The parent company of VistaJet and XO had record sales in 2021, with a 64% increase in global flight hours, and multiple new fleet additions including the ultra long range Global 7500.
Results
In 2021 VistaJet sold over 22,000 annual subscription hours representing a 90% increase compared with 2020 figures. In addition, the number of clients was up 26% year over year.
At sister company XO, deposit members increased 68% in 2021 and there was a large increase in technology adoption by members, with 84% of flights generated through XO’s marketplace.·
Thomas Flohr, Vista’s Founder and Chairman said: “2021 has been an incredibly strong year for Vista and we have delivered all-time record-breaking figures as a result of the huge demand for our subscription, Membership and On Demand offerings. There is clearly a paradigm shift in the global client’s view of private aviation and Vista’s world-leading position has enabled clients across the globe to experience its benefits as a critical mobility solution. Vista’s shared economy, asset light and subscription strategy is accelerating this trend.
“We are seeing contract sizes grow significantly across both VistaJet and XO and we are working around the clock to ensure we have necessary infrastructure and capabilities in place to ensure the complete flexibility and diversification of our services in the most sustainable way.
New Planes & Refurbishments
In total the group added 30 new aircraft in 2021, bringing the global fleet to over 200-strong.
2021 saw the arrival of the first of the flagship Global 7500’s, and by the end of the year the VistaJet fleet had seven of these large 7,700 nm range aircraft.
“This is the biggest fleet of these planes by far,” Ian Moore, Chief Commercial Officer of VistaJet, told SherpaReport, “and we are planning to add another seven in 2022.”
“The Global 7500 range and size perfectly matches our mantra of being global” he continued, and added “a lot of current customers are enjoying the aircraft and we have been on a run rate to do 1,400 hours per year on these aircraft, which means utilization rates have been exceptional.”
Ian Moore also talked about how the 7500’s have flown all over the world including Australia, South America, Tokyo and all over Asia, and legs such as South Korea to the USA and India to the USA.
“It is ideal for 10-12 hour flights and we can find customers that want the range that it is designed for,” he added, then noted “they have a full kitchen and galley, which means we can do a lot more with premium catering.”
The group has also added new Challenger and Citation aircraft and for the VistaJet fleet expects to complete the refurbishment of all VistaJet Global and Challenger aircraft by the end of 2022.
Thomas Flohr said “We have added over 30 aircraft during the year, strengthening Vista’s over 200-strong fleet offering. Having a fleet of Global 7500 now fully operational has been a game-changing moment since its launch in 2021, and we will build on its success by adding even more new Global 7500 aircraft to strengthen our global offering by the end of 2022.”
New Funding
Earlier this month Vista successfully priced an offering of $1 billion of 6.375% senior unsecured notes due by 2030. The transaction has raised additional liquidity while simultaneously substantially reducing Vista’s cost of borrowing relative to its existing senior notes which were due in 2024 (and which will be redeemed with this new longer term, lower rate borrowing).
Thomas Flohr said: “2021 has been an incredibly strong year for Vista and we have delivered all-time record-breaking figures as a result of the huge demand for our subscription, Membership and On Demand offerings. There is clearly a paradigm shift in the global client’s view of private aviation and Vista’s world-leading position has enabled clients across the globe to experience its benefits as a critical mobility solution. Vista’s shared economy, asset light and subscription strategy is accelerating this trend.
Vista notes that demand for private aviation is thriving and does not expect this to change for at least the next 12 to 18 months.