Blackbird, an independent air service that just raised $2.5 million in funding to make flying the new driving.
Consider this:
>> From long wait times to exorbitant fees, discomfort and inconvenience have become the norm in an aviation industry that’s sitting on outdated technology and offers no alternatives.
But what if there were a way to bring the joy back to flying?
Enter Blackbird [http://www.flyblackbird.com/]—a disruptive alternative air service that offers travelers the private flight experience at a budget airline price.
Started by technology and travel industry veteran Rudd Davis—former president of USA Today’s Travel Media Group, who later played a key role in building Hilton’s content delivery systems—Blackbird recently raised $2.5 million in funding from a group of individual investors with aviation domain expertise and institutional investors including Social Capital. Here’s why:
>> SOPHISTICATED GROUP FLIGHT BOOKING TECHNOLOGY
Blackbird has developed technology to get you where you want to go faster and at an affordable price. By dynamically matching available aircraft with demand for any given day, as well as commercial flight delays and how much road traffic levels are spiking, the Blackbird app can crowdsource flights and map potential routes that would benefit from its flights.
>> DEMOCRATIZING AIR TRAVEL
Blackbird offers private flights to underserved destinations (think Palo Alto to Tahoe) starting at $125. That’s comparable to a commercial flight, but without the bureaucracy and outdated systems. With access to 5,000 airports throughout the USA, it helps people get where they need to go without making a big commute.
>> MAKING FLYING THE NEW DRIVING
Flying should be as routine as a daily commute—but without the traffic. By circumventing long lines, hidden fees, and crowds, Blackbird brings air travel convenient, affordable, and enjoyable.
>> CUSTOMER SERVICE IS A NECESSITY—NOT A LUXURY
Customers have to pay exorbitant fees for basic services like luggage. But according to Blackbird, that’s not where the industry is headed. One of its biggest priorities is customer service, which it treats as a necessity instead of a luxury.
