Smart’s Secret Mission 29 November 2022Back in July of this year, we chartered an aircraft for 60 passengers to fly to Zagreb (Croatia) on a top secret company trip. The brief from our client was very clear; the senior personnel on board were to have no inkling whatsoever of where their final destination would be. Smart’s first mission was so successful (you can read about it here) that the client immediately booked another trip with us that was to remain undisclosed… until now!We spoke to Charlotte Sobol, Smart’s Head of Sales and Administration, who worked on the logistics of these flights with Jet2.com and escorted the personnel on their mysterious adventure to Agadir, Morocco.What made this corporate charter so different?The fact that the destination had to remain classified was really exciting. Our client creates experiences for large corporate companies but this was more than just a team building trip. This trip was about taking people completely out of their comfort zones and getting them to surrender their control in order to connect with their colleagues at a deeper level. It was fascinating to work on this trip for this multinational company, which chartered an aircraft to take 100 of its employees to Agadir for five days. How did you start to arrange this charter?We have been close partners with Jet2.com for a number of years and we knew they would be the perfect partner for this, as we have worked with them on many specialist charters in the past. We contacted them to secure the availability of a B737-300 that would be large enough to comfortably accommodate this large group. What measures did you put in place to keep the final destination of this charter a secret?The group flew on a 737-300 from the VIP terminal Inflite Stansted, the Jet Centre. This meant that we could control the secrecy of the destination to a certain extent. We were involved from the beginning of their journey and arranged private coach transportation for the employees from the Olympic Park to the private charter terminal at the airport. Whilst on the coach, they still had to idea where they were going. Their cases were taken off them and checked in before they even arrived. I was told “the next time they see their cases, they will be in the desert!”.All Jet2 staff, terminal staff and flight crew were extensively briefed to not mention the destination – no general announcements, no talking about it at all during the flight, and no signage. Their boarding passes had their names and seat number on, but the rest of it was blank. They were only told when they were coming into land after the three and a half hour flight.What was the most challenging part of this charter?We manage these types of large passenger bookings all the time for our sports and MICE charters, the only difference with this one was the confidentiality. We understand the need for attention to detail with these complex bookings and are aware of the potential room for error. We went through everything with a fine tooth comb to make sure that everything from the coaches, dietary requirements, and transportation on arrival back in the UK went smoothly. Everything went really well. This client is always lovely to deal with and we worked together to pull it off without ever letting the cat out of the bag. Why choose Smart?Our business revolves around you– Exactly what you need– You’re dealing with the experts. Our goal is excellence in service and execution – our extensive knowledge and expertise ensure we deliver.Cost effective with no compromise– Our unrivalled operator relationships and leverage in the European market ensures you get the most cost-effective solution, without compromising on quality.We are always available– Our operational support team is on-hand 24/7, 365 days a year, to deal with the unexpected and keep you flying – for total peace of mind.Call or email us today – [email protected] / + 44 1293 551244