Share-a-Jet program takes off in NY

Blue Star Jets’ program lets customers split costs of private jet travel with other travelers headed to the same destination

For those New Yorkers who want to fly by private jet but don’t want to pay full price, there’s another option. Manhattan-based charter company Blue Star Jets’ Share-a-Jet program, which is taking off.

Under the program, two parties with the same origin and destination are matched together; each receives four or five seats on the jet, and costs are split 50-50. For example, a trip to Florida from New York would cost around $10,000 for a family of four, rather than $20,000.

“The economy was bad, and we were looking for other ways for people to fly private and make it more affordable for them,” said Ricky Sitomer, chief executive of Blue Star. He noted that travel trends are always the same, with similar types of clients traveling to Aspen for the holidays or to Florida for a weekend. “People are flying with the same type of people and they’re getting to their destination for half the price but still have the luxury [of flying private],” he said.