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Founder's Story
The Future of Flying: What Elite Travelers Want (And How JET365 Delivers) | Ep 216 with Alessandro Figliano Founder of Jet 365
00:15:35
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- [00:00]
Political Speaker
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- [00:30]
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- [01:01]
Daniel
Hey everyone, welcome back to founder story. Today we have Alessandro Filiano, the CEO and founder of Jet365. And Alessandro, I'm very interested to learn about the luxury aviation space, how you're disrupting this whole industry and all the things. I know you got some crazy partnerships coming up. We were just talking. You were at F1. I mean this is going to be jam packed today, but Jet365 is a global luxury aviation company based in the US dedicated to transforming private air travel, which a lot of the people I know are going to that versus the normal commercial. But Alessandro, what was the spark for entrepreneurship and why this industry?
- [01:45]
Alessandro Filiano
Yeah, I'll tell you, I've always been like an entrepreneurial spirit. I always had a passion for private aviation. Never had the money to do it. My first company did pretty well, put myself through flying school and I became like a fully licensed commercial pilot all in one year. I was, I got introduced to, it was a flying club and we would fly all around the world and I got a lot of experience and connections. And what happened was I had a lot of people asking me, hey, can you fly me for, you know, for money for this and that. I said, guys, I don't have an aoc. I can't, I can't just fly you for cash. So I started facilitating a lot of charter ops and sending business to all lot of other brokers, brokerages, till eventually I said, you know what, let's become the brokerage, let's do this. And then that's how the business got started. So kind of just fell into it. But we've been off to the races.
- [02:29]
Daniel
Let's go back to that in the beginning. So you get going, you create this, you know, the official company and then what, how do, how do you Gain, you know, the first 100 customers.
- [02:40]
Alessandro Filiano
Oh, I mean we don't even have a hundred full time flyers now. I mean it's very smaller numbers than that. We deal with like very high net worth individuals and kind of provide a very personalized service. But I mean we do have one off clients all the time come in. We're very strategic in our approach with providing a very high touch personalized service. And, and yeah, we just want to separate ourselves from the other competition. I know there's a lot out there, but you know, our main three factors is safety, service and flexibility. So we want to make sure that we provide, you know, a different service than the rest. And safety is our number one concern. And service. Yeah.
- [03:15]
Daniel
So what types of people do you find that are more attracted to this, this form of travel versus going to, you know, your normal like commercial airlines?
- [03:25]
Alessandro Filiano
I mean I think it's the entrepreneurs, it's the guys that value their time. I mean time is money. It's important to get around efficiently. And you know these guys, they value their time. They want to be home with their families after the end of a long workday and they probably have like multi location businesses. So I mean it's, it's really good to get around for them and the service is needed and we're finding it a lot with you know, the Formula one team. As you know, it's, we just announced that partnership. Very excited about that and, and they came to us, right. They needed our service. So we're excited to be working with them and facilitating all their, their stuff as well and streamlining stuff.
- [03:58]
Daniel
It's amazing in business how sometimes you have someone who is your customer or client who has a need and then you build something bigger on top of that. Can you tell us about that partnership?
- [04:10]
Alessandro Filiano
Yeah, well, the partnership, it came through a good friend, Oliver Oaks, and we, they reached out because they needed the service. They didn't have an aviation provider and they needed, they needed the service to just get around. The logistical challenges around F1 are insane. So they just needed someone they can trust and through the grapevine and they, they know about my service, they reached out and we were able to put a deal together and you know, facilitate that stuff for them yet.
- [04:34]
Daniel
So a lot of people would think of this like how the heck do you put all of this together? Right. Like you had some experience in the space but not a huge amount when you started.
- [04:43]
Co-host
Yeah.
- [04:44]
Daniel
So I think a lot of people are like, they don't know how to get started. What was something that you did or Something early on when you get into a new industry that allows you to get started and then start seeing success.
- [04:58]
Alessandro Filiano
Well, I think we noticed early on that there is, it was heavily fragmented, there was a lot of disconnection and the way of booking a private jet was completely fragmented. So we wanted to streamline that and with our new platform coming out, we're going to be able to do that. And that's with the new generation we're seeing a notice switch, if you will, of user experience where they just want it completely automated, they want to see the options they want to book. And then we have the old fashioned client which we have a lot of them where they want everything, you know, handled through us and a very back, a lot of back and forth and you know, it's, it's two different customers. But I saw a need for it, a lot of learning lessons, a lot of mistakes. But you know, we're, we're feeling very comfortable now and we're two years in and we've been off to the races and providing some really good stuff for our clients.
- [05:43]
Daniel
So how do you look at this white glove service? I, I imagine, you know, the more, the higher net worth individual or higher net worth clients that people have with whatever company they're going to expect this type of white glove service. How do you ensure that it meets the standards of them?
