The Airbnb of Yachts Teams Up with the Uber of Aviation
Nantucket, MA (May 17, 2019)—A new partnership between Blade and KellyBoat will offer the ultimate air to sea excursion this summer in Nantucket, Sag Harbor and the Hamptons. Described as “uber for aviation,” Blade offers app-based transportation via seaplane or helicopter from Manhattan and Westchester to the popular summer destinations. Once there, KellyBoat connects guests with privately-owned, captained yachts for full-day, half-day and multi-day excursions.
“Time, convenience and quality of experience are at a premium for our clients,” said KellyBoat founder, Kelly Lyden. “Through this partnership, you can leave Manhattan at 4:00 and be in Nantucket for a sunset cruise.”
Tapping into consumer trends that have given rise to P2P companies like Turo and Airbnb, KellyBoat allows yacht owners to offset the ownership expenses of their luxury boats during periods when the owner is not using them. “Most of the boats in Nantucket’s harbor are used less than 10% of the summer,” said Lyden. “We connect the owners with visitors and make the entire process risk-free and seamless for both parties. Taking the hassle out of getting to the island through our partnership with Blade adds to the overall experience.”
Both companies cater to the digitally-native consumer accustomed to booking travel and experiences online. Blade offers a regular schedule of flights and also arranges crowdsourcing and charter flights, all easily booked from a smartphone. Similarly, KellyBoat’s website allows clients to view detailed descriptions and photos of the boats and reserve online. Members of KellyBoat or Blade will have special access to unique packages that include flight, hotel and yacht.
“The partnership with KellyBoat is a natural fit,” said Hunter Senning, a senior manager at Blade. “We both cater to travelers looking for an exceptional experience, and now our clients can enjoy their time on the water as much as they do their time in the air.”
About KellyBoat
Launched in the summer of 2018, KellyBoat is adding to their fleet of privately. owned boats this summer, which currently include a sleek and powerful Pershing 62, an elegant and fully-outfitted Azimut 68, and a 32-foot sport cruiser perfect for a family day at sea. Generally designed for groups of approximately 6-10, each experience is completely customizable. From evening sunset cruises to day-long family excursions, KellyBoat attends to every detail, including catered meals. KellyBoat
About BLADE
Entering their fourth summer flying between New York and Nantucket, Blade enables its users to enjoy the convenience, precision, and style of aviation with a lounge network, 24/7 flier support, and on the ground customer experience representatives. In addition to charter options, Blade offers scheduled seats on cabin class amphibious seaplanes allowing fliers to seamlessly travel on and off island in just over an hour. They also post a robust schedule of flights on executive Pilatus Turboprops between Westchester and Nantucket for those based outside the city. BLADE
Media Contact: Kelly Lyden, ksl@kellyboat.com, 508.901.9664