Air Journey Celebrates 25 Years with Islands Trip of a Lifetime
The excursion company has assisted pilots with long-distance trip planning and execution since 1998.
The breathtaking beauty of the escorted journey was captured with iPhone 13 Pro from an Embraer Phenom 300 departing Sao Tome Airport (FPST) during Air Journey’s Islands of Indian Ocean and Beyond 2022 adventure. [Courtesy: Air Journeys/ Anais Pouille]
Pilots often buy or lease an airplane with the intention of using it for traveling to destinations they couldn’t easily reach by other means. But there’s a special transformation that takes place when you go beyond the utilitarian trips for business or family travel and use your airplane to explore the world. You not only get to your destination in the best way possible, but you’re granted the opportunity to grow as a pilot and human.
In 1998—25 years ago—Air Journey was founded to help pilots achieve dreams of long-distance travel with their airplanes. The company now leads globally with its escorted flying journeys. The first trip took four GA pilots flying their airplanes to the southern Caribbean islands of San Salvador, Stella Maris, and Andros. Now, Air Journey has grown to a company approaching $10 million in sales and itineraries ranging from 4 to 76 days, and visiting up to 27 countries.
To celebrate the anniversary, Air Journey plans an extraordinary adventure, Islands of the Indian Ocean and Beyond, to transpire from May 24 to July 22 this summer. The trip will bring pilots flying their own aircraft to the islands of the Maldives, Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar, along with excursions to Europe and Africa, including gorilla trekking in Rwanda.
“On our Escorted Journeys, pilots fly their own airplanes in small groups on prearranged itineraries by the AJ Team to destinations across the world,” said owner and founder Thierry Pouille in a release. “Every journey is led by experienced Pilot and Journey Directors and each leg is expertly created to accommodate single-engine turboprop to light-jet aircraft, never exceeding 1,100 nautical miles.”
A Journey for Everyone
In its release, Air Journey highlighted a few of its milestone itineraries over the years. “In 2007, the company launched the first Around the World Journey at Sun 'n Fun [Aerospace Expo] and took off in 2008 for its Eastbound Around the World [trip]. Milestone destinations to follow included Africa in 2011, Australia in 2017, and the Islands of the Indian Ocean in 2022.” This year, 2023, marks another special journey for Air Journey—the first roundtrip circumnavigation of Australia and New Zealand via Europe in April.
How It Works
The Escorted Journeys come thoroughly planned and executed by the Air Journey pilots and facilitators traveling with you. However, if you want to travel independently, Air Journey also provides its Concierge Service for assistance with planning and is reachable during the trip. In partnership with several pilot and owner associations, Air Journey also organizes Association Journeys where pilots can fly with like-minded companions in similar aircraft models.
To learn more about Air Journey and access the 2023 trip calendar, visit airjourney.com or call +1 561-371-6661.
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