Above and beyond: Geoffery Cassidy
Promising the best in bespoke luxury, Zetta Jet Managing Director Geoffery Cassidy is taking private air travel to new heights.
On a recent business trip to London, Geoffery Cassidy spent some of his precious spare time one afternoon inspecting the luxury glassware items in Harrods. He was on a mission to find a particular martini glass, an exclusive brand available only through the high-end British retail chain. But the Zetta Jet managing director wasn’t planning a ritzy dinner party for his friends, or even indulging in a little retail therapy — this shopping expedition was all business.
As the founder of a private jet charter service, Geoffery has become accustomed to meeting the exacting requirements of his clients, and one of the company’s high-profile fliers insists his martinis are served in these glasses. "Whenever he flies, he has a martini, so I actually had to go out myself and buy a whole set of these glasses to put on every plane. This way no-one runs around stressed trying to find the glasses for when this gentleman flies," Geoffery explains.
For a flight out of South Africa, Geoffery ordered for the client a specific type of caviar, which had to be flown in from Geneva. Some clients specify a type of pillow or sheets for their mid-flight naps; others require high-quality internet streaming so they can Skype or tweet from the air.
At Zetta Jet, customer satisfaction is paramount and no desire is too extravagant. "The sky’s the limit," Geoffery laughs. "Many people will say it is too difficult to accommodate certain requests, but we go the extra mile to make it happen."
A perfectionist by nature, Geoffery is a veteran of the aviation industry. As a child, he flew regularly with his father, a pilot who founded the Asia Aviation Company in the late 70s. "I have got aviation fuel in my blood," he says. "As a child, I grew up around, and on, aircraft. I was thrown into the industry."
When his father passed away shortly before Geoffery completed high school, he made the bold decision to join the business right after graduation. "I actually went straight into the boss’s position, so I had to learn how to manage a company from a very young age. I learned the importance of dedication and not giving up, keeping focused and putting in the hard work."
From this strong foundation, Geoffery went on to launch Zetta Jet in 2015. "It was a number of years in the planning, and it took a long time to save up the money to purchase our first global aircraft, but over the past 12 months we have grown the company to around US$750 million of assets and a 278-strong team, with clients booked every day." Zetta Jet promises to deliver the ultimate in bespoke luxury, and there’s been no shortage of positive reviews.
Since its launch, snapshots of Zetta Jet’s lavish aircraft have been peppered throughout the social media accounts of various A-listers, whether it be songstress Mariah Carey striking a pose in the airline cabin, Formula One Grand Prix driver Lewis Hamilton boarding the stairs of a Bombardier Global 6000, or film director Brett Ratnor on the tarmac. It might seem like glitterati dominate Zetta Jet’s clientele, but the company regularly caters to the heads of some of the biggest corporate players in the world, including Silicon Valley tech executives and Australian mining magnates.
"We are positioned to be able to make the most of global trends.
Since we are the top end of the market, we are able to ride the waves
of industry growth." – Geoffery Cassidy
Headquartered in Singapore, and with 6 strategically positioned offices worldwide, Zetta Jet maintains a fleet of Bombardier aircraft to serve its worldwide customer base. European and US clients account for 60% of its business. "We are positioned to be able to make the most of global trends," Geoffery says. "Since we are the top end of the market, we are able to ride the waves of industry growth, and with our ultra-long-range intercontinental capabilities, we can fly around the world with relative ease." Zetta Jet is a Federal Aviation Administration-certificated carrier and the only Part 135 operator authorised to conduct polar flights.
Geoffery says it’s the quality of his fleet that sets Zetta Jet apart in a very competitive industry, with 6 new jets due next year. "Our fleet of aircraft is capable of flying the longest routes; they have the most advanced navigational instruments and a host
of features and amenities to deliver the ultimate private jet experience," he says. "It’s a matter of keeping up to date with new designs and staying technologically advanced. It is our continued investment in these ultra-high-end amenities that really sets us apart, and it is something that we continuously need to be on top of so that we are setting the trends, not following them."