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UrbanBCN Worldwide CEO David Uziel brings his company into the transcontinental air space with the introduction of his newly announced private aviation network, UrbanAir.
Uziel’s initial jet acquisition, a 12-seat Bombardier Challenger 604, reflects his commitment to meeting the growing demand for private travel in the wake of the global pandemic. In tandem with the company’s launch of rigorous COVID-19-related health and safety protocols, UrbanAir intends to provide a proactive and competitive option for those seeking enhanced flexibility and care within the luxury charter arena.
The fortuitous idea was brewing for about a year as a way to diversify his San Francisco-based business, but interest heightened after Uziel’s corporate clients expressed a reticence to travel on commercial airlines now and in the foreseeable future due to concerns about the virus.
“Time-saving access to smaller airports, adaptable flight schedules, and the ability to remain socially distanced will be vital considerations in the coming months,” says Uziel. “And these are things major airlines just can’t provide. Our goal is to make air travel more streamlined, and our clients more confident, as we collectively move forward.”
UrbanAir’s access to more than 25 small, medium, and heavy jets creates a range of accommodation options for passengers. All private charters are equipped with a multimedia entertainment system, forward galley with refreshment center, and in-flight WiFi.
Although business has been tough across the board for practically every transportation company worldwide as travel has been restricted, Uziel is hopeful for the future. He says that he received more than two dozen requests less than 24 hours after announcing the new service to his clients in early June—a sign that people want to travel but are willing to do so with trusted partners.
“This is bigger than me; this is my dad’s legacy. I can’t give up,” says Uziel, who took over the family business in 2009 upon his father’s retirement.
Visit urbanbcn.com or send an email to air@urbanbcn.com for more information.
[06.09.20]
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Passenger safety has been a longtime tenet in the chauffeured transportation industry, but the COVID-19 pandemic has challenged business owners to take safety to a new level. As the world moves forward and adapts, operators in our industry are rushing to find solutions that can reassure nervous passengers while simultaneously keeping their teams and families safe without exposing them to dangerous chemicals.
PuraArmor—a company founded by industry veterans Shawn Glasgow of Peak Limousine, Eric Devlin of Premier Transportation, and Brian O’Neill, who has more than a decade of experience in bus sales and other industry products—seeks to solve that problem. After painstakingly researching and testing the various products available, the PuraArmor founders put together an all-in-one package that not only meets their own needs, but can streamline the process for fellow business owners in any industry.
“I, like every operator, was concerned about COVID. I was deep into my search for the right equipment to sanitize my vehicles for the long-term—it’s something I’ll implement forever to protect against the common cold, the flu, and COVID—when I found EMist and HydroLyte,” says Glasgow. “I know this is a system that can accommodate the cleaning needs of every black car or motorcoach service quickly, efficiently, and effectively.”
The package includes the EMist EPIX360 handheld electrostatic sprayer, which is cordless; requires only one person for application; can cover any size vehicle in just minutes; and is made in the U.S. PuraArmor pairs the sprayer with HydroLyte disinfectant, a non-toxic salt solution called hypochlorous acid that has been used safely in high-trafficked areas such as hospitals, firehouses, schools, and transit hubs for decades. The electrostatic process releases tiny droplets (75 microns) that bind to each other and coat surfaces like an armor to kill germs, fungi, and viruses in minutes. The unit is about the size of a cordless drill and weighs four pounds when the eight-ounce tank is full.
“Six months ago, no one was worrying about disinfecting vehicles. Today, nobody wants to get into one,” says O’Neill. “It’s about giving customers peace of mind that the vehicle was germ-free prior to them getting in. This is a product that applies to the masses, including residential applications, because it’s safe to use around anyone.”
Additionally, stickers to indicate that the vehicle has been sanitized are available to further reassure clients that their safety is your top priority.
