How Elevate Aviation Built a Champion Private Charter Jet Service

One can imagine what kind of logistical expertise it would take to pull something like this off: scheduling flights, pilot and jet prep, fuel logistics, hotel and concierge correspondence—the list goes on and on.

Now imagine it all coming together like clockwork, meticulously planned and managed down to the very last piece of luggage. That’s the kind of travel Elevate Aviation Group brings to the table with its private charter jet services.

And that isn’t just a hypothetical. It’s just one of the jobs that Elevate’s over 200 employees— and CEO Greg Raiff—have already accomplished. 

According to Raiff, logistics isn’t “brain surgery” or “rocket science.” It’s proactive planning, attention to details and execution.

“It’s the difference between our agent saying to the rampy, ‘Do you have 152 bags,’ and the rampy going, ‘Yeah, of course, I do,’ versus asking the rampy, ‘How many bags do you have’ and waiting to see what answer he gives you,” Raiff told FLYING. “Because if it’s not 152, it’s time to pull them all off and count them again.”

Elevate’s private charter jet services offer travel solutions that cater to high-profile clients, including sports teams, political figures, and the business-to-business market.

These services are designed to meet business-critical needs, ensuring timely and drama-free transportation. Raiff likened the service to utilities that simply must work,like Wi-Fi or electricity.

Over the course of Elevate’s nearly 30 years in business, its private jet services (PJS) have operated flights all over the world for major events including the World Economic Forum,  Grammy Awards, Academy Awards, FIFA’s World Cup, and Major League Baseball's World Series.

Raiff said PJS operates at a ratio of 10 full-time employees for every flight that it undertakes. PJS is organized around the principle of planning operations within hours or a day of when they’re booked, rather than hours or days prior to the departure.

“[Our] business is kind of organized uniquely around having all of these aviation industry experts that have the bandwidth to proactively—months, even a year in advance—plan for what they're going to do,” Raiff said. “...That's a different model because most airlines are organized around the principle of, ‘Well, our SOP [standard operating procedure] isn’t today. We apply for the permits tomorrow.’”

Elevate MRO, the second of the three subsidiary pillars that make up Elevate Aviation Group, was established during the COVID-19 pandemic. Elevate having its own in-house maintenance, repair, and overhaul division has been a boon for the customer experience. 

Elevate MRO ensures rapid and priority service for Elevate’s clients. Raiff said it's an advantage over competitors who may be more reliant on OEMs and external shops.

“If you need to get out and you need to go flying tomorrow—obviously we're not gonna do it unless it's safe—but we'll go throw the labor at it, second shift, third shift, whatever it is, prioritizing the owner's airplane to hit the mark,” he said.

This has proven beneficial in emergencies, such as when a client’s aircraft was repaired quickly on-site in the Caribbean, sparing them from a $150,000 parts import ordeal.

Then there’s Elevate Jet, a comprehensive service that extends beyond charter flights and encompasses aircraft management, sales, and acquisitions.

The company assists clients through every stage, starting from chartering a light jet to ultimately managing larger aircraft like a Gulfstream G650. The asset-light business model focuses on giving tailored advice and value to clients rather than managing the depreciation and debt associated with owning a large fleet.

“We're not concerned with covering debt service,” Raiff said. “We're worried about customer service, so that makes a huge difference."