November 3, 2007 - LONDON Luton-based premium-only operator Silverjet, which offers the Mezzo turnkey IFE service on the Boeing 767s it operates to New York Newark, says it hit a new high for revenue passengers carried last month.

The airline offered a total of 11,600 and sold 6,782 for a load factor of 58.5 per cent. This compares with revenue-seat totals of 4,916 in September and 3,628 in May. Last month’s result reflects a doubling of capacity on Luton-Newark.

“We’re continuing to see strong monthly growth in yields and we’re very pleased with the market’s response to the second daily service on Luton-Newark,” says chief executive Lawrence Hunt. “Forward bookings are encouraging and we’re confident that load factors will increase as the service becomes more established.”

Silverjet plans to launch service on Luton-Dubai on November 18. “Again, we’re encouraged by forward bookings and by the travel trade’s reaction in the UK and the Emirates,” Hunt adds.

For a standard return fare of £1,099 Silverjet offers a “private jet experience” based on a cabin containing a hundred 6ft 3in-long inclined flat-bed seats in an aircraft that nominally accommodates 250 passengers.

The inflight product also includes “Silver Screen” handheld IFE turnkeyed by London-based Mezzo and based on eVU players from e.Digital of California, plus noise-cancelling headsets, in-seat power, hanging wardrobes and spacious stowage for carry-on bags. Travellers can pre-order online from a range of freshly prepared and individually served meals, there is a ladies-only lavatory, and on night flights service is arranged to maximise sleep time, with no movement by serving trolleys, no PA announcements, and overhead reading lights and call bells disabled.
 
As well as ordering meals, passengers can select seats and check in online.
Travellers with carry-on bags only can arrive at the airport as little as 30 minutes before departure, while those with luggage to check need be there only 15 minutes earlier. Check-in takes place at the Silver Lounge, a private facility opposite the main Luton terminal building. A similar arrangement is in place at Newark.