The CEO of CAJT will only call cypressknee???
Online Air Charter 'Broker' Connect-A-Jet Makes Wild Claims
13-Sep-2007
By Karen Di Piazza [CharterX Exclusive]
Texas-based Connect-A-Jet Inc., a Web-based air charter broker, says its new business is aimed "to eliminate the world of private jet charter brokers," and to provide the public with direct access to aircraft operators through one online portal--CAJ. Through numerous press releases and postings on its website, the company presents itself as the world's charter czar, professing it has affiliations with known companies for flight tracking services, aviation safety oversight, etc. CharterX has interviewed several companies named on CAJ's website or mentioned in press releases that disapprove of the broker's tactics.
CAJ Pink Sheets
CAJ says it will "single-handedly revolutionize the way the entire world travels by private aircraft." Martin Cantu, CEO of CAJ, stated in a press release, the "entire public" would have access "to every aircraft, within every fleet, of every charter company in the nation." On Aug. 23, CAJ announced it began trading under the symbol CAJT.PK (Pink Sheets). According to Investopedia, companies on the Pink Sheets are not required to meet minimum requirements or file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which Congress created in order to regulate the securities markets and protect investors.
On Sept 4, CAJ started advertising its broker services on CNBC and in major newspapers, stating it received more than 250 charter requests. Each press release is followed by the company's alleged millions of dollars worth in aircraft inventory, and to accommodate the growing number of charter requests, now in the thousands, a significant number of charter representatives have been hired to handle the growing demand.
CharterX called Cantu several times for a response, but calls were not returned. Making every attempt to get through to this company, CharterX also called its reservation charter department; however, a recording said, "mailbox full, goodbye." CAJ's website does not provide anyone's name or company bio; Cantu's name was found on a press release.
CAJ's press releases provide contact information to its "investor relations," David Donlin. Several calls were made to Donlin, which CharterX discovered led to The Cervelle Group, LLC, in Altamonte Springs, Fla. A woman, only willing to give her first name, Jen, assured that Donlin would return calls within the hour; however, she declined to verify what Donlin's position was at TCG. After 16 hours passed, there was still no word from Donlin. TCG's website is absent of anyone's name or corporate bio; it states it handles financial relations counsel, public relations campaigns and other marketing services.
Where is CAJ getting its money, and what exactly do investors believe they're buying? Operators that CharterX talked to said CAJ's pitch is that operators are not charged to join; CAJ would make money selling charter flights receiving a commission.
CAJ's press releases promote that charter requests are real-time applications; within seconds, a customer can book a flight, pay and show up at the tarmac. As of going to press, the company's a real-time booking system doesn't exist; it's a manual, slow process. Its website says it plans to release its real-time booking platform in December. To test its current charter platform, this journalist requested an empty leg (a one-way flight) on a Gulfstream V, from Denver to Sacramento. An assuring email arrived saying a charter representative would be in contact--shortly. More than four hours went by; no one called. CAJ's press releases continue to state tremendous charter requests; however, the numbers of actual flights flown are not disclosed.
Aviation Companies Warn CAJ To Stop Putting Out False Claims
In another press release, CAJ said it launched its worldwide sales program, and began pre-contracting charter operators around the globe; it claimed it was negotiating an affiliate partnership with Scottsdale, Ariz.-based Aero Jet Services, LLC, a FAR Part 135 air carrier. On Sept.5, CAJ said Aero Jet joined its charter program, adding $40 million in aircraft inventory. Aero Jet President Mike Aaby told CharterX, "I have never had a conversation with Cantu and never gave CAJ permission to use Aero Jet's name in print. I'm sending a letter to this company telling them to stop using my name; we are not doing business with them."
After CAJ released a press release on Sept 6, stating it submitted a letter of intent to engage in a charter partnership with NetJets Inc., a Berkshire Hathaway company, Maryann Aarseth, vice president of corporate communications, told CharterX, "Our legal department has sent them a letter; we are not engaging in any partnership with this company."
Upon clicking CAJ's "track a flight," it claims one of its many benefits for private charter is its "affiliation" with FlightAware. That's news to Daniel Baker, founder and CEO of Houston, Texas-based FlightAware, who told CharterX he's never heard of CAJ.
"FlightAware has no affiliation whatsoever with this company," Baker said. "I'm stunned. I had no idea they were using our company's name--misspelled at that--and making all these claims about having a relationship with us. It's one thing to link to a company as an industry courtesy link; it's another thing to write all this stuff without our permission." FA's flight tracking services of both private and commercial air traffic in the U.S., free to the public, said its platform of flight arrival/departure algorithms is proprietary. Baker said he intends to have a letter sent to CAJ telling them to pull false information about his company from its website.
Cincinnati, Ohio-based Aviation Research Group /U.S. warns CAJ to stop using its name under the heading "safety." CAJ's website makes the claim that "all operators affiliated with CAJ are reviewed by ARG/US."
Joe Moeggenberg, founder and president of ARG/US, told CharterX, "We have absolutely nothing to do with this company; our legal department sent a letter to this company last week, warning it to remove all references about ARG/US from its website. I've received calls from concerned charter operators about CAJ's claims." He added that without permission, CAJ "copied and pasted information" from ARG/US' website.
CAJ's Claim To Eliminate The World Of Private Jet Charter Brokers
After being in business for a month or so, CAJ's claim that air charter brokers take up to four days to get back to a charter customer, only to tell them there is no aircraft available, is laughable at best. Maybe CAJ should reconsider its own operation and timely response to charter requests.
It's difficult to imagine that the British Royal Family would stop using UK-based Air Partner's exclusive, private jet travel service. Air Partner, which also has a strong U.S. presence, is a publicly traded company on the London Stock Exchange, and has been arranging private air charter for corporations, governments and individuals around the globe since 1961. The company has 210 aviation professionals located in 20 offices across four continents.
David McCown, vice president of marketing and business development of Air Partner, says, "We welcome companies that can truly bring value-added innovation to the air charter industry. Air Partner always stresses the importance of performing due diligence prior to doing business with any new company, which is applicable for the entire aviation industry."
It's also a stretch to imagine that CAJ could eliminate U.S.-based Air Royale International, established in 1994, with offices in New York, London, Hong Kong and Dubai--with clients such as CNN, Warner Brothers, Paramount Pictures and Fortune 500 companies.
"Reputable air charter brokers will always be in business; they have relationships with their customers as well as with air carriers; it's a team effort," says Wayne J. Rizzi, founder and CEO of Air Royale. "Air charter passengers want to deal with honest air charter brokers who have a proven track record of arranging safe, secure chartered flights. I know there are brokers out there that may not be what they claim to be, but I also know plenty who serve the aviation industry with integrity. This is a people business and it requires aviation expertise and customer follow-up."
Please email your feedback, news tips or press releases to CharterX news editor Karen@CharterX.com.
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