Jet It CEO Glen Gonzales Body Slams HondaJet in Public
Gonzales went on to describe Honda Aircraft Company’s “blatant disregard for the investing public” and their “lack of transparency” in how they share information. According to Gonzales, it has been difficult for Jet It operators and shareholders to obtain reliable data from Honda Aircraft Company about maintenance issues and aircraft performance. He asserted that this has hindered Jet It’s ability to provide accurate and timely safety data to its fractional owners. He concluded by strongly encouraging investors to demand more transparency from Honda Aircraft Company, as “it is your right as a responsible investor.”Gonzales’s comments have sparked conversation among current and prospective fractional shareholders.
JetClub is looking for a new partner that can provide better operational flexibility and performance. Hiremath says, “We are in the process of evaluating several other aircraft options in Europe and have been talking to various OEMs, including Cessna, Embraer and Dassault. We want to select an aircraft which will give us the flexibility to operate in different countries, provide better performance and faster speeds, and also offer us the operational support that we need. We are going to make the decision soon.”
JetClub is confident that it will find an aircraft partner in Europe which will give them the same level of satisfaction they have been getting from HondaJet in the U.S. Hiremath adds, “We are confident that our search will result in an aircraft partner in Europe which meets all of our requirements. We aim to get a new partner as soon as possible so that we can continue providing superior services to our customers.”
JetClub is aware that this transition may present some challenges but they are ready to face them and ensure a smooth transition to their new aircraft partner. Hiremath says, “We understand that this transition will involve some challenges but with our experienced team and strong partnerships we are confident that we can make the changeover with minimal disruption to our operations.
Off-Fleet Expenses Mounting
Gonzales noted that an increase in the price of fuel, combined with below-average aircraft utilization, has had a significant impact on Jet It’s bottom line. However, he argued that Honda Aircraft Company should shoulder the majority of the blame for these losses due to their lack of reliable and dependable Very Light Jets (VLJs).
Gonzales stated that over the past three years, Jet It has had to commit significant resources to off-fleet expenses in order to keep their fleet of VLJs operational. This has cost his company over $20 million, far more than they have ever spent on any other aircraft type. He concluded by saying that Honda Aircraft Company needs to take responsibility for their flawed product and commit to address the issues that have caused these losses.
For every nine days that we fly a HondaJet, it requires six days of maintenance
– Glenn Gonzales, Jet It CEO
The move marks a significant shift for the company, which has long relied on the HondaJet platforms for its fractional offerings. “We are very excited to be offering the Phenom 300 to our clients,” said Gonzales. “It’s a great aircraft and offers increased performance and cabin comfort.”
The decision to acquire the Phenom 300 follows an extensive evaluation of the market as well as a careful review of customer feedback. “We wanted to make sure we had the right aircraft for our unique needs and the Phenom 300 fit that bill,” said Gonzales. “It’s an incredibly capable aircraft with outstanding performance and luxurious comfort.”
Gonzales noted that the company stands behind its commitment to delivering superior customer service and providing a safe, reliable experience. He reiterated that they are focused on continuing to build their fleet of high-quality aircraft and supporting their clients’ travel needs.
With the upcoming scheduled calls with owners, Gonzalez is confident that customers will be pleased with what’s in store for them. “We are certain that once owners have the chance to experience the Phenom 300 for themselves, they will be just as impressed with it as we are,” said Gonzales.
Gonzales concluded his letter by expressing his enthusiasm for what lies ahead and thanking customers for their continued support.
Jet It CEO Not Dumping HondaJet Completely
Gonzales further explains that the decision to keep at least part of the HondaJet fleet is related to Jet It’s fractional program which provides guaranteed availability. By maintaining the HondaJet fleet, Jet It is able to maintain a high level of service for their customers.
He adds “Having a fleet allows us to guarantee the availability for our customers. That’s an important part of what we do and it’s something that can’t just be replaced. We want to make sure we have the right aircraft and the right operating environment available for our customers.”