- [06:01]
Alessandro Filiano
Well, we want to start off with the operators, the planes that we put them in, we want to make sure they're 100% safe, make sure they're Argus rated, you know, waver and they meet all the safety criteria. You know, we vet the operators ourselves. We know the pilots, we know the aircrafts, we know, you know, the crew that's going to be on board. That's a start right there. And then from our standpoint is just making sure we handle the client professionally and, and making sure, you know, everything's in order and you know, safety and security is our number one priority internally as well. So I think it's a, it's a great value add and it's now more than ever, you know, clients, they need an intermediary between the client and the operators because a lot of these bigger corporations are just another number and you're spending a lot of money to travel in this, in this fashion. So I think it's needed now, you know, more than ever for sure.
- [06:51]
Daniel
Yeah. I was recently flying and I have to say the service was pretty terrible on the plane that I was flying on and I was shocked. It just seemed like all the employees are stressed Out. This is like a pack, you know, a packed commercial airline. And I think this is a lot of experiences recently. I don't know if, if they care so much about their job anymore and providing that service. So how do you see the future of aviation? Do you see like you're like Jet 365 or similar companies or just that type of experience growing more because people are sick of like regular commercial and just how bad the experience has become?
- [07:30]
Alessandro Filiano
Yeah, I think there's more aircrafts available. It's, there's definitely a transition. We're seeing an influx of new flyers all the time. It's definitely still a cost, huge cost gap. But I mean I think it's going to get more competitive with the EV tools and the new advancements in the space and there will be a lot of new clients entering the market. But I mean Kravit's the way to go. The overall time savings and the way of getting around is just, it's not even the actual flight time. It's essentially everything in between. You don't have to show up an hour before I go through customs. You don't have to wait for your baggage an hour after. Like it takes a full day to travel commercial as opposed to private show. Five minutes before getting the plane and you're at your destination. You just hop in the car and go.
- [08:12]
Daniel
So yeah, I need that. I'm, I'm sick of getting their hours before like you said. I saw Newark Airport just had that disaster with their systems and like it, it's really not the best experience from start to finish. So I used to use you know, a service and I, I was super happy when they had, when they had that service near me and then I moved. But I'm, I'm curious. So when it comes to marketing, just in general, whether it's Jet 365 or other companies you had, was there a marketing strategy that worked for you in terms of, of getting brand recognition and getting the name out there?
- [08:50]
Alessandro Filiano
Yeah, this is a good one. I mean everyone is looking for that edge that, you know, that SEO, that Google strategy. I mean I'm just old fashioned. I've done everything referral based. I mean when someone flies with me we have like 100% retention rate. They, they tell their other friends and other clients and that that's how our business has grown now. We wanted to use F1 as like a global platform and just acquire clients all over the world by also getting our name out and our brand awareness and you know, the credibility that we deserve. So I think it's been all in all win there and you know, we're excited to do this whole year with them and you know, acquire clients, you know, through them getting the word out, you know, more on a global scale. And yeah, I mean there's no hidden formula, but we're, we're trying to attack that from all angles. But we're also doing it in a sustainable way. We don't want to go for like a moonshot where we sacrifice on service because, I mean, I can open up Google Ads and open the floodgates and have a million inquiries and get a whole bunch of clients that I can't handle, but I'd rather grow it more sustainably and have like a steady growth and just provide a very high touch service where it's needed for these guys. So, yeah, that's where we're at.
- [09:57]
Daniel
I'm glad you bring that up because I think sometimes we look at scale in terms of I want to go bigger, go home.
- [10:03]
Political Speaker
Yeah.
- [10:03]
Daniel
But many times it's at the expense of service employees. There's. There's something you have to give up when you do that too soon or too quick or even just at all. Like maybe the business is never meant, you know, to have 10,000 customers. Maybe it's meant to have less who are paying more anyways. But I'm glad you bring that up. So I. Business for me has always been a roller coaster. There's ups and then the next five minutes. There's downs and then there's ups. What about you? Anything that happened in business, whether it's now or before, that was a significant challenge. But you were able to overcome it?
- [10:39]
Alessandro Filiano
Well, I mean, I don't know if you saw the recent statements by Alpine Formula one team. The team principal just resigned, you know, a couple days after we signed the agreement. So I got to see where that, that makes us our standings between the, the F1 team and us. But I mean, there's all kinds of stuff this industry is, is, you know, it's like flying a plane. You have to figure out a solution because you got to land. You know what I mean? When an issue comes up in the cockpit or you know, a navigational thing, you have to work around that and still land the plane and have a successful mission. So it's the same thing in business and, and entrepreneurial, you know, as a whole, you know, doing business, you got to just find solutions and make it happen so that really you're building the.
- [11:23]
Daniel
Plane as you go in entrepreneurship, right?
- [11:25]
Alessandro Filiano
Yeah.
