By Andy Owens
aowens@scbiznews.com
Published Oct. 1, 2009
A private charter airline operating out of Charleston International Airport has added a Learjet to its fleet of aircraft.
DavisAir Inc. serves businesses, corporations, hospitals and sometimes families that need to get somewhere quickly on a flexible schedule.
President Gary Davis said the new aircraft is the first Learjet for hire based in Charleston. He also has two other planes, including a Raytheon King Air turboprop and a Cessna 206H. The Learjet, however, can make flights to any destination in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. It flies at speeds up to 500 mph and has a range of 2,100 miles, according to DavisAir’s Web site.
“There has never been a Learjet in Charleston for charter,” Davis said this week during an open house at the company’s hangar in North Charleston. “Most of our clients are businesses and in-state clients.”
Davis said that when automotive executives flew to Washington, D.C., on private jets to discuss a bailout of their industry, it created a negative perception about the role that general aviation and private airlines play in business.
He said chartering an aircraft isn’t feasible for all businesses and organizations, but for those who need to fly to Chicago for a two-hour meeting and be back in Charleston the same day, it’s an invaluable business tool.
“The Lear will basically go anywhere the airlines can go,” Davis said, adding that the aircraft isn’t used for overseas flights. “You can leave in the morning, and you’ll be home in time for dinner. You can’t do that with the airlines.”
The air charter business has been hit hard by the recession, Davis said. Nationally, charter air services have seen a 35% decline in business, and DavisAir has seen that reflected in the local economy. Some businesses are using commercial airlines when they have to be somewhere, to maintain a perception of frugality. Others are not traveling for business at all during the downturn.
The decision to expand with jet service is a calculated risk for DavisAir. Davis thinks the local market is ready for high-speed charter service, and he said he’ll know in six to 12 months whether that investment helps grow his business.
DavisAir was founded in 1989 in Pittsburgh and moved to Charleston after Davis and his wife were lured to the area on annual vacations. There wasn’t a lot of competition for charter flights when Davis moved to Charleston, and now he hopes to distinguish his company by offering the Learjet.
“The flexibility is phenomenal. That comes at a price, too,” he said, noting the cost of maintenance and of having on-demand services. “You have to cater to that market. They demand quality and service. It’s a fun business too.”
