Tag Archive: Member stories

  1. Odyssey Airways Experiences Growth as Part 135 Operator

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    Who is Odyssey Airways

    Odyssey Airways LLC, originally established as a corporate flight department in 2006 and based in Tampa, Florida, has evolved into a trusted partner for private jet brokers seeking exceptional service and flexibility. In 2013, Odyssey Airways achieved a significant milestone when it obtained its Part 135 certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), officially becoming an on-demand air carrier. Read more about Odyssey Airways

    In 2016, they forged a valuable partnership with Avinode Group, a move that significantly streamlined their quoting workflow. “At Odyssey Airways, we understand the unique needs of private jet brokers. Our commitment to adaptability, efficiency, and collaborative technology sets us apart as a reliable partner in the world of private air travel. We invite private jet brokers to experience the Odyssey difference and discover the advantages of working with a partner dedicated to making every mission a success,” says Ryan Gucwa.

    The Situation: Expanding the business and winning deals

    Like all operators in the charter business, speed is key to success. As Odyssey transitioned from a corporate flight department to a part 135 operator, they had to build a process that included trip sheets, formal quotes, contracts, and everything else that came with chartering a flight. While their ambition was to get quotes out the door and win deals quickly, their process was still very manual.

    Ryan Gucwa, founder of Odyssey Airways, recognized that their quoting process was extremely manual and time-consuming. He would track expenses and create pricing in sheets, convert to PDF to improve its appearance, and then send the quotes via email. As they got busier, his personal life began to be impacted as he tried to get quotes out quickly.

    “I knew if I didn’t get them out quickly enough, we wouldn’t get the deal. “

    Signing up for Avinode helped the company reach a new audience and generate quotes much quicker. But with more trips came new challenges, including but not limited to managing paperwork for each trip, such as contracts, trip sheets, and more. With all this new business, it became apparent they needed to simplify and streamline their daily operations.

    The Solution: Maximize efficiency with tools designed to simplify operations

    Odyssey Airways was able to grow its business and maximize its efficiency by:

    Reaching new customer segments.

    Using Avinode allowed them to quickly reach a new subset of brokers and generate additional business that allowed them to grow their business. As the world’s largest and most advanced air charter sales and sourcing platform, Avinode is where the bizav industry connects daily.
    Join the Avinode network

    Streamlining the charter sales workflow.

    For operators of all sizes, speed is key when converting quotes to trips. As of September 2023, Odyssey Airways has sent over 12,000 quotes, an increase of 42% over the same period in 2022. With Schedaero, the team at Odyssey Airways could execute more quotes in less time than it previously took by automating and streamlining the process. Schedaero allows users to improve their workflow when converting quotes to booked trips. Thanks to this workflow, Odyssey saw an increase of 28% in booked trips from 2022.

    Get started with a more efficient workflow

    Keeping pilots informed.

    While growing, Odyssey could see how Schedaero made communications between teams easier. Once trips are booked, dispatch can inform pilots of assigned trips seamlessly via the Crew App. The app notifies pilots of the upcoming trip and provides them with all the important information, such as the passenger details, trip sheets, and itinerary. Additionally, pilots can utilize the Schedaero Crew App to update duty and flight logs on their iOS devices from anywhere. Once updated, operators can view it at any one of their bases of operations.

    Have a look at the crew app

    A workflow with integrated payments.

    Payment fraud is not unusual in the business aviation industry due to its high-value transactions and time-sensitive nature. Odyssey Airways was once the subject of attempted fraud for nearly $80,000, ending with the company closing its bank account to avoid future fraud. This experience led the company to start using Avinode Group’s integrated payment solution, Paynode. This solution provides you with online currency accounts in your name to settle payments faster. This helps keep your funds available and working for you worldwide.

    Avoid fraud with integrated payments

    Providing a better and easier booking experience.

    Odyssey Airlines highlighted a common problem in the industry: working in multiple systems to complete the booking means there are more places for payments or tasks to fall through the cracks and be forgotten. Our newest development allows users to showcase their offer to clients through a digital end-to-end experience while they keep track of bookings and payment information – all in one place.

    Existing members should reach out their CSM to learn more. New customers can get in contact with us today!

    Ryan said, “We did have some instances where we were chasing down transactions that were missed in the process. Now, it’s all gathered in one place and in an online booking experience, which means there are fewer ways for things to slip through the cracks, and that’s been helpful on our side.”

    Avinode Group is a partner in success for quoting and booking.

