Hopscotch Air Touts 'Hassle-Free And Affordable' Private Air Service

Upstart air taxi provider Hopscotch Air recently earned approval from the FAA to begin customer flights from New York metropolitan airports, using a fleet of Cirrus SR22s.

"For the first time, everyday travelers can now experience travel freedom and leave behind over-crowded airports and frustrating airline delays, while paying prices often competitive to that of the airlines," the company tells ANN.

That statement will sound familar to anyone well-versed with air-taxi providers like SATSair, which also uses SR22s. To date, however, SATSair has focused its efforts on the southeastern US. Hopscotch marks one of the first air taxi forays into the congested Northeastern Corridor.

Hopscotch Air says its pilots will meet customers at any New York metropolitan airport on Long Island, Westchester, CT and New Jersey, and flies them to destinations throughout the northeast. Hopscotch Air can access hundreds of lightly used airports that, in many cases, are closer to people's final destinations. Hopscotch's planes and pilots can even wait at the destination airport for when the customer wants to return.

Hopscotch President and co-founder Andrew Schmertz notes his prices are highly competitive with airline air shuttle service. In fact, two people can fly from New York to Boston for less money than the walk-up fare on the Delta or US Airways Shuttle.

"This country didn't just have an economic meltdown; it has had an airline meltdown," Schmertz says. "People still need to fly and time is still money. They are clamoring for a solution to the airline mess. Airlines are reducing - and in some cases, cancelingservice along many routes,” Schmertz says. "But travelers still need to get to that meeting at an affordable price. With Hopscotch Air, you show up, get on board and go."

FMI: www.flyhopscotch.com