Flying Without The Fuss

Dec. 7, 2010 - PRLog -- In a November press conference, homeland security director Janet Napolitano answered those who questioned the new enhanced airport security screenings, including the new “naked” scanning and full body pat downs: don't fly if you don't like it. This came as unfortunate news to many Americans who felt uncomfortable or believed their right to privacy was being violated. A November Zogby International poll shows 61% of Americans oppose the new TSA measures and 48% would seek alternative means of travel .

What the homeland security director may not have considered during the press conference are the commercial air travel options that require no on-site security screening. Charter and air taxi companies have seen record third and fourth quarter revenue while public indignation grows over commercial air travel and the TSA.
ImagineAir, an air taxi service operating in the Southeast US, has seen that kind of growth, posting a record third quarter for 2010. “Revenues are continuing to rise into the fourth quarter as well” says Ben Hamilton, President & CEO of ImagineAir, “people are discovering the other flying options out there.”

A relatively new concept, a team of pilots and engineers began ImagineAir in 2005 with the vision of making private travel more available and affordable. Instead of booking a single seat on an airline, customers reserve an airplane to fly them between airports of their choosing - but at a fraction of the cost of a private jet. “Our model is quite different” says Hamilton. “Our aircraft are among the newest and most efficient airplanes on the market. That allows us to bring private aviation to groups or individuals who may fly business class to regional locations. These are people who are either fed up with commercial travel, or have found value in flying rather than driving.”

By operating under different FAA regulations, ImagineAir does not subject its customers to the rigorous and sometimes invasive screening procedures implemented by the TSA. “You can literally walk right through the private terminal and onto the airplane” mentions Hamilton. “There are of course some hazardous materials that we can't allow on the aircraft, but you can bring any amount of liquids on the plane.  We won't confiscate your shampoo bottles or contact solution.”

While ImagineAir has severely cut the cost of private air travel, prices may still be out of reach for the typical leisure traveler (a flight leg from Atlanta to Charleston can be as low as $800 or $270 per seat). However, fed up travelers won’t let a dollar amount keep them from using private air travel. Hamilton explains, “Right now our customers are mostly business and leisure travelers who have opted out of driving but we are expecting fresh business from people turned off by or away from the TSA at security checkpoints.”


About ImagineAir:  

Based in Metro Atlanta, ImagineAir is committed to providing safe, affordable, and reliable on-demand air taxi service throughout the Southeastern United States.  With its fleet of Cirrus SR22-GTS aircraft and a network of thousands of underutilized airports; ImagineAir makes regional travel easier, faster, and more economical than ever before.  For more information, visit: www.FlyImagineAir.com.

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ImagineAir offers the access, convenience and professionalism of a private airline, at a fraction of the cost.