    “Avinode was a game-changer because it gave me the problem of having too many quotes and made me realize I was not working in an efficient way. Schedaero really helped me create trip sheets and quotes that look professional, including my terms and conditions. As the company has grown and we’ve added more pilots, I’ve realized how great it is that the Crew App helps me relay information to pilots.“

    Ryan Gucwa,
    Founder, Odyssey Airways, LLC.

    More about Odyssey Airways

    With a well-maintained fleet of four aircraft, Odyssey Airways takes pride in its unique approach to private air travel. Unlike traditional carriers, Odyssey does not adhere to rigid flight schedules. Instead, they empower their customers with the freedom to fly on their own schedules, offering unparalleled flexibility and convenience.

    Beyond their owned aircraft, Odyssey boasts an extensive network of partner aircraft, ranging from helicopters to jets. This expansive network ensures they can meet the demands of private jet brokers and their clients promptly. Whether it’s a last-minute charter request or a planned mission, Odyssey Airways is equipped to deliver on-time, reliable service to destinations across the globe.


    Ready to start improving efficiency with us?

    Everything our team does is geared towards fixing the finer points of business aviation for you and your customers. Utilizing Avinode, Schedaero, and Paynode for your charter operations keeps communication flowing between departments, from quoting to scheduling and collecting payment. Connect with us to learn how Avinode Group solutions can improve your operation.

  2. JetClub – How Paynode offers the human touch that means so much.

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    Hi, Salvatore. Please tell us a little about JetClub

    Well, JetClub is a European company created by Co-Founders Vishal Hiremath and Glenn Gonzales who started operations last year. The business has seen good growth and reputation in Europe.

    Things are going very well at the moment – we’re growing up fast. 


    As you grow it’s so important to have the best possible payment system in place

    For sure, and we knew that a traditional bank on its own was not really the answer. Sometimes it’s difficult to deal with banks when you’re a totally new company like we were in Europe. 

    We currently use Paynode and also a traditional electronic bank. It’s difficult to work with the bank because there are many issues, and each time you have to call the customer service line, they can’t help you. 

    With a bank, we don’t have the personal relationship that we need. Paynode gives us that.


    It sounds like you were looking for a payment partner more than anything

    That’s exactly right, and as the key person in the company using Paynode day-to-day, that was essential for me.

    With Paynode we found a partner and a friend. I can’t speak highly enough of Paynode staff, Brenton Melville and Evelyn Franco. From the beginning they’ve always been available to help us figure out solutions to our problems. And if they don’t know the answer, they work to find it.


    That personal service sounds particularly important to you

    Absolutely. Maybe it’s my Sicilian nature but human connection means a lot to me. I prefer to speak to a person on the phone instead of by email where possible. By talking you can understand the tone of their voice and the attitude of the person. 

    If I do have to send an email to the Paynode team, I know I won’t need to send a reminder because I’ll receive a reply quickly. Even if there’s no solution, the response will be, “Salvatore, I’m working on it for you.”


    Is there anything that Paynode can’t do that you’d like it to?

    One thing that I know is being worked on is the inclusion of bank statements. I currently have to request those, but they’re always provided quickly. Our auditor recently asked for something different from normal bank statements and the Paynode guys sorted it out, no problem. 

    Also, being able to obtain a Paynode issued credit card would be great.


    Tell me how Paynode makes your life easier

    It simply saves me time every day. For example, if I need to send a bank transfer or a wire transfer in another currency – such as Swedish Krona – I can do that in seconds. Even with currencies that we don’t use very often, I have the exchange rate there, right in front of me, immediately. 

    If I were to use our Swedish bank account to make that payment, I’d have to send an email and wait maybe two hours for a reply, then another couple of hours to complete the transaction. That’s useless if we need to land in a Swedish airport in five minutes’ time. 

    In our industry we don’t have time to wait, and with Paynode we don’t have to. 


    So, you’re happy with Paynode?

    Of course, 100%. It’s a very intuitive system and you don’t need a degree in finance to make a payment or find information easily.

    There are other companies who offer a similar product, but I have a strong bond with Paynode and the people behind it. Evelyn and Brenton have helped in so many ways and we have a mutual trust that I value. 


    Finally, can you see any reasons why people would not use Paynode?

    The big issue is that many people still think traditional banks are the only solution. The truth is that those banks are now very slow and old fashioned. 

    Convincing clients to use Paynode is not always easy, but I work hard to show them how Paynode is the perfect option. I don’t need to send the POP to prove I’ve made a payment because they receive the funds instantly. It couldn’t be simpler.

    Interested in simplifying your payments? Welcome to Paynode, your new comfort zone.