Welcome to issue #14 of our recently launched Q&A series, Startup Spotlight.

This series is all about diving into the world-class technological innovation conducted by exciting UK startups. Getting to grips with the technology, the mission, and even the stories behind them.

In each edition, we sit down with a different startup founder, leader, or operator in an easily digestible conversational style Q&A format.

Today we interviewed Tola Bashir, CEO of Supreme Jets and disrupter of the private aviation industry. 

Highlights:

  • 🛩️ How Supreme Jets is embracing technology
  • 🥂 Making the champagne lifestyle possible, with lemonade pockets!
  • 🥇 Best new Luxury Travel CEO 2018 – the sky’s the limit for Tola Bashir

Travelling by private jet is something that most of us could only ever dream of.

Unless you have the means of an A-list celebrity, business magnate, or political leader it feels pretty out of reach - by about 35,000ft. But, what if flying in style was accessible and affordable for more 'regular' folk?

Imagine beating those airport queues and travelling home in pure luxury – for not much more than the cost of a commercial plane ticket… Well, you can. 

Supreme Jets saw a gap in the market and went after it.

The company has opened up private aviation to a much wider audience by providing access to thousands of heavily discounted empty-leg flights through their app, making it possible to charter a jet and be airborne within just 3 hours.

Pretty cool, right? These flights would otherwise remain empty, so it’s a win-win for both passengers and charters.

Supreme Jets have transformed the private aviation space to make the impossible, possible, but what challenges have they faced? 

How are they scaling their business?

And finally, what’s next for them?

We asked Tola to find out. Here we go.👇

What is the mission of your company?

We have continually established growth opportunities both online and offline through service innovation and diversification, and strategic partnerships with selected partners including leading hotel groups, travel management companies, airport groups and other luxury and corporate agents.

This is a scalable business as we have different revenue streams, the first one being domestic flights followed by European flights, we also have empty leg flights and finally transatlantic flights, all of which provide Supreme Jets a return on all charters.

How are you using technology to help solve that problem? 

Supreme Jets' soon-to-be-developed app & online platform will make it faster and easier to arrange jet charter by comparing quotes from 1000s of safety accredited aircraft to bring luxury travellers the guaranteed lowest prices for private jet charter.

Supreme Jets' smart systems will also utilise the world's most sophisticated Jet Sharing technology to allow passengers to hop onto jets that would otherwise be flying empty back to base or to share with other like-minded passengers at seat prices which compare with commercial prices.

Supreme Jets will combine smarter technology and unique marketing technology together with unrivalled personal service to get passengers airborne within 3 hours at the best market prices.

What's your unique selling point?

First off, we're not interested in being just another aviation company.

Supreme Jets is turning the world of private aviation charter on its head by developing new technologies - our competition isn't going to know what's hit them!

Our investors fly at unbelievable rates and as a potential investor we'd also love to give you a taste of our world. Say the word and we'll arrange a seat for you on a private jet to a sought-after destination, such as Paris or Milan, often for prices similar to commercial airlines.  

Your complimentary personal concierge is available 24/7 to take care of anything you could need: hotels, restaurant reservations, chauffeur, show tickets... just name it... You'll never want to fly commercial again! 

Supreme Jets is an ambitious expanding company with BIG plans. We don't believe in small print and we don't like jargon. We are a concise organisation that communicates clearly.

We are dynamic and willing to adapt to changes in our business environment. We endeavour to remain ahead of the curve and look forward to experiencing exponential growth in the coming years:

  • 24/7 concierge service contactable through the smartphone app
  • Rapid connections to/from the airport, from our app, via chauffeur services
  • Passengers can fly to/from over 35,000 airports worldwide (usually small, uncongested airports at closer convenient locations with easy transfer)
  • No check-in queue
  • Exclusive private aviation terminals/VIP lounges not open to the general public
  • No security queue
  • Arrive only 20 minutes prior to flight
  • Meet and greet by the captain and crew upon arriving at the jet

What have been the greatest challenges to date?

Raising capital to grow and develop the company has been the most challenging aspect of growing the business to date. Unfortunately, money doesn't grow on trees.

What major milestones have you achieved, and what's next!?

Currently, my major Milestones to date would be Global CEO Excellence 2018 award (Best new Luxury Travel CEO 2018-UK) and Global CEO Excellence 2019 award (Business new Travel CEO of the year 2019) and finally surviving the Covid pandemic.

Thanks, Tola!

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