DELRAY BEACH, Fla., April 25 (UPI) -- A Florida company plans to merge computer technology with aeronautics to start an on-demand airline that will be far cheaper to operate than small jets.
DayJet of Delray Beach, Fla., will use the so-called Very Light Jet (VLJ) aircraft, which seats four, and computer databases to determine the most efficient ways to route these planes to pick up customers in mid-size cities, USA Today reported Monday.
The service will be halfway between a private jet charter and an airline, says DayJet Chief Executive Officer Ed Iacobucci, who is also founder of software company Citrix Systems.
Passengers will visit DayJet's Web site and enter cities they want to visit on its route map. The information will include dates and time parameters such as "depart no earlier than" and "arrive no later than."
Tickets will cost slightly more than full-fare coach tickets on the same routes, Iacobucci said. The service is expected to begin next year.
"It will pose a threat to the commuter airlines," said Henry Harteveldt, an analyst at Forrester Research. "A lot will depend on pricing and reliability."
