Business & GA

US air taxi operator DayJet has expanded its network to include Savannah, Georgia, and Naples, Florida. Passengers can begin or end their flights at seven "DayPorts," and connect at 45 airports, called "DayStops", in five states.

Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport is the first DayPort outside Florida, while Naples Municipal Airport in southwestern Florida is the sixth in that state. Both airports serve metropolitan areas of more than 300,000 people, which DayJet says it targeted because they are underserved by airlines. "The two new DayPort communities are projected to receive a total annual economic impact in excess of $10 million each from the arrival of DayJet service within its first three years of operation," says Dayjet. The 12 new DayStops came online 90 days after the Boca Raton-based carrier launched, bringing the per-seat, on-demand service further outside Florida ahead of plans to reach the entire southeastern USA.

Hiring continues at a steady pace, with Dayjet hosting a "Pilot Open House" on 14 January to attract pilots with more than 3,000 hours flight experience. However, the start-up remains behind schedule as deliveries of its Eclipse 500s trickle in, following a six month delay on the first delivery.