By Jim Servin
PURIST: For the past 27 years, NICHOLAS AIR has provided its 1,000 national members a reliable and exclusive program. Tell us about the importance of a balanced approach, and how it relates to NICHOLAS AIR.
Nicholas Correnti: We have always taken a responsible path to our growth. The goal is to be an oak tree. While slow to grow, it has deep roots and can weather the storms. Many companies grow too fast, have no structure, borrow huge sums of money, hoping the customer comes. Unfortunately, when a storm hits, they’re wiped away. We have never taken private equity, and remain 100 percent privately owned and operated. We’re not focused on making sure the numbers look good for a shareholder or PE firm—which normally means sacrificing quality to chase the bottom line.
This approach has also afforded us the ability to have a young and fresh fleet. We have many members that come from other operators. The most common compliment we receive is that our planes and our pilots are par to none. We think of our planes as the storefront, and our pilots as the customer service agents. No expense is spared when it comes to quality and safety at NICHOLAS AIR.
PURIST: NICHOLAS AIR limits its passenger list to 1,000 members. What qualities does the ideal NICHOLAS AIR member have?
NC: Our goal is to remain around 1,000 national members. When a new member inquires about our Jet Card Program, we want to make sure that we’re not only a good fit for them, but they’re also a good fit for us. Prior to accepting a new member, they must complete an application that goes before a membership committee for approval. We want to know their families, business, pets and acquaintances. Our goal is to learn as much about them and their travel profiles as we can prior to selling them a service.
Additionally, not every member is the same, and not all travel for the same reasons. You may have the business traveler who prefers complete quiet on board the plane and three specific newspapers, or you may have the leisure traveler whose kids love to interact with the pilots. Knowing these details and why our members are traveling allow our team to relay that to the pilots, so that every mission is custom-tailored to that member.
PURIST: Tell us why you sponsor a 5K run/walk in Oxford, Mississippi, where your headquarters are located, to benefit first responders.
NC: I believe strongly in giving back. That’s why we always do our part to be active in our local community, and in communities where our members live. The NICHOLAS AIR brand was built on Christian principles, and we believe it’s better to give than to receive.
PURIST: What inspired you to create a 2-acre garden? Share with us details about serving your staff a chef-prepared lunch on Wednesdays.
NC: Our garden is for the community and our employees, and it’s a great way to fuel people with healthy farm-to-table foods. Our chef tends the garden, and we make our staff lunches out of what we grow there. My father taught me long ago that if you surround yourself with great people, you get great results, and that’s exactly what we’ve seen at NICHOLAS AIR. I go to the office each day thankful for the employees we have, the reputation that they built for our brand, and I’m incredibly proud of what they have done to make our business the best in the industry.
PURIST: You also have a devoted following in Aspen.
NC: Aspen has always been one of our high-volume destinations, especially during ski season. It’s a beautiful airport and location. Most of our members flying to Aspen have a second home there. nicholasair.com