Newport has a new air charter business that’s poised to soar, steered by a native son and father who own their own Cessna jet and have several others on call.
For four months, company President Garrett Lassiter and sometimes his father, Brent, have tackled the logistics of ferrying passengers, donated organs and even a little freight by jet to destinations from Canada to the Caribbean.
The charter service, Gen 4 Jets, is “one of a handful based in the state so we are proud to have it in Newport,” economic developer Jon Chadwell told Arkansas Business. “Gen 4 Jets has already started elite private charter jet service based at Newport Municipal Airport.”
The company, which started operations June 1, owns a six-seat CJ1 light jet that accommodates six passengers and has a range of about 1,000 nautical miles. Gen 4 has four pilots and plans to grow to 10 to 12 employees as it adds more jets to its fleet.
‘Good Fit for Our Market’
The CJ1 “is a good fit for the market here because it’s a little bit cheaper to operate,” Brent Lassiter said in a telephone interview. The mid-range private jet lets Gen 4 charge about $4,500 to $5,000 per charter hour, about half the amount that bigger jet charter companies charge.
“That makes sense, and it’s pretty easy to sell in our area,” Lassiter said.
He emphasized that his son runs the company, which scours through about 200 flight requests per day on an online marketplace to bid on runs that fit with the logistics of its fleet. The company makes flights to and from the ski slopes of the Rockies to Atlanta, to Florida, to New York and to Memphis.
While Gen 4 doesn’t pick up and drop off a lot of passengers in Newport itself, it’s a great base of operations, Lassiter said.
“We’re an hour from a lot of stuff, so it’s really a great location. It’s a good place to bring the aircraft back to get maintenance done, to buy cheaper fuel and get cheaper hangar space. It’s centrally located, and it’s really been good for business so far.”
Lassiter emphasized that his son Garrett is operating the business. “Garrett took the lead and is running the show, and he did a great job getting it off the ground. He’s a pilot who has had both charter and airline experience. I’m a pilot, too, and have been since I was in college. But I fly charters pretty much only when one of the other pilots is sick.”
Several attempts to reach Garrett Lassiter by phone failed.
‘Flexible Travel Solutions’
In a statement issued by the Newport Economic Development Commission, led by Chadwell, Garrett Lassiter noted that every journey is unique. He said that is why Gen 4 offers “personalized and flexible travel solutions tailored to meet the specific needs and preferences of our clients.”
At Newport Municipal, the company uses two 5,000-foot runways and the terminal building.
“We are pleased to be able to provide luxury private travel through this partnership with Gen 4 Jets.” Mayor Derrick Ratliffe said in a news release. “This is a resource that gives our existing businesses an additional way to meet their travel needs.”
Brent Lassiter, president of ProAg Services of Newport, said Gen 4 has access to thousands of airports. The charter service flies with two pilots, except for rare occasions when clients want a seventh seat. “Most people like to see two pilots up there,” he said.
Chadwell said that one of the most important things communities can offer businesses is extra time. “Having a private charter service in Newport offers businesses in the region valuable added time over commercial travel options,” he said.
Growing With the Airport
The company is also one key to the municipal airport’s growth, according to Airport Commission Chair James McClarty, a local lawyer. “We are excited to see the economic growth and opportunity represented by Gen 4 Jets,” McClarty said in the release. “As the Newport Municipal Airport continues its growth, partnerships like this one are a great addition to air travel for the entire region.”
Airport Manager Tommy Sanders noted that Gen 4 plans to create a dozen jobs over the next four years. The company is also looking to purchase a site and build a private facility adjacent to the airport for future expansion.
Along with its own plane, the business manages jets for other owners looking to offset their operational costs by offering charters. Gen 4 oversees maintenance, pilot training and regulatory compliance, Brent Lassiter said.
“We have two other planes that we’re bringing on to our certificate in the next few months and then we’ll have another within the next year,” he said. “We should have three to four options that we’ll be running to let some private owners put their airplanes on our certificate to offset some of their costs. But you have to meet FAA regulations and make sure that the aircraft conforms to our certificate.”
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