Operator Spotlight: Executive Air Services

Air Charter Guide recently spoke with Shawna Erviti. Director of Charter Sales at
Executive Air Services (EAS). EAS is a 20-year-old, ARG/US Platinum and IS-BAO-rated Part 135 aircraft management and charter company.

1) Charter travelers tips and know-how: How do you guide a customer through the process?
A lot has changed over the course of the last 20+ years in private charter. I started when we used typewriters and faxed contracts - lol! The salesperson had to sit beside a pilot and actually calculate statute miles vs nautical miles and generate a quote with good old math and a small calculator. It was very time-consuming. We have come a long way throughout the years with software and computer programs but I feel that aviation still has a long way to go in catching up with technology and trends in other industries.

For all the advancement that has already taken place, I am afraid there might be a disconnect with what makes private charter so personable, and that is a human touch: A smile while talking to a client, a thoughtful reminder regarding an invaluable detail, things you cannot replace with tech. However, I embrace the movement forward, and it can be very exciting at times. Guiding a customer through the booking process nowadays is a balance between those clients that have been traveling for a while now and those who require you to walk them step-by-step on the newest platform. The balance between this type of client - and also sending a link via email to the newer clients that are very tech-savvy and have everything completed before you have a chance to refresh your screen. I pride myself in this balancing act, being ready and available for whomever I might be booking a charter with at the moment.

2) How would you describe your fleet or flagship aircraft?
I have been with EAS Charter for 10+ years now and we currently operate a "boutique style" of aircraft for charter. We are an on-demand charter company and are constantly changing - as the demand ebbs and flows we have had to change course over the years. It is difficult to base your forecasting efforts on past history since we are in a new era of private travelers. Our current clientele prefers light jets up and down the East Coast, with point-to-point pricing. They are price-conscious, and because of this we are entering the "VLJ" "very light jet" market in 2023, with a focus on the Bahamas and the Southeast region specifically.

3) What does the future look like for your company?
Optimistic; I'm a "glass half-full" kinda gal. No one holds a crystal ball, so it is hard to say exactly where we are going with the current demand wave. As mentioned before, there are no analytics to compare to unless it was last year specifically. The future of our industry needs to change: more programs need to be developed and put into action at local levels to entice young and energetic people to join aviation. I worry about the pilot shortage, the mechanic shortage, and the parts shortages while the demand to fly private remains steady and strong. I encourage fellow operators to create programs for current employees to bring family members into the fold. We are currently doing so ourselves, so that future generations have the opportunity to learn every aspect of a charter operator/aircraft management company, and find what their true passion in aviation will be. It is a way to leave a legacy, to create growth and awareness for others, as you are doing so simultaneously from a business mindset.

4) How did you get into aviation?
Ahhhh....by complete coincidence! I dreamt of being a travel writer and studied Travel + Tourism Management. When it was time to enter the world and begin a career, shortly after my college years ended, we experienced "911". This was a dark time. No one in the tourism industry was actively promoting travel. It was difficult, but I had an opportunity to try and promote travel packages hand-in-hand with the Ministry of Tourism for the Bahamas. I soon realized that we could package little puddle jumpers to/from South Florida to these remote islands referred to as the Out Islands. This form of private travel afforded the individual a nonstop flight to a myriad of opportunities with incredibly personalized and uniquely created experiences. After a few months of working on this project, I moved permanently into the private charter side of things and never left! I started with pistons, then props, and years later moved into the jet world. Throughout my tenure in aviation I have learned how to sell any aircraft placed in front of me and welcome the challenge it may present. I absolutely love helping a client get from point A to point B, and finding the best option for their specific mission whether it is price-based, time-sensitive or just a matter of preference. 

5) What is your most popular itinerary/destination?
I have been fortunate to experience/plan many requests to worldwide destinations, for many types of travelers. For the first ten years that I worked for operators based in Florida, I would say that the popular destination of choice was the Bahamas. As for the most recent ten years...it depends on the aircraft type. For light jets, the New England area. For midsized jets, the most popular destinations are in the Caribbean and Central America.

 6) Fun stories or narrative to share:

"Love is doing small things with great love." - Mother Teresa

I feel that some of my most memorable stories have been the ones where you don't "name drop". In this industry, there are plenty of celebrities and famous names who frequently use this form of travel, but I remember fondly the unsung heroes...like the flights where we rendered aid to victims in Haiti after the earthquake, or the flight where we brought a father home just in time to meet his newborn child, or the time we brought a Marine who served with honor from a military base to his final resting place at home with his family. There are so many facets in this industry and so many people I have met along the way. I am a firm believer that when you do good and come from a place of truth and fairness, you cannot go wrong. It tends to pay itself forward and even circles back to you in the long run. And I'm in it for the long run! 

7) Contact Info:
EAS CHARTER
14800 NW 42ND AVE.
HANGAR 49, STE 3
MIAMI, FL, United States
Tel: 305-588-9296, 800-579-1694
Fax: 305-675-3206
Email: charter@eascharter.com
http://www.eascharter.com