Over the Brazilian Amazon in 2006, a large airliner and a small jet collided, killing 154 passengers and injuring others. David Rimmer, then the vice president of sales and marketing at ExcelAire, was one of the survivors. Since then, he’s continued to work in the airline industry, flying and figuring out ways for people to fly more efficiently.
Rimmer, a Port Washington resident, recently launched Bliss Jet, the first individually ticketed private jet company that provides flights between New York and London on a regular schedule.
Beginning in September, private flights will be offered from Westchester County Airport and London’s Biggin Hill Airport. Tickets will cost $11,995 each way on Bliss Jet’s 14-passenger jets, and the flights will last around 6 1/2 hours.
Rimmer, who was born in Brooklyn, moved to Port Washington from Manhattan in 1995.
Currently, Bliss Jet operates out of an office in Port Washington, not only serving as the company’s connection to the town, but according to Rimmer, his connection to home.
“I have always had a heavy travel schedule and continue to do so with the launch of Bliss Jet, but I love the fact that I get to come home – and work – in Port Washington,” he said.
Rimmer believes that Port Washington won’t serve only as the office of his operations, but also as a potential clientele base, specifically in Sands Point.
“The population in parts of Port, Sands Point and nearby includes a large potential market for Bliss Jet,” said Rimmer.
Although the trip from Port Washington to John F. Kennedy International Airport is shorter than the trip to Westchester, Rimmer said that the extra driving will save hours on the trip to and from London.
Following Rimmer’s tenure as vice president at ExcelAire, an air charter company that specializes in aircraft management, safety and sales, he was appointed president in 2011, so he said he’s familiar with the business model Bliss Jet adopted.
His aviation career started late, coming after a long tenure working in media since age 15, starting in radio and moving up to senior programming positions at major media corporations.
Confident in his aviation knowledge, Rimmer proceeded with his idea. He said he surveyed potential investors, visited sites in New York and London, arranged deals with charter providers and security companies and applied for and received approval from the United States Department of Transportation.
“With the continued strong demand for business and leisure travel to London, we view this as a growing market with a proven market for high end travel products,” said Rimmer.
With over 30 daily flights between New York and London, Rimmer said, he is entering a busy market, but believes that because flights are usually sold out, people will enjoy the luxury and relaxation of his jet service.
“Bliss Jet is for people who schedule time in minutes, not hours,” said Rimmer. “We will cater to discerning, intercontinental travelers who seek a unique, private jet experience that is superior to any scheduled premium cabin service, yet far more cost-effective than bespoke private jet charter.”
Bliss Jet passengers will be offered various amenities, including the opportunity to board the jets from a private terminal. Pre-screened passengers will only need to arrive at the airport 30 minutes before departure, and the company is focusing strongly on security, putting an emphasis on passengers’ safety.
“We are offering all the advantages of a private jet experience on optimally scheduled flights that bypass the inefficiencies of business class travel,” said Rimmer. “Not since the days of the Concorde has a door-to-door journey between New York and London been this fast or refined.”
