Gotham Air has launched a new helicopter shuttle service from Manhattan heliports to JFK and Newark airports. Sheldon Cohen Photo
A new company has launched a low-cost service to transport business travellers, families and commuters from three different Manhattan heliports to John F. Kennedy (JFK) and Newark Liberty (EWR) airports around New York City, allowing passengers to cut down significantly on their travel time by flying over congested city roadways instead of sitting in traffic. Led by CEO Tim Hayes and president Colleen Cowan, Gotham Air was formed as a result of seeing an opportunity to fill a previously successful market niche.
Hayes, who has been involved with the music and television industry for 25 years, said that after talking with friends and associates within the helicopter industry, “it was our feeling that helicopters were largely reserved for very wealthy executives, rock stars and celebrities.” Looking deeper into the New York region, Hayes and his partners realized that a similar service from New York Airways existed in the late 1940s, running through the 1970s, “and we thought that that could live again. If it worked in the 50s, 60s and 70s, why wasn’t it there now?”
After doing more research, Hayes “started to realize that it’s something large numbers of people would want to do, because not only is the helicopter a wonderful experience, but it’s incredibly efficient.” Travelling from Manhattan to JFK and EWR by car can take up to two hours, depending on traffic, versus minutes with the new Gotham Air service. Once Gotham Air made the decision to proceed, the company looked for a partner to carry out operations, teaming with Helicopter Flight Services, a charter and tourism operator based at Downtown Manhattan/Wall Street Heliport (JRB). In addition to JRB, the Gotham Air service runs from West 30th Street Heliport (JRA) and East 34th Street Heliport (6N5).
Helicopter Flight Services started in 1985 with a five-seat Bell 206, and began providing services within the city in the 1990s, according to John Kjekstad, president, director of operations and business partner/co-founder with CEO Topsy Taylor. The Helicopter Flight Services fleet currently stands at 11 helicopters, mainly Bell 407s with one Bell 47, one Airbus Helicopters EC130 and one Sikorsky S-76C+.
One of the biggest advantages to the new service is lower cost, Kjekstad noted. First-time users pay $99 to JFK or EWR; after the first ride, a one-way fare is $199 to $219, depending on departure time. “If you charter a helicopter, it can cost up to $2,000, so that’s not for everybody, but at these prices, I think most people can afford it,” Kjekstad said.
Hayes anticipates that the service will gather speed quickly. “It’s an addition to what Helicopter Flight Services is doing, so the inflow of demand will be quick,” he said. “Getting a family to a place like JFK for a leisure trip often begins or ends in a way that can be stressful. This makes it not only quick and easy, but fun — something that everybody can look forward to,” Hayes added.
Other benefits of the service include an app that can be used for booking directly from a smartphone; an inclement weather guarantee using a Tesla Model S; VIP interiors; and complimentary hors d’oeuvres from chef Thomas Keller’s Bouchon Bakery. The app will be fully operational on Feb. 9. Crowd sourced flight reservations have begun and regularly scheduled flights are scheduled to roll out by spring 2015.
