【Unlocking Word Meanings】
今日の単語・フレーズ
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
1. charter /ˈtʃɑr tər/ (adj.) – referring to aircraft that are reserved by a client for his or her private use
Example: The employers hired a charter plane to attend the conventions all around the continent.
2. itinerary /aɪˈtɪnəˈrɛri, ɪˈtɪn-/ (n.) – trips or journeys that have a fixed schedule and a planned route
Example: The businessman prefers to travel in private jet because his schedule rarely coincides with itineraries.
3. fleet /flit/ (n.) – a unit of aircraft owned by an airline
Example: The company has a small fleet of private jets for its employees to use.
4. partial /ˈpɑr ʃəl/ (adj.) – referring to something that has a fractional part of something
Example: As the co-founder of the airline, she is a partial proprietor of the business.
5. disembark /ˌdɪs ɛmˈbɑrk/ (v.) – to exit a plane
Example: The pilots are always the last ones to disembark the plane.
【Article】
ニュース記事
Read the text below.
Private jet rides have become cheaper as European charter airlines turn to online services, partnerships with major airlines, and partial plane ownership.
PrivateFly, a newcomer in the aviation industry, uses its online booking system and offers sizable discounts to minimize empty flights. According to chief executive and founder Adam Twidell [TWI-del], one of the company’s setbacks is empty flights, where jets travelling to their charter destination carry no passengers. Taking advantage of this, PrivateFly promotes these empty flights as itineraries in the company website. For each trip, regular rates are reduced to as low as 75 percent.
As a result, PrivateFly experienced a rise in client satisfaction. Twidell shared that their method has proven that clients are more open to services that are easily accessible and cost-efficient.
On the other hand, the veteran airline company NetJets not only uses a system that is cost-efficient but also convenient. Known to have the largest fleet worldwide, NetJets has 700 planes in operation. The company manages these planes through partial plane ownership, with over 3,700 clients having a share. As partial owners, clients are entitled to a number of flight hours every year. Aviation experts have praised NetJets and its method because it is a good training ground and starting point for clients who are interested in entering the aviation business.
Another company, Wijet, has collaborated with the national airline Air France in offering low-priced private jet rides to the airline’s first class passengers. For as low as 550 Euros ($750) per head, first class passengers of Air France can now fly through a Wijet private jet after they disembark their plane.
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【Viewpoint Discussion】
ディスカッションテーマ
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A
· If given the chance, would you book a private jet flight in any of these companies? Why or why not?
· What are other things that private jet companies can do to lower rates of empty flights?
Discussion B
· Would you want to enter the aviation business? Why or why not?
· What would be your method to make flight rates cheaper?