-demand air service for business commuters called DayJet.
The venture could potentially employ up to 400 workers at its South Florida headquarters and at hubs nationally, he said.
In a press conference Monday, Ed Iacobucci and Eclipse Aviation Chief Executive Officer Vern Raburn jointly announced start-up of the airline and delivery of 239 very light jets over the next 24 months - with an option to purchase 70 more.
The combined order will make it the largest air fleet in history, Raburn said. Iacobucci put the value of the order at $300 million.
The company is expecting Federal Aviation Administration certification in March 2006 and expects the business to be airborne by the summer of 2006, Iacobucci said.
Its business model calls for larger fleets of smaller aircraft to operate within strict regional boundaries, the men said, adding DayJet is to focus on a cost-effective, no-frills, "per-seat" service. The cost, while at a 25 percent premium over standard airline fares, will save businesses time and therefore money, Iacobucci explained.
The shared-ride service is sold by the seat with advance reservations.
The business entity is two-pronged and is comprised of Wingfoot Services - a Web-based flight planning system - and DayJet. Iacobucci's Delray Beach charter Service, Jetson Aviation, is to merge into the new companies and change its name.
Iacobucci, who retired from Citrix (NASDAQ: CTRX) two years ago, said he has hired mathematicians, programmers, demographers, scientists and market planners for the real-time automated operations system he says is the first of its kind.
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© 2005 American City Business Journals Inc.