Summary
- VistaJet shifts focus to wellness, adapting to customer demands and prioritizing health over luxury.
- Airline reimagines flying experience with state-of-the-art jets, healthy menus, and post-flight wellness advice.
- Collaborations with luxury brands offer customers holistic travel experiences with a focus on well-being.
Private air travel is changing. In the 20 years that VistaJet has been serving its clients, demands have shifted from lavish luxury to something a bit healthier. Customers used to care about which brand of champagne they were served, but now they are more interested in wellness, good sleep, and high-quality food.
Simple Flying was invited to the iconic Farnborough Airport in the UK for the launch of VistaJet UK’s wellness program. A similar initiative kicked off in the USA last fall and has been proving to be a welcome addition to an already exemplary private jet charter service.
Changing with the times
In the early days of VistaJet, the company had a vision to create the first consumer brand in private aviation: aircraft that presented the same experience inside and out, service that was consistent across the fleet, and rigorous safety standards for all its customers. Over the past 20 years, it has delivered this vision in spades, earning a solid fanbase of high-net-worth individuals who value the simplicity of chartering aircraft over the expense and complexity of owning their own.
Photo: Sam Churchill | VistaJet
Private Jets For Hire: Inside VistaJet & XO With President Leona Qi
The two brands make up synergistic arms of Vista’s operation worldwide and offer passengers a variety of choices.
According to Statista, the wellness market worldwide was valued at $5.6 trillion in 2022. By 2027, this is projected to rise to $8.5 trillion as more people prioritize their health above all else. This is a trend that VistaJet is keen to accommodate, not from a revenue perspective but in response to the demands of its clients. Chief Marketing Officer Matteo Atti noted,
“We can be the best in logistics, we can have the perfect aircraft, and we can give them the perfect pricing. But ultimately, we need to be human; we need to look at our passengers and what they really want from their flight.”
Flying is not known as an activity that serves to make us feel better. Most of us will concur with the notion that air travel can leave one feeling drained and stressed, which is not something VistaJet wants for its clients. Hence, the wellness program has been launched, which reimagines everything from the dining experience to sleep quality and more. Atti added,
“We want to challenge the perception that flying is stressful. We want to make it so you step off the plane actually feeling better than you did when getting on.”
Photo: Sam Churchill | VistaJet
VistaJet is starting this mission from a strong position. The jet used to launch the program in the UK was the Bombardier Global 7500, one of the industry’s most advanced business jets. It maintains a cabin altitude of 4,500 feet, even when flying at altitudes of 40,000 feet plus. Filtered, humidified cabin air and daylight simulation lighting help mitigate the effects of jet lag, while ergonomic seating protects the body from strain. So, what more could the company do?
The ‘Ferrari Of The Skies’: A Look At The Bombardier Global 7500
The aircraft has multiple world records for the highest speeds and longest flights.
Eating for wellness
VistaJet first noticed the shifting trend towards wellness in what customers ordered from the menu. While there were lavish and delicious dishes on offer, frequently, clients would order something simple and healthy – grilled salmon with salad or a simple grilled chicken breast. With the help of nutritionist Jenna Daou, VistaJet worked to reimagine the dining experience onboard for a better flight experience.
Photo: Sam Churchill | VistaJet
Now, flyers can pick from three pre-defined menus – Relax, Revitalize or Rejuvenate. These menus have been developed by Daou to have positive impacts on the body. For example, the Relax menu features ingredients containing tryptophan, magnesium, melatonin and serotonin. Revitalize, intended to leave you feeling fresh and ready for anything, has ingredients containing B vitamins, iron, electrolytes, and caffeine.
But, developing menus is only the start of the program. Clients can book a one-to-one consultation with Daou prior to their flight to discuss personal needs and preferences and to have a bespoke menu created for their trip.
Ingredients themselves are also incredibly valuable, and not just the freshness or the taste either. Daou recalled her experience with one VIP guest,
“One of our program members wouldn’t ever eat onboard. It became clear that he was fixated on the ingredients in the dishes and where they came from. Once we offered this program, he was keen to get onboard, and I got some amazing feedback a couple of days ago saying it’s top-notch.”
Photo: Sam Churchill | VistaJet
Daou goes deep into where the company sources its ingredients to ensure clients get only the ‘best of the best.’ Think wild salmon, never farmed, organic produce, Clarence Court eggs, and such.
There is one more menu available, which is rather specific in its nature. Working with Ferrari, VistaJet created the Performance menu for athletes, in partnership with renowned driver Charles Leclerc, which tailors the food for athletic performance, hydration and nutrition.
Photo: Sam Churchill | VistaJet
Healthy bodies take priority
It’s not just the food that tees up to give clients a great flight with Vista. Once onboard, the company works hard to ensure passengers arrive rested, hydrated, and their best selves. In flight apps help passengers relax, meditate, and even manage jet lag, while aromatherapy scents from De Mamiel and skincare from Guerlain combine to create a sanctuary in the sky.
Photo: Sam Churchill | VistaJet
Onboard the Global 7500, passengers can enjoy zero-gravity Nuage seating, noise-canceling headphones from Bowers & Wilkins, and full, permanent beds with hypoallergenic duvets and pillows. The reduction in cabin altitude combined with smart dynamic daylight simulation lighting serve to lessen the effects of jetlag even more. There’s even a yoga mat and guidance video available to allow stretching and exercise during the flight.
Post-flight, VistaJet works with leading US physician Dr Jordan Shlain and his team at Private Medical to advise clients on maintaining optimal wellness at their destination. Much of this centers around re-hydrating and tackling the effects of jet lag, alongside advice on post-flight exercise to revive the body.
Wellness doesn’t stop with the flight
As well as tailoring its wellness offerings for the flight itself, Vistajet has partnered with notable luxury travel brands to give its customers options for holiday packages created with wellness in mind.
During the event, we heard from Jimmy Carroll, co-founder of luxury travel specialist Pelorus, which is spearheading a wellness retreat with VistaJet to Nepal and Bhutan, including a private prayer session with a spiritual leader. Carrol commented on the program,
“One commodity, no matter how hard you work and how much money you have, you cannot buy more of is time. We look at how we can manage that time and give you the best experience with family and friends possible.”
Photo: Sam Churchill | VistaJet
The experience begins on the ground, ensuring everyone is fit and healthy enough to travel. On the road, it’s all about understanding the client and what their needs are, from which side of the bed they sleep to having doctors on call to deal with any ailments. And, of course, nutrition comes into that too. “We leave no stone unturned,” Carroll summarized.
