Flying High with Aero
The semi-private airline now jets from coast-to-coast
What began as Uber founder Garrett Camp’s idea for a software platform to book private jets has evolved into Aero, a growing fleet of semi-private flights. For a recent flight, passengers gathered on a Friday morning at LA’s Van Nuys Airport. Some travelers were en route to the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen, the annual gathering of culinary adventurers and chefs in the idyllic mountaintop town in Colorado.
Conveniently set up with a clear view of the Embraer ERJ 135s plane, the small terminal enhances the personal check-in experience with a compact lounge stocked with complimentary Erewhon drinks and snacks. Skipping the long TSA lines at LAX and other major LA airports, the sharply dressed staff collects baggage and quickly checks documents. A few well-behaved pups, clearly seasoned travelers, sit calmly beside their humans who sip coffee or green juice.
With passengers accompanied by five remarkably calm dogs, it’s a short walk to the jet, painted black with Aero’s signature red ombre stripes. Powered by Rolls-Royce AE 3007 engines, the ERJ 135 is a twin-engine jet aircraft produced by Brazilian aerospace company Embraer.
When the jet cabin was redesigned for Aero, the overhead bins were removed and floors leveled to create a more spacious interior with noise-reducing suede walls. The original ceiling was replaced with custom-made panels and covered in textured white leather, providing a canvas for the state-of-the-art customizable RGBW mood LED lighting system.
The cabin, originally designed to seat up to 37, has been reconfigured with just 16 seats for maximum legroom and personal space. Each seat, 20 inches wide with a 145-degree recline, is made from hand-stitched black Italian leather in Phantom Chatham.
In-flight service includes wines by Peake Ranch, Veuve Clicquot champagne, non-alcoholic Aplós Ume Spritz, and healthy Erewhon meals. For chartered flights, entire planes can be reserved for groups with customizable options ranging from in-flight wine tastings to themed experiences. Additional amenities include beauty treatments such as an eye depuffing kit by Amandine Sol Botanicals.
Aero’s Van Nuys terminal opened in 2021. Regular flights now operate to Aspen, Las Vegas, Napa, Los Cabos, Salt Lake City, Sun Valley and Thermal in the Coachella Valley, making it an ideal option for music festivals and events like Coachella and the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen. Aero also offers multiple travel packages with resorts including the Parker Palm Springs, Stein Eriksen Lodge in Park City, Meadowood, Stanley Ranch, Solage in Napa Valley and the Four Seasons and Waldorf Astoria in Los Cabos.
Landing at Aspen’s small airport, surrounded by mountain views, is not only a luxurious experience but ideal for its proximity to town, allowing passengers to reach their destination in record time. The new LA to NY route shortens the coast-to-coast journey in both directions for earlier arrivals.
Landing from the return flight home reveals the full impact of the service. The Aero team unloads baggage immediately while cars wait out front. Instead of the usual drawn-out process of deplaning, walking endless hallways to baggage claim and navigating the chaos of a major airport, passengers are handed car keys by a valet in what feels like a smooth baton pass—and are driving away within five minutes.
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