This New Airline Makes Everyone a First-Class Passenger

Doesn’t it suck to not have a private jet? Well, Blackbird technology is here to help.

Blackbird is making regional, private flights available to the average joe. Its first official route will be from Palo Alto to Truckee, California, and flight prices begin at $125 a seat. As of yet, the airline offers flights Friday through Sunday, but this will change with customer demand. Next year, Blackbird plans to add six more air routes throughout California.

The creators of Blackbird were responding to a need for easier regional travel. Prices of private jets and the inconveniences of commercial flights (out-of-the-way airport locations, driving several hours, etc.) both created a demand for personalized, easy flying. This affordable and convenient way of flying, however, does not come at the cost of quality. Blackbird fliers are in the hands of experienced pilots from leading charter operators, and their safety standards are closely regulated by the FAA (possibly more so than commercial airlines).

Booking a flight with Blackbird seems as hassle-free as flying with them; travelers use a mobile app, similar to Uber, and can choose from the set schedule of routes and flight times. In the words of Rudd Davis, founder and CEO of Blackbird, “Everyone is a first-class passenger when flying with Blackbird.”

Grace Williamson is a travel intern with Paste and a freelance writer based out of Athens, Georgia.