Protecting Privacy in Executive Air Travel

Celebrities and high-net worth individuals often seek privacy to evade celebrity gossip press, unwanted attention, or security risks. Serving such exclusive clientele, private aircraft always possess an aura of mystique that draws attention. This necessitates operators to employ expert strategies to maintain their guests' experience during travel. KlasJet, a premier private and corporate jet charter company and a part of the Avia Solutions Group family, conducts thousands of flights annually, meticulously tailoring its services to ensure the safety, security, and privacy of its clients. The flight service provider’s Head of Cabin Crew, Loreta Krupenkiniene, offers a behind-the-scenes glimpse of what the VIP charter aircraft provider does to protect the privacy of executives in air travel.

“We customize our operations to suit the needs of our high-profile clients, as our guests often include government officials, celebrities, sports teams, and business executives,” Krupenkiniene said. “For our clients who need to maximize privacy, we arrange discreet flight paths, airport selections, and handling services that minimize visibility and exposure.”

Celebrity journalists often track aircraft associated with celebrities or executives from the outset. Even without paparazzi, Krupenkiniene notes that aviation enthusiasts, known as 'planespotters', photograph and upload images of aircraft. These enthusiast fascination with aviation frequently leads to the disclosure of travel information. KlasJet frequently encounters planespotters upon arrival at destinations. However, the demand for discreet travel from high-profile, high-net-worth individuals who already own private jets enable KlasJet to serve as a secretive alternative for clients whose private jets are tracked and recognized by these photographers.

"Celebrity journalists will often have a trace on aircraft associated with celebrities or executives at the start of their operation," Krupenkiniene said. "When our aircraft stands in for a client’s own aircraft, it throws off a lot of trackers."

Loreta added that information security begins on the ground and that planning was the first step to ensure the operation maintained a low observable profile. She added that the majority of images of celebrity flights, and the largest source of information exposure from a flight, would occur when the aircraft was below 1,000 feet MSL or on the ground.

"When we plan our flights, we do so with an understanding and agreement with trusted fixed-base operators, who make efforts to ensure privacy when the aircraft is on their property," Krupenkiniene said. "While Fixed Base Operator (FBO) controls the spread of information on the ground, we also cooperate with ground transportation and security companies that help us serve our clients before departure and after landing."

For KlasJet flight planners, the dispatch office communicates regularly with aircrew to maintain situational awareness of FBOs. Consequently, flights are only planned with ground service partnerships that cater to the guests' needs. The company itself also undergoes a vetting process for its route of flight when possible; this vetting process ensures both quality of service and information security.

While ground service is one element of KlasJet's security framework, the aircraft remain at the center, with a fleet of B737 aircraft featuring liveries that are not only sleek and elegant but also act as dazzle camouflage, allowing the aircraft to blend in when parked among other aircraft. Although the B737 is a larger type for private jet travel, its popularity enables the charter service provider to blend in seamlessly.

According to Krupenkiniene, their cabin crew members begin preflight inspections, program the avionics, and ensure engines are ready to start and capable of providing take-off power as guests are verified in route to the airport. These preparations are designed to minimize the time during which aircraft are exposed to spotting, as the sight of the aircraft itself can initiate the stream of information about the client's travel.

Regarding crew training, Head of Cabin Crew added that cabin and flight crews at the company are highly experienced in working with high-profile individuals and celebrities. Their cabin crew are well-trained, professional, have completed special cultural courses, are multilingual, and are knowledgeable about viniculture and other catering aspects, ensuring an unparalleled level of service. However, when onboard the aircraft and conducting flights, professionalism remains the highest priority. Crew members are trained to always maintain a professional and discreet demeanor. They are instructed not to engage in personal conversations or share any information about clients' travel arrangements, activities, or identities with outsiders, including other guests, airport staff, or even family and friends. Typically, KlasJet crew members are prohibited from taking photos or making any recordings during flights or while interacting with guests.

"Beyond our work and preparation on the ground, we have structured secrecy into our flight operations," Krupenkiniene said. "Because we maintain a state of readiness for sudden requests for flight operations, the limited time we have before take-off often lends itself to secrecy, as we can catch those engaged in flight following off-guard."

KlasJet added that on certain occasions, it has fulfilled flight requests requiring flights into remote, isolated airports. Loreta mentioned that they have prepared itself to comfortably handle flights to remote areas on short notice. With aircraft bases in Europe, Dubai, and Saudi Arabia, the charter flight provider can relocate aircraft quickly and discreetly to maintain a low profile.

"Given our experience in flying, we know the tricks of the trade to find aircraft anywhere in the world, which lets us limit exposure as needed," Krupenkiniene said. "Our care and comfort for our clients goes beyond the actual flight. When we arrange with a client, their concerns become ours, and we take a vested interest in their success.”