Protecting their metal was also important: O’Neill also says that the hospital-grade HydroLyte solution isn’t corrosive nor will it damage or stain fabrics or sensitive electronics. Also, because the product is non-toxic, it doesn’t require protective gear like UV wands or other sanitization methods.
“The key is that the sprayer distributes the solution into all the hard-to-reach and overlooked nooks and crannies,” says Devlin, who is also using the sprayer to disinfect his office and garage. “It kills viruses in a matter of minutes.” He adds that the EMist sprayer uniformly coats the surface and wastes less disinfectant, two problems that have plagued other sprayers.
“One eight-ounce bottle covers about 4,000 square feet, which is 200 percent more than any other product on the market,” says O’Neill. “For comparison, other sprayers have a 32-ounce tank that covers just about half of what EMist can cover, so more efficiency means the savings can be astronomical.”
The partners are currently building their website at puraarmor.com. Until then, visit PuraArmor’s Facebook page, send an email to connect@puraarmor.com, or call 704.893.8100.
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The National Limousine Association (NLA), the leading nonprofit organization responsible for and dedicated to representing the interests of the private chauffeur transportation industry, recently worked with the Global Virus Network (GVN), an international coalition of medical virologists whose goal is to help the international medical community by improving the detection and management of viral diseases, to create a recommended hygienic protocol for drivers and operators amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. As the country begins to reopen and travelers look to safe modes of transportation, the NLA is dedicated to giving the general public the peace of mind that choosing ground transportation is the safest option.
The following recommended guidelines have been approved and validated by the GVN to maintain safe, healthy environments to protect NLA passengers and drivers:
- Vehicles go through a cleaning cycle with a hospital-grade disinfectant 30 minutes after completing each trip. All common areas and high-touch areas, such as armrests, door handles, lavatories, seatback screens, and seat belts, are wiped down and disinfected between trips by drivers and chauffeurs while wearing PPE and gloves.
- Where practicable, it is recommended to open the vehicle windows to minimize potential exposure.
- All drivers will be screened daily based on Centers of Disease Control (CDC) and Department of Health recommendations.
- All drivers shall use PPE as required by local, state, and CDC recommendations
- Glove wearing is promoted. Gloves are mandatory while handling luggage. Using hand sanitizer or washing hands after removing gloves is recommended.
- Safe passenger signs or placards reading “This vehicle is deep cleaned daily in accordance with the CDC recommendations” should be positioned in vehicles reflecting driver’s attention to safety.
- Hand sanitizer or wipes will be available to all drivers and guests.
- All passengers on board are required to wear face coverings.
- It is highly advisable that drivers add similar messaging to the “Terms and Conditions” portion of all email confirmations.
- Prearrival text messages should include a message reading, “XYZ Transportation cares deeply about the health of our passengers and our chauffeurs. For that reason, if anyone at the pickup location has been sick or quarantined due to COVID-19 or has been in recent close contact with someone showing COVID-19 symptoms, please contact us to reschedule your transportation to a more advantageous timeframe.
The NLA has also announced new chairs and members of two more committees for the 2020-2021 term.
These include:
Small Operator: Javaid Chaudhry of NYG Limousine (co-chair), Douglas Schwartz of Executive Ground Transportation (co-chair), Kirk Bagger of Captains Car Service, Bill Faeth of Limo University, Imran Haider of US Limo System, Kevin Mullane of Silver Oak Transportation, and Jason Taylor of Prestige Transportation.
Legislative: Matt Assolin of Nikko’s Worldwide (co-chair), Brett Barenholtz of Above All Transportation/Boston Car (co-chair), Diane Forgy of Overland Chauffeur Services, Joe Guinn of Limo & Bus Compliance, Jason Kaplan of The Driver Provider, Jason Ramsey of Prestige Worldwide, Josh Roman of Heaven on Wheels, Tim Rose of Dolphin Transportation, and Rosina Rubin of Attitude New York.
Visit limo.org for more information.
[06.09.20]