In his letter, Gonzales outlines a series of initiatives that HondaJet fractional owners can expect over the coming months. These include improved communication with members, more proactive maintenance and repair planning, adherence to schedules, and more resources devoted to customer service. He also states that “we are taking steps to ensure that our service operations meet industry standards or exceed them.” He finishes by assuring the members that HondaJet is committed to providing an exceptional experience for all customers.
Gonzales signs off with a promise of transparency and accountability, stating, “We will be continuously measuring and benchmarking our performance against industry standards in order to ensure we are doing what needs to be done. We will keep you informed on our progress and take responsibility for any shortcomings.”
The Smack down Continues…
Gonzales went on to explain the difficulties his company had experienced in managing their fleet, due to Honda’s service not meeting expectations. “Our operations team have been left frustrated and angry with Honda’s lack of communication and responsiveness when it comes to addressing maintenance issues or getting parts for scheduled inspections and repairs. On more than one occasion we have had to source parts from the internet, or take planes out of service due to the lack of parts or response from Honda. This has cost us time and money in operational delays, which is simply not acceptable.”
Gonzales concluded, “We are committed to providing a reliable and safe aircraft fleet for our customers, and Honda’s inability to provide us with the expected levels of service has led us to seek out other alternatives. We are now looking into other aircraft models that meet our operational requirements, in order to ensure a consistently high level of service for our customers.”
Overall, Gonzales expressed his dissatisfaction with Honda’s aviation division and their lack of service, emphasizing that the company must take responsibility to ensure their customers are receiving the highest level of quality and reliability. He concluded by urging Honda to make improvements to their customer service as soon as possible in order for his company to consider working with them again in the future.
Gonzales’s comments demonstrate how companies must demand excellence when it comes to service and reliability, in order to ensure the long-term success of their business. Companies should strive to maintain high standards of quality and responsiveness when serving customers, or else they risk losing their loyal customer base. It is clear that Honda will have to make amends if they are going to remain competitive in the aviation space.
“As a minimum, we expected the HondaJet to meet an industry standard of 85% availability. Meaning that 85% of the fleet is flyable on any given day.”
“However, for every nine days that we fly a HondaJet, it requires six days of maintenance.”
“In the last five months, this statistic has resulted in Jet It having an average of only 10 aircraft flyable out of 24.”
“For nearly two years, we have done our best to shield you from Honda’s ineptitude, but our shield has worn through.”
“Even though Honda has not met its obligation to us, our obligation to you – to fly you even when your Honda is not – has had our new company absorb over $20 million in ‘off fleet’ expenses in the last two years…
“This does not include the elevated maintenance expenses, which adds millions more to costs. Of course, our financial hardship is just one challenge; the more significant issue is how we have missed the mark on meeting your expectations.
“Private aviation should be an elevated experience – in every way. But we simply can’t properly operate if our aircraft do not.
“We frankly find all of this, not just disappointing but shocking given that Jet It is Honda Aircraft Company’s largest customer, having spent over $200 million in aircraft, parts, service, and training.
“The days of not having enough flyable aircraft causing you schedule anxiety, late notifications, flight delays, and cancellations must end, and the Embraer Phenom 300 is the solution.”
Gonzales adds, “The abuse from not having flyable aircraft cannot be continued. There will be changes to our HondaJet operations as we retool,” before concluding.
HondaJet Responds
“Honda Aircraft Company has been made aware by a few sources about a message sent by Jet It CEO to the Jet It fractional owners. HACI would like to reconfirm our position regarding the HondaJet aircraft fleet reliability and our solid commitment to support the product.”
She adds, “HACI does not comment on internal operational matters relating to our customers. The HondaJet dispatch reliability remains very high at 99.7%. We work closely with all our customers to assist them to maximize their asset availability, which may be influenced by multiple factors associated with a customer’s operations, such as extended downtimes due to accidents, incidents, pilot, technician availability, maintenance planning, and scheduling, and service center network coordination.”
The spokesperson continues, “As the HondaJet fleet continues to grow, we are committed to ensuring that each of our customers around the globe receives the highest quality of service and support, with the supply of parts and factory-trained and certified service technicians available at each of the Authorized Service Center (ASC) locations. With the addition of four new full-service ASCs in the United States and global regions in 2022, we continue to strengthen our service capacity.”
