Inside Sky Quest: A Cleveland Company Redefining Private Jet Travel

As travelers trudge through crowded airports pulling luggage and waiting in line, many may dream of flying on a private jet. According to Corey Head, a local pilot and president of Cleveland-based private jet company Sky Quest, it is truly as convenient as one might imagine. 

“Drive your car within 20 feet of the aircraft and walk right up to board the plane,” he explains. “A concierge is there to help with everything. Have an in-flight meeting with your marketing team prior to the presentation. Be home by dinner and back in the office the next morning.”

That’s a typical experience business travelers have every day flying Sky Quest, a growing aircraft management and jet charter service. Safely flying since 2001, the company has a local fleet of 24 privately managed jets that vary in size and model and typically seat seven to 14 passengers. If needed, they also can access larger planes through outside carriers.

“It’s the price of convenience,” he says. “For our corporate clients, it’s worth it to not waste another day traveling — everyone can be back in the office the next day.”

Head explains some of the options Sky Quest offers for both businesses and individual flyers:

The Jet Club is an annual subscription program where members pay an annual access fee, and flights are billed as you go. On the other hand, the Jet Card enables clients to prepay for a set number of flight hours to lock in a price per hour — a price that never changes. Members can use it for an unlimited period of time that never expires. 

Finally, for a very select group, Sky Quest can work with a client to secure and buy an aircraft. The team will then manage, maintain and crew the airplane for the buyer. In addition, they will charter it when it is not in use by the owner, which helps offset costs. 

While Sky Quest serves about 60% business travelers, Head says the company also works with private individuals and families with children and/or pets. 

“If you are bringing a pet, it can sit at your feet during the whole flight,” he says. “Our team may even wash your car, fill your gas tank or even decorate the airplane for special occasions — anything you may need.”

It takes a lot to make all this happen, and Sky Quest has a team of 130 employees, including 17 mechanics, 70 pilots and 15 to 20 in-flight support staff. 

For them, safety is the top priority.

“We fly with two captains,” he says. “We are a management company, so our planes are kept up top notch at all times. We need to be good stewards of the planes for the owners.”

In fact, Sky Quest has been recognized and awarded by the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Business Aviation Association for safe flying for consecutive years without incident.

“We have a flawless safety record, and we intend to keep it that way,” he adds.