Silverjet

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Silverjet 767

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Silverjet [1] is a business airline flying from its own private terminal at Luton airport in London to Newark. Because the aircraft is all business-class, with no economy section, fares are considerably lower than first and business class on conventional airlines for a similar class of service.

[edit] Routes

Silverjet flies London to New York once a day from London Luton to Newark Liberty International Airport. On September 23, 2007 the service will be expanded with a second daily flight. There are also plans to extend the network by the end of the year with new routes from London to Chicago and Dubai.

Silverjet's private terminal at Luton airport

[edit] Private Terminal

Silverjet has its own private terminal at London Luton airport designed to speed up check-in and security procedures. Passengers can check in for a flight up to 30 minutes before take-off. The London Luton terminal is situated next to the main terminal and has its own security search area. At Newark Silverjet have their own check-in facilities and lounge on the arrivals deck at Door 12 in Terminal B.

There is no check-in as such at either airport: instead passengers go straight to the lounges where their luggage and tickets are looked after by a concierge who greets them on arrival.

[edit] Silver Lounges

The airline has its own luxury lounges both at London Luton and at Newark called Silver Lounges. The lounges can be used by arriving as well as departing passengers. As well as food and beverages, the lounges offer shower facilities so passengers can freshen up before resuming their journeys.

[edit] Luton Links

Luton Parkway Station is 5 minutes from Silverjet's private terminal at London Luton Airport. Free taxis are available at the station for Silverjet passengers. Luton Parkway offers a wide range of train services operated by Midland Mainline and First Capital Connect, including a 22 minute express to London St Pancras. Silverjet also offers free chauffeur drive for passengers on full fare, as well valet parking outside the private terminal and the option of helicopter transfers.

[edit] Cabin configuration

The Boeing 767-200s flown by Silverjet were originally designed for 300 seats. In Silverjet's business-class only configuration, there are just 100 seats. Each have angled 6' 3" flat beds with massage function and power for laptops. Every passenger also has his/her own personal on-demand entertainment system supplied with noise-cancelling headphones.

[edit] Cabin crew

Silverjet made a point of recruiting cabin crew from the hospitality industry to improve the standard of inflight service. They also have a grooming programme, including a hair and cosmetics policy. Hair styles for the crew were designed by celebrity hairdresser Nicky Clarke.

[edit] Carbon neutral

Silverjet is the first carbon neutral airline worldwide. In an interview with the Financial Times on 25 January, 2007 Silverjet CEO Lawrence Hunt said: "It's no use people just sitting around thinking about climate change and pretending it is someone else's problem. That is what the airline business has done to date." The Silverjet ticket price therefore includes a mandatory carbon offset contribution which is invested by The Carbon Neutral Company, to ensure that every tonne of CO2 associated with each flight is matched by one tonne saved through climate friendly projects around the world. Examples of projects supported by Silverjet to neutralise its carbon impact are an energy efficiency programme in the Caribbean, a wind farm in New Zealand and a methane-capture project in the US.

[edit] Awards

In January 2007, the Institute of Transport Management made Silverjet its 'Environmentally Aware Airline 2007' in recognition of the stance the company has taken regarding carbon emissions. In April the airline was also a winner in the Conde Nast Traveller Innovation and Design Awards, and won 'Best Airline Website' in the Travolution Awards.

[edit] History

Silverjet began booking passengers for flights in October, 2006, for a standard fare of £999 return. Scheduled flights to Newark from London Luton Airport began on 25 January 2007.

[edit] Fleet