New Wellness Program at VistaJet focuses on health and sustainabilityRunway Girl

Celebrating its 20th anniversary, VistaJet on 12 March landed at the UK’s iconic Farnborough Airport with a Global 7500 to showcase a new Wellness Program for passengers.

The company offers its members access to business jet flight hours, originally through a fleet of Bombardier Challenger and Global aircraft, but now with additional models from Cessna, Dassault, Embraer, and Gulfstream.

Delivering an ultra-quiet, silky-smooth ride, the Global 7500 offers filtered, humidified cabin air and features Dynamic Daylight Simulation lighting to help stave off jet lag. It maintains a 4,500ft cabin altitude, even when flying up to 45,000ft.

What else could VistaJet do to improve the passenger experience, journalists attending the event wondered?

“For our anniversary we decided to offer an integrated experience before, during and after their flight,” said VistaJet chief marketing officer Matteo Atti. It’s a service offered to all VistaJet members, regardless of aircraft type.

VistaJet Global 7500 with the air stairs available for boarding.

VistaJet used a Global 7500 for the Farnborough, UK launch of its Wellness Program. Image: Sam Churchill

VistaJet nutritionist Jenna Daou, Private Medical CEO and founder Dr Jordan Shlain, and Jimmy Carroll, co-founder of luxury travel specialist Pelorus, joined Atti in describing the offer.

“I go deep into where ingredients are sourced, ensuring our clients get the best of the best,” said Daou of the wellbeing-focused menu. “We have a consultation with the client where we get an idea of their lifestyle, dietary requirements, what they like to eat, and their medical history. I build a profile and develop a creative, varied menu for them.”

Nutritionist Jenna Daou, with VistaJet Global 7500 cabin hosts, at the Farnborough event on 12 March. Image: Sam Churchill

VistaJet based its Wellness Program on evidence collected by its crews during normal operations. Cabin crew — ‘hosts’ in company parlance — make notes on observed behaviors and preferences during missions, collating them into client profiles. Anti-jet lag devices and techniques are commonly observed, while one of the Farnborough crew recalled hearing a client mention they liked boats — now there are always boating magazines on board when he flies.

Dr. Shlain’s involvement relates to the unique differences in biology and physiology between individuals, plus fundamental health considerations for travel. “Sleep and hydration as preparation for a flight, and avoiding dry skin during the flight, are essential,” he noted.

VistaJet chief marketing officer Matteo Atti (foreground), Private Medical CEO and founder Dr Jordan Shlain, and Pelorus co-founder Jimmy Carroll, speak with journalists. Image: Sam Churchill

To ensure hydration, passengers benefit from an extra treat via the so-called Your Exclusive In-flight Skincare Ritual, a six-step process using luxurious Guerlain Orchidée Impériale products. VistaJet’s hosts are trained in how to use the products and explain their benefits.

A woman's hands are seen using the Guerlain Orchidée Impériale products

The Guerlain Orchidée Impériale products are designed to be unisex and leave a distinctive but gentle fragrance. Image: Sam Churchill

Shlain continued: “It’s not just your brain that has a circadian rhythm. Every cell in your body has a ‘clock’, all on different schedules. There are lots of strategies around sleep and time zones when you’re flying long distances. Then there’s moving and stretching, wearing tight socks; we’re helping people with all these things. And for those travelling with a medical problem, we also have access to the resources they need.”

Pelorus, meanwhile, brings curated travel to the package. “We try to look after our clients’ welfare better than anyone else, helping them manage their time and maximize the travel experience. We consider their fitness and the suitability of a location. Bhutan, for example, is a country of beautiful landscapes, but it requires lots of car and helicopter travel, so if the client gets travel sick, we consider that,” said Carroll.

“The biggest part is understanding the client and their motivation, then blending nutrition, sleep, and wellness into the experience. I want people to come back from their holiday rested, so we look at every detail, including what we’re going to do if something does go wrong.”

VistaJet’s ability to deliver stress-free travel is a key motivator for its clients, but no business aviation user should be flying stress free unless they know their carbon emissions are taken care of. Carroll revealed that 1% of the cost of every VistaJet Pelorus travel experience is directed to sustainability and for Atti the challenge is critical.

“So far,” he said, “we’ve purchased 4.2 million gallons of sustainable aviation fuel and we aim to maximize its use going forward. Residual emissions after SAF are 100% offset; we do that for our offices and company travel too. We want to show the industry how we all need to be working.”