LunaJets
LunaJets is a private jet broker with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, where it has been based since it was founded in 2007 by former Ogilvy advertiser Eymeric Segard. It is a privately owned company, by two of the founders. As an online broker, the company does not own any aircraft, but rather matches operators and private jet owners with end user private jet clients to provide on-demand and empty leg flight services. Over the years, LunaJets has developed a global network of 350 operators and access to 4,800 aircraft. LunaJets, therefore, has access to all categories of aircraft , both turboprop and jet-powered, ranging in size from Very Light Jets, such as the Cessna Citation Mustang, to VIP Airliners, such as Boeing Business Jets (BBJs) and Airbus Corporate Jets (ACJs). History. LunaJets was founded in December 2007 by Eymeric Segard, the company's acting CEO, after raising $US2million from private investors. The initial concept was to create an online platform to provide “empty leg flights” and last minute “empty seats” on private planes flying empty at a discount from market price. ‘Empty legs’, also called in the industry as “deadhead,” “positioning, “or “ferry flights,” are planes flying  without any passengers due to the need to reposition or return to their home base, among other reasons. They can be available at a discount of up to 75% of regular prices. At the time, entrepreneur Richard Branson launched a similar concept named “Virgin Charter” with entrepreneur Scott Duffy but, for Lunajets, the concept of jet sharing and the resale of private jet seats did not work. Virgin Charter, who at the time employed 100 people, stopped its operation in 2009 when private jet charter dropped dramatically due to the financial crisis. In 2010, LunaJets rebranded itself as a low -cost provider of private flights under the “fly private at the best price” slogan, offering on-demand charter flights and empty legs. In October 2014, Lunajets launched the third version of its website. In May 2015, LunaJets introduced the first version of their mobile application (available on iOS, RiM and Android) presented by CNBC as the UBER of private aviation. As of 2015, LunaJets opened a regional office inside the Private Jet Terminal in Olbia, Italy and in Dubai. In 2017, the company topped 40 employees, counting 20 nationalities and 12 languages. LunaJets reached 60 million Swiss francs in annual  sales in 2018, representing an increase of 40% over 2017. Additionally for 2018, the company organised close to 5,000 flights, up 35% versus the previous year. Certifications. LunaJets has ARGUS certification. The Swiss financial magazine Bilan recognized LunaJets at the “Best Employer in Switzerland” for start-ups under 100 employees. LunaJets received the award for the fourth time in 2021, reiterating the feat of the preceding years. LunaJets is a member of the European Business Aviation Association (EBAA) and the U.S. National Business Aviation Association (NBAA). Sponsorship. Since 2011, LunaJets has been the official sponsor of the Aleph sailing. In  2014 Lunajets became a partner of the Womanity Foundation. In Summer 2016, LunaJets sponsored the Stile F - Squadra Corse team in the Blancpain GT Series Cup, an annual race at the Circuit Paul Ricard in Le Castellet. In 2017, LunaJets announced its support toward World Bicycle Relief as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility program. Since 2017, Lunajets has sponsored an Easy to Fly named Luna, a foil catamaran. In 2018, Luna was the first Easy to Fly to cross the finish line in the lake Geneva race, Bol d'Or Mirabeau. In 2018, LunaJets announced their sponsorship of Alan Roura 's sailing and racing journeys for the next three years on board the foiling multihull, La Fabrique.