Startup subscription-based airline service Beacon announced a $400 million partnership with aviation solutions firm Dynamic Aviation to provide initial service between Boston and the New York City area later in the summer.
Bridgewater, Virginia-based Dynamic Aviation will deliver 27 mid-sized executive aircraft to Beacon over the next three years, and will maintain and operate the aircraft for 10 years, the partners said in a joint news release.
"The partnership will facilitate Beacon’s late-summer launch and rapid expansion throughout the Northeast," the July 9 announcement said. It added that the air service is expected to create between 300 and 400 new jobs.
Initially, the "all-you-can-fly subscription based airline service" will operate year-round between Boston’s Logan Airport and Westchester County Airport in White Plains, New York, said a spokeswoman for Beacon. The membership-based organization plans to offer the seasonal destinations of East Hampton, New York, and Nantucket, Massachusetts.
Aircraft to fly Beacon’s routes will include the Pilatus PC-12 single-engine turboprop, Beechcraft King Air 350 and King Air 200 twin turboprops, and Beechcraft 1900D commuter aircraft, configured for executive transport with nine passenger seats, said the spokeswoman.
Beacon was created by the group that launched California’s private air travel club Surf Air in 2013.
"We are excited to announce this partnership between Dynamic Aviation and Beacon. While they stood out from the ranks of potential operating partners for many reasons, we ultimately selected Dynamic Aviation based on their award-winning safety culture and reliability record," said Wade Eyerly, Beacon’s CEO and co-founder.
Beacon’s "innovative vision and customer commitment has been apparent from the start," said Michael Stoltzfus, president and CEO of Dynamic Aviation. The company owns, operates, and maintains more than 140 aircraft. "Together, we look forward to providing Beacon’s members with unparalleled customer service," he said.
For $2,000 per month, Beacon members will "gain unlimited access to regularly scheduled flights." Beacon is waiving a $1,000 initiation fee and providing other inaugural benefits for members signing up before Aug. 1, it said. Using an app or a concierge service, members will be able to make speedy and last-minute schedule changes, without fees, Beacon says.
The planned launch of Beacon routes "is subject to receipt by Dynamic Aviation of appropriate authority to operate scheduled interstate commuter service from the DOT and FAA," the announcement said.
