The Southern Airways Express and Surf Air Mobility merger will be the first to bring together an airline and an electric aviation technology company. The goal is to get hybrid electric aircraft, think hybrid cars, to U.S. skies before anyone else.
The rise of the so-called Brexpat, those who will commute from London to jobs in European financial hubs, is a prime opportunity for Surf Air as it expands in Europe.
There have been so many startups trying to solve problems of frequent flyers and found little success. Surf Air's modest yet competent approach may be the solution some have been looking for.
Are subscription airline services such as those from Surf Air, Rise and the soon-to-be-launched Beacon ripe for consolidation given the close ties among co-founders? OK, we're kidding. First we'll have to see if there is even a market for the membership model in aviation.
Startup business traveler focused service like Blackjet, Arrow and now Surf Air are trying to reinvent the private flying model, competing on pricing+ convenience with commercial business and first class travel, minus he big airport hassels.