Pandemic & Supply Chains
The Covid pandemic has significantly increased the demand for corporate jets and taken a toll on maintenance and customer service resources, leading to delays in repairs and inspections. Honda Aircraft Company’s structure, being a small part of a larger global company with its own issues, has made it less nimble than other OEMs in responding to this surge. Operators have raised concerns about the slow pace at which Honda has been able to hire more maintenance technicians and expand shifts. It is critical for Honda Aircraft Company to address these issues in order to ensure reliable operations for its customers and maintain a reputation as a trusted provider of quality aircrafts. As the demand for corporate jets continues to rise, Honda must take steps to ensure it can deliver the necessary maintenance and customer service in a timely manner.
Going forward, Honda Aircraft Company should prioritize increasing staffing and shifting resources so that customer support can be provided efficiently. Additionally, investing in new technology such as automated maintenance systems could help streamline processes and reduce turnaround time for repairs and inspections. Keeping its customers informed of the status of their jet and any potential delays is also essential in delivering the highest level of customer service. Honda must take these steps to remain competitive in the market and ensure reliable operations for its customers.
In conclusion, Honda Aircraft Company needs to prioritize increasing staffing and shifting resources to keep up with demand, as well as investing in new technology to streamline processes. Keeping customers informed of potential delays is also an important part of ensuring the highest level of customer service. By taking these steps, Honda can remain competitive in the corporate jet market and ensure reliable operations for its customers.
HondaJet Reviews & Ratings
Despite the lower rating in Business Jet Traveler’s Annual Readers’ Choice Awards, Honda Aircraft Company is still making a strong showing in the Very Light Jet (VLJ) and light jet markets. In fact, it delivered 13 HA-420s through the first nine months of 2022. While Embraer’s Phenom 100 beat the HondaJet by a 56%-to-31% margin in terms of preferred VLJs, the Phenom 300 still ranked tops in the light jet category with 32% of the vote. Gulfstream Aerospace, which does not compete in these categories, scored best overall with a 3.70 rating on a scale of 5.
Investors looking to enter the VLJ and light jet markets should keep an eye on these two OEMs, as both manufacturers are showing strong growth in the industry. Additionally, those considering larger jets should consider Gulfstream Aerospace for their needs, given its higher rating amongst Business Jet Traveler readers. Ultimately, whichever company investors choose to go with, they can rest assured that they are getting the best service and product available.
Conclusion: Investors looking to purchase VLJ or light jets should consider both Honda Aircraft Company and Embraer, while those looking for larger jets should strongly consider Gulfstream Aerospace. All three OEMs are highly rated by Business Jet Traveler’s Annual Readers’ Choice Awards.
Jet It Accidents & Incidents
The Jet It fleet of HondaJets has experienced a number of runway excursions in the past year, resulting in two planes being taken out of service. On March 13, 2022, N903JT was substantially damaged when it skidded sideways off the end of the runway and down an incline into trees. A second plane, N704JT, was pushed off the runway due to a wind gust during landing on October 12, 2022. These incidents have impacted Jet It’s fleet availability and safety record. The company is taking steps to address these issues and improve the safety of its operations. Jet It has mandated additional crew training for high-risk scenarios and enhanced preflight checklists for all aircraft, in addition to launching an investigation into the runway excursion events. The company is committed to making sure that their customers have a safe and enjoyable experience when flying Jet It. With these new safety measures in place, Jet It is confident that their fleet will be available and safe for customers to fly.
While neither aircraft reported any injuries, FlightAware tracking indicates that the aircraft are not currently in service. Of particular concern is C-FJJT, which suffered a runway overrun on March 7, 2022. Thankfully there were no injuries or damages reported, but it is unknown when the aircraft will return to service.
Jet It executives have assured customers that these two incidents have not been included in the numbers provided to owners. They are currently taking all measures necessary to ensure a seamless transition back into full service and hope to resume operations as soon as possible.
For additional information on runway excursions involving Jet It aircraft, please visit FlightAware or Kathryn’s Report.
