US subscription-based airline Surf Air is planning to launch in Europe in May. Initially, it will connect London, UK and Zurich, Switzerland during the week, and London and Ibiza, Spain at the weekend, where it will charge travelers £1,750 (US$2,150) per month to embark on as many flights as they like.
Launched in 2013 and headquartered in California, Surf Air began with one route and three aircraft, and has slowly expanded to 12 destinations and 12 private jets. It currently has 3,000 members, and plans to base its European headquarters in London. Other European routes such as Cannes, Munich and Milan will be available soon.
Simon Talling-Smith, CEO of Surf Air Europe, said, “We are bringing Surf Air to the European market as a result of three successful years in the USA built on our member-first strategy to disrupt the airline industry.”
Speaking to the Press Association, Talling-Smith also revealed that the company hopes to benefit from Britain’s upcoming divorce from the EU. He said, “We see an upside from Brexit. I think there will be many people, for example in financial services, whose companies wish to relocate them to European capitals, but they’re not ready to relocate their family out of London yet. And therefore they’ll end up living weekends in London and weekdays in a European city – and that kind of commuter is perfect for Surf Air.”
