James Shotton, Co-Founder and Director of Skytime Jets, takes a look at where the world’s wealthiest fly for their ski breaks.
The ski-season is one of the busiest times of the year for us at Skytime Jets. Most of our clients who are looking for private jet hire during the winter months are wanting to travel in luxury to popular resorts across the Alps. The most important thing for us is that our clients are able to travel where they want, when they want and how they want. During the ski-season this is especially so. We can arrange private flights to airports that the commercial airlines either can’t get to, or fly to infrequently.
One of the perks of flying privately is the time saved. No check-in times, queues, customs or luggage carousels. Our passengers are able to set a departure time that is suitable for them, fly from an airport close to their home and land at an airport close to their destination.
Verbier is a classic example of a resort that is time-consuming to travel to commercially. The resort in the Swiss Alps – known for its stunning vistas and popular slopes – is one of the world’s most in-demand skiing destinations. Commercial flights land at Geneva Airport, and after you’ve completed luggage collection, security and customs, there is a further two hours to travel until you reach the resort. However, if you fly privately, we can arrange for you to land at Sion Airport, (a private airstrip in the Rhone Valley) just 45-minutes’ drive from Verbier. Our mission when handling a client’s ski trip is simple: minimal travel time, maximum time on the slopes.
This year, we’ve already seen a surge in bookings ahead of the season. We have arranged private flights for clients to resorts in St Moritz, Zermstt, Gstadd and Lech, and we’re seeing a rising interest in The Chedi in Andermatt, Switzerland and Six Senses in Courchevel, France.
The Chedi is a five-star luxury resort located in the Swiss Alps. The visually-striking hotel – designed by world-renowned architect Jean-Michel Gathy – is made from warm woods and natural stone, and boasts 123 stunning guest rooms and suites. It also offers a ski-in living room with sport boutique, comprehensive spa and wellness centre with hydrothermal baths and a duo of swimming pools set against the picturesque Alpine landscape.
Six Senses, in the French Alps, is another five-star favourite. It is located in Courchevel – which makes up part of the Les Trois Vallées, the world’s largest linked ski area. Courchevel is often referred to as the “Jewel of the Three Valleys” because skiers can easily explore a variety of slopes in Meribel, La Tania and Val Thorens, to name a few.
So far, Six Senses is proving to be one of the most popular destinations for the 2016 season. The hotel itself takes traditional mountain living to new heights, with 10 duplex penthouses and 12 superior apartments offering sensational mountain views. A favourite among guests is the hotel’s fingerprint recognition security and the remote-controlled central heating system, which allows you to adjust the heating in your room from the slopes.
While there are a variety of elite skiing destinations to which you could travel, this season, we would suggest you test your skills on the slopes of the Alps – staying at either The Chedi or Six Senses. And if you’re thinking of flying privately, at Skytime Jets, we guarantee a tailored, stress-free journey with less time spent in airports, and more time spent on the snow-kissed slopes.
James Shotton is Co-Founder and Director of Skytime Jets and has over 12 years’ experience in the aviation industry, having worked in the private jet market since 2004. Skytime Jets is a private jet charter company that was launched in 2012, offering flexibility for both leisure and business clients, allowing them to fly when they want and from where they want.
Skytime have twice been voted as the best Private Jet supplier in Europe at the prestigious World Travel Awards, visit skytimejets.com or call +44 (0) 1452 714500.
