Stratajet looking to expand out to the Middle East

British technology start-up Stratajet recently secured $5 million of investment to fund its real-time, online private aircraft booking search engine across Europe in the third quarter of this year, and then will expand internationally. 

Managing director, Jonny Nicol said: “Stratajet are at an advanced stage of forming partnerships with European Operators and FBOs and will soon be expanding that reach to the Middle East.” 

Users type in the journey they’d like to make – eg London to Dubai, and the day they’d like to go with the number of passengers in the party. The software instantly calls up all the available aircraft on that date with information on how comfortable the flight would be depending on aircraft type and cabin configuration. It also offers all the available options – it might be more practical or cost effective to travel from London’s Southend Airport, for example, than London City. Pricing is based on a huge number of variables, including airport landing fees, airspace and handling charges. Once the booker is happy the aircraft they choose is reserved for them instantly. 

Stratajet has spent five years developing the software, as well as forging relationships with airports, management companies and operators, who install the system on their servers and connect in to offer their aircraft. The benefit to them is that it minimises the number of empty legs, or half empty legs they fly. 

The firm is embarking on a four month tour of Europe to bring other operators and FBOs into the fold, but “In the coming months, the team will be visible at the key Middle Eastern Trade events, as well as embarking on a programme of [regional] operator visits to introduce the Stratafleet product,” said Nicol.

 Jonny Nicol