Miwok Airways located in Burlingame, California is apparently in the final stages of preparing to launch a Cirrus SR-22 air taxi "per seat" service. I have previously discussed the different kind of air taxi models. However, I am not yet aware of any Cirrus SR-22 air taxi company that operates in the per seat mode (most widely known to be used by DayJet with Eclipse aircraft.) Miwok is claiming to be the first to offer "on demand air travel at economy class ticket prices." Miwok is different in several respects from other SR-22 air taxi operators. Here's how: Miwok's initial service area runs along the California coast from Los Angeles to San Diego, so it will clearly have the population demographics necessary to support an air taxi service. And for those who have travelled the interstate system in that area, there will also be the added incentive to get in an air taxi instead of slugging it out on the freeways. In addition to the per seat SR-22 model, the other unique aspect of Miwok appears to be the compact service area and therefore the "short hop" approach. According to an article in the Los Angeles Times on September 5, Miwok calls its service the "ultra short haul" service. In its tight Southern California geographic region, it will service 40 airfields and begin operations next month. Further, Miwok is a charter company in effect using its own software to schedule the on demand services of 4 Cirrus aircraft owned by someone else.
According to the LA Times article, "Passengers can set their own flight time and then be flown in four-seat Cirrus propeller planes with fares as low as $82 one way. The fare will depend on the distance between airports and on how many people are sharing the plane, rising to more than $300 if no other passengers are on the plane. "
The air taxi marketplace is still in its infancy. Miwok Airways offers yet another model: a short haul, per seat SR-22, air charter booking company. I have stated before that I think the Cirrus SR-22 is the ideal air taxi platform for a multitude of reasons. I also think it makes a lot of sense to use an air taxi for trips in the 300-400 mile range in light of the time savings compared to driving. Miwok's business plan is making several interesting assumption. First, one assumption is that people will use an air taxi for much shorter trips. While Miwok has entered a partnership with Enterprise Rental Car, will the added factor of a rental car (even with a premium no wait service) or a taxi at the destination outweigh the pain factor in just driving your own car for such a short trip? Second, another assumption is that the passenger is willing to trade low fares for a shared airplane although Miwok will price the trip higher if no one else joins your trip. Sharing an Eclipse is one thing. Sharing the back seats of a Cirrus is a little more intimate, but still much more comfortable and more room than a center seat on an airline coach class flight!
However, Miwok's flight booking system will leverage the social networking capability of the internet to ease the unknown of sharing the aircraft. That's also a first and an excellent concept! According to LA Times: "Booking a flight on Miwok Airways will be similar to reserving a taxicab but with a twist -- the ability to tap into an Internet social network. When the reservation system goes online in mid-October, registered passengers will first see a screen with a list of flights that others have already booked and that have seats available. Getting on someone else's booked flight can be much cheaper, $110 one way for each passenger when there are three compared with more than $300 with just one passenger flying from Los Angeles to San Diego. You can also check who's on the flight. If the booked time doesn't work, you can reserve your own flight time with the hope that others will join you. You can either wait or message others in the Facebook social website, which is linked to the Miwok site, asking them to take the flight with you."
Miwok Airways' air taxi service is entering the market with several new and unique features. It appears to have been well thought-out and it demonstrates the continued expansion of the air taxi concept to the West Coast.
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September 8, 2008 Update - You can hear a podcast interview with Gab Barnea, CEO of Miwok, via AvWweb.
September 8, 2008 Update - You can hear a podcast interview with Gab Barnea, CEO of Miwok, via AvWweb.
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