Membership uniquely enables the sharing of private jet flights through access to the Guilds secure portal and private coordination service. The Guild is expected to support around 1500 members who, according to their invitation letter, will be "encouraged to cooperate in a spirit of collective endeavour and demonstrate a real commitment to meeting their travel needs in a sustainable manner". Most of the fractional ownership and jet schemes have contracts allowing flight sharing with members encouraged to participate in the Guilds objectives.
Lacy stresses that this is a significant step forward from the recently maligned carbon offsetting schemes. Flightshare aims instead, to cut emissions at source.
David Lacy says: "Sharing trips in this way reduces much of the waste in the private jet industry by utilising empty seats. It’s a known fact that the world’s private jets currently fly empty for 40% of the time, often with several aircraft flying to and from the same airports, on the same day and at very similar times; creating their own congestion and using up precious air traffic slots"
"Major events in the entertainment, social, sporting and business calendar are frequent examples which create a ‘honeypot’ effect of private aircraft around airports. Additionally, we often find that people are simply travelling to the same area at the same time for general business or leisure purposes. We want to bring these people together where possible and save them time and money, but more importantly, to help create sustainability for the industry and the environment"