- [11:26]
Daniel
Yeah, man. No, I mean, I'm glad you. And thank you for sharing that about the F1 and just your experience in general because I think, you know, social media and people in business always putting everything is great, everything is fun, but we know it's a lot of complexities. In five minutes everything can change, but then in five more minutes everything changes back and it's always an amazing journey. Did you ever have an experience where, let's say you had to work with somebody, maybe work for a company, but that gave you some skills that you have moved into or maybe even some sort of formal education where you learn something there and those skills have moved into business?
- [12:05]
Alessandro Filiano
I mean, definitely handling the high net worth individuals. From my first company, it was focused around like high end luxury market as well. And I mean every, every client's different but you got, you kind of want to just put the client first and, and really be client focused. And I mean things are going to come up, you just have to move around them. I'll tell you, there was actually an aircraft that went down for maintenance and I mean we went out of pocket to get him another aircraft. That's just, you know, standard the way we, we do things. You know, we don't ever want to leave a client hanging. And I think I learned that in my last business that the second you let someone down is the second you're done. You can't say no in this business and you definitely want to just find ways to make things happen. So that's the things I've learned in my other businesses and I'm taking towards this one. And yeah, that's the fun part, right?
- [12:50]
Daniel
Every, every day. It's not like when you go to a job and you pretty much know your day. Every day is the same thing. Every day, you know, could totally be different than the last day you get. That one phone call changes everything. So are you finding then that when, when, when you're looking at doing business in a luxury market, like you said before, you can't say no to the customer. You really have to go above and beyond. Sometimes that means, you know, putting out money extra in order to solve a solution. Would you say these are some of the things or something else that you learn when, when you're looking specifically at targeting a luxury market?
- [13:29]
Alessandro Filiano
Yeah, I mean 100%, these are things you'll have to take into consideration. But I mean there's, it's a, there's a big change happening in our industry as opposed to, you know, the guys that want it done the old fashioned way. To the new generation that wants it completely automated. But I mean we're dealing with that. Our platform is going to handle the new clientele coming in. We have the old fashioned ways that are, you know, proven and we've been operating under those, you know, standards and then yeah, every day just take it as it comes and it's an ongoing journey. But yeah, we're excited to be here.
- [14:00]
Daniel
So when you look at generations, like you said, younger generation wants automation. Are you finding that younger generations are also more attracted to the customization versus you know, the cookie. Like a cookie cutter airline is like you buy a ticket like you said, you go two hours early, you go, there's that cookie cutter process.
- [14:21]
Co-host
Are you finding that younger generations are.
- [14:23]
Daniel
More attracted to like your business model and then, and then the more ability.
- [14:30]
Co-host
To customize things 100%.
- [14:31]
Alessandro Filiano
Yeah. I mean we're going to have all kinds of services, you know, added onto our platform as well. Like I mean catering, you know, car service, that's all going to be included. But we usually do that manually for our other type of clients. But I mean, yeah, people love customizations. We've had all kind of crazy requests. I don't like to disclose my, my client's information. I know a lot of guys are going on Instagram and saying hey, this client's asking for this, this client's. And they're recording the calls. If I did that, I'd have the.
- [14:58]
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Daniel
Panic.
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- [15:51]
Daniel
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- [15:52]
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- [17:27]
Daniel
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- [18:27]
Alessandro Filiano
But I don't want to say anything on air. But yeah, definitely. Every situation is different. I've had the craziest requests from in the plane, outside the plane, do this, do that and we make it work and make sure it's all legal. And yeah, that's it.
- [18:40]
Daniel
Alessandra, this has been great. I can't wait to see, you know what happens with Jet365. You said you're going to send me the hat, so next time we Talk. I'm wearing the hat, maybe even the T shirt. But I really, really enjoy what you're doing. I think I, I foresee it being the future of travel. If someone can afford, can afford to do it, it makes total sense as to why they would. And I can't wait to understand more about customization and the automation that you'll be, you'll be as well. So if people want to get in touch with you, they want to find out more information, they want to, they want to book. How can they do.
- [19:12]
Alessandro Filiano
So, yeah, you can get us at jet365io on our website. You can reach out to me personally, afet365io and I mean love to answer anyone's questions and talk more about the space. You know, we're aviation enthusiasts. We love what we do and that's why we do it every day. And you know, I'm just excited to work with people that, you know, need the service and love aircrafts as much as I do. And that's it, man. Growing every day. And thank you so much for the time, Daniel. Really appreciate it. I'm not usually good on these, like calls, but I hope I did all right and gave the audience what they're looking for.
- [19:43]
Daniel
It was great to talk to you. Always like to hear, you know, amazing stories from people who are disrupting industries. Like, I can tell that you're doing as well. And thank you so much for joining us today on Founder Story.
- [19:55]
Alessandro Filiano
Thanks so much. Yeah, we got a lot coming. Stay tuned. Thanks, Daniel. For the time.
- [20:04]
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