Lots of folks hurting out there, many fellow pilots. Keep the faith and everyone hopes things will begin to turn around slowly for those who have been furloughed, laid off or find themselves no longer doing what they love to do, fly airplanes. XO/VJ is finding these times challenging also but there is good news in recent events and as well as going forward that I wanted to share.
Thomas Flohr, CEO Vista Global Holdings provides his thoughts about how private jet operators could work with major carriers in giving a jumpstart for getting people back to flying.
Interesting concept and unconventional in what he is proposing for sure but these are unusual times. Whether you buy into his proposals or not is worthy of debate but he is proposing solutions I've not heard of before and worth considering I think. 16+ minutes
YouTube video
Flights for XO/VJ dropped initially like everyone else but not as much as other 135 operators.
Flight totals for 30 days look back from late Mar to late April showed XO flew more flights than any other 135 carrier to include NJ, FJ who have far more airplanes...compared to the previous year, down obviously but our dip from normal was much less. I was shocked by the data but as they say, "it is what it is."
No planes are parked (other than for mx), crews are flying normal rotations. Covid 19 protocols are being applied with all the CDC/FAA recommended procedures being applied...no shortcuts.
Cleared to report from Flt ops that yesterday (1 May) and this weekend XO/VJ booked to 90% of capacity compared to normal usage.
Looking forward, the bookings are improving..they had been nearly all short-term, same day with very little out further than 72 hrs. Bookings have improved further out which is a good thing and a change from several weeks ago. One report by by a pilot showed 28 flights scheduled for the 1st (not including repos).
Great sales team and lots of new folks who are flying on/experiencing XO/VJ for the first time are finding their experience a positive one. Great opportunity to win new customers.
Was told by one of past CEOs last year that the difference between the XO of '07-'08 and XO of today (May '19) is that in that downturn, our XO client membership made up only 20% with 80% made up of brokered trips (third parties booking for clients or covering for another carrier).
The percentage of XO tiered members now makes up 80% of our flights and during lean times this will be a big positive. Rather prophetic when one considers that questioned was asked a year ago but it would appear as that strategy may be contributing to the numbers being so good during these difficult times.
Flohr is optimistic in his video and I suspect these challenging times will result in shrinkage on the part of some operators and expansion by others...Flohr appears to be leaning toward the latter for XO/VJ.
No changes to hiring, still frozen on all fronts. Applications are still being accepted via
Jobvite and an automatic acknowledgement after a successful submission will be your only comm with the company but you will be in the database when hiring begins again.
One other impressive thing that blew me away and says a ton about the positive culture at XO, even in these challenging times, is the policy that allows pilots who leave XO to return back to their XOJET seniority/aircraft if the return occurs within 90 days of their last day on property.
Two of our pilots who had chosen other operators to go to, made the decision to return to XO but were welcomed back to the company and started flying nearly immediately. I don't know of 121 carrier that would do that but as in many things, I could be wrong.
Not sure about other 135 operators as I'm sure there are certain circumstances where this might be permitted but in such harsh economic time, cutting payroll seems to be the trend and not allowing persons who have left to return would seem to be an easy and some would say, justifiable action to take towards those who voluntarily chose to leave a company for another job.
Lots of FXE new headquarter folks are working from home...huge attaboy to so many new employees who signed up to come to a new operation in S. Florida but found themselves in a world no one would could've predicted.
In spite of all the challenges, the mx controllers, schedulers, travel coordinators, HR, IT folks, finance folks, safety, flight ops support and many more have stepped up and are making us all proud for doing their jobs at home and under very stressful circumstances. They brought their experience from the 121, charter, 135 world and are using it to keep XO's head above water.
These "new folks" will not be "newbies" very long...they have already earned the designation of road warriors of filling our airplanes and keeping us safe...attaboy to all of them for sure!!
I know how lucky I am to be at XO and if anyone reads this as any sort of "gloating", please accept my apology...that is not my intent at all. Could things get worse? Of course...no guarantees for anyone in these times. Must be ready for anything.
I'm just trying to share some good news that I hope is a marker that other 135/91 pilots can use that would indicate improved times are not too far in the future.
Don't give up on your career just yet...I've seen a lot in 20+ yrs, several down cycles and no doubt this one is the most challenging but Americans have proven to be resilient and rise to the occasion...I pray that will be the case in these challenging times.