What’s semi-private, you ask? It’s our new travel obsession. Not quite private and not quite commercial – it’s a Goldilocks-level flight experience for short-haul flights to the most desirable seasonal destinations. Pioneered by new travel provider Aero, we think it’s a fairly genius concept. They’ve taken ERJ-135s, customised the interiors with 16 first-class-only, hand-stitched Italian leather seats (yes, these seats may just rival the craftsmanship on your shoes), added state-of-the-art sound systems, and then set the mood with dynamic lighting. It’s a small thing, sure, but we’re particularly fond of the exteriors, which have been finished in sleek black.

But the interiors of the planes are just the icing on the itinerary cake. The real treat here is the pre- and post-flight experience. Less time spent fighting your way through an airport means more time spent on the slopes. And as we mentioned earlier, Aero has invested heavily in a concierge experience for their travellers. They will book transportation to and from the airport, help with luggage, and connect you with one of their many accommodation, restaurant, and experience partners. As their routes are currently limited – they operate out of two main hubs, London and Los Angeles, though their flagship route was originally Ibiza to Mykonos – it means they really know their stuff. This ski season, we'll be hopping aboard their flights from LA to Aspen and London to Geneva, what could be easier? They’re specialist travellers in a time when travel can seem daunting and a bit overwhelming.

If flying private (or flying at all) gets your Ms Greta Thunberg alarm bells ringing, Aero is 10 steps ahead of you there. In fact, a sustainable future is an inbuilt pillar of their business. Their fleet flies on sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), a biofuel blend that reduces emissions and, in partnership with One Tree Planted, Aero plants not one, but five trees for every ticket booked. They’re also working with the World Economic Forum to help chart a path for the aviation industry to get to net zero. It’s all part of their central mission to radically reimagine the future of air travel so that you can enjoy natural beauty during your holiday knowing that you are going some way to making the world a better place.

Over the last two years, travel has changed. Most of us wouldn’t have blinked at the thought of boarding an airtight metal tube hurtling through the air in order to enjoy a little R&R at the end of the runway. And the indignities of the airport were simply a sacrifice to the god of holidays, endurable knowing the rewards to come. But after being locked away in our homes during the pandemic, it can seem unimaginable to go back to the old ways. Giving up travel is a non-starter, however. “The pandemic has really illustrated that travel is essential to who we are as human beings,” says Aero CEO Ms Uma Subramanian. “The idea of Aero was conceived well before the pandemic. The crazy thing is: we might have built the perfect product for a post-COVID world.”

Now that you know there’s a better way, will you be able to resist taking this road literally less travelled? We’re willing to bet you won’t be able to resist the siren song of Aero. See you in Aspen…