O P E R A T I O N S
ours often involve
busy schedules
and private aviation
represents a great
way for musicians
and singers to wind
down before and after each show. It also
ensures that artists can save as much time
as possible between gigs by alleviating long
wait times, delays and journeys to and from
major airports.
“That’s why it works so well for the music
industry and has been used by musicians
and their management staff for decades,”
says Patrick Margetson-Rushmore, chief
executive of Luxaviation UK. “After playing
a sell-out gig in Hollywood, the last thing
a performer wants is to be mobbed on a
commercial flight – especially if they have a
performance the next evening in Las Vegas.”
Key advantages of private air travel
for bands include convenience, comfort,
security and discretion. Flight schedules can
be tailored to meet their needs and private
jets are able to use a much larger number
of airports than commercial aircraft, allowing
providers to create optimal routing that
reduces ground transfers.
“The use of private terminals and fasttrack
services allows passengers to arrive at
the airport 20-30 minutes prior to departure
and provides a greater degree of discretion
while on the ground – in some instances
we can even arrange for the passengers to
be driven straight to the aircraft,” notes Matt
Feldon, account manager of ACC Aviation
Group’s dedicated air charter division
ACC Charter.
Rocking all over the world
Artists use private aviation for a wide variety
of travel situations, from short hops to
festivals or TV show appearances through to
full international tours. Some of Air Charter
Service’s (ACS) most popular requests
have been for travel to the Coachella and
Glastonbury Festivals for example, either
via local airports or helicopters directly to
the site.
Destination-wise there are the major
touring markets and cities such as LA, New
York and Nashville in the USA and then
the big European cities including Paris,
London and Berlin. But there’s nothing like
the predictable seasonal travel you find
in private leisure travel says David Young,
managing director of Fly Victor’s Private
Office. A former artist manager, Young is
behind several high-profile world tours,
including Rihanna’s 777 tour and the
Bacardi Triangle shuttle of 750 VIPs to a
private island with performers including Ellie
Goulding, Calvin Harris and Kendrick Lamar.
“I have noticed southern hemisphere
markets opening up and the opportunities
to tour close to year-round now exists with
the rising popularity of music festivals and a
global market. Wherever there are enough
fans willing to fill big arenas, artists will go
there and often by private jet.”
The majority of artists charter private
jets ranging from 4-18 seats in size, with a
heavy jet option used for transatlantic flights.
ACS’ most popular options are the 13-seater
Legacy 600 and 650 heavy jets.
“They come with a flight attendant
onboard and are the most popular with
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“Booking agents can
arrange the touring
artist’s live performances
into a logical route and other
times simply commit to where
the artist’s best financial
opportunities await”
David Young, managing director, Private Office,
Fly Victor
bands because they can hold up to 400kg of luggage. That
makes it really versatile because you can have the band
and crew on the jet with the equipment in the back,” says
Sophie Hesar, a senior account manager in ACS’ private
jets department.
For transatlantic flights, ACC Aviation Group often
provides a Bombardier Global 6000, as this can
“accommodate up to 14 guests, offers the extended range
you need, combined with a luxurious cabin experience,
including day and night configurations,” says Feldon.
“However, a band and crew embarking on a world tour
would obviously require a much larger aircraft, anything up
to 500 seats, such as an Airbus A380 or Boeing 787-900
Dreamliner. We also offer large commercial jets in VIP
configurations, ranging from 56 up to 100 business
class seats.”
No group is ever the same
Companies can receive requests from a variety of sources
within the music world, from record labels and festival
promoters through to direct contact with an artist’s agent or
tour manager.
Right: For successful bands,
chartering a jet is the only way
to fulfil busy tour schedules