A record number of end-client searches in the Avinode online air charter marketplace demonstrates the shift to booking charter flights online is growing rapidly. Avinode web apps and APIs have now powered 2.3 million searches, with prominent companies such as Victor and JetSmarter leading the way, the company says.

Although it was in 2010 that Avinode first enabled its clients to operate their own private consumer-facing websites and apps, the surge in booking private jets online has been over the past 18 months.

Additionally, Avinode is celebrating a second industry record: In July, half a million trip requests were sent through the system in one month. By the end of the year, Avinode predicts total trip requests will be in excess of 3.5 million, notably from its U.S. clients, who have increased in number by 20% over the past two years.

And how would you like to pay for that, sir? Avinode announced at the convention that it has also launched the PayNode service to make it easier to pay for charter flights using the American Express card at an exclusive, significantly lower processing fee than the market average. Wire bank transfer payments will be introduced next year.

Read original story on Aviation Week Network here.