Financial sector fat cats have been looking underfed of late, that’s why we were relieved to hear about this newest development: helicopters that shuttle them to and from Wall Street in eight minutes flat. For $200/day Liberty Helicopters will offer group rides—accommodating up to six passengers—between New Jersey and lower Manhattan. It seems showy and wasteful, sure, but Matt Zuccaro, president of Helicopter Association International reminds us that for the business community, “Time is money.” Just think of it as cab sharing for the obscenely wealthy.
Other industry experts posit that the return of “corporate air transportation” is a sign of rejuvenation on Wall Street. "When an economy turns sour [it] seems to be one of the first things that's affected, and it's usually one of the last things to come back," transportation consultant Robert Grotell told Bloomberg News, adding that “Maybe the economic turnaround is well under way.”
The company will start out running two copter loops daily, but expects to build up to five by May. Landing pads are located at W. 30th Street and Pier 6, close-ish to some banking offices. "You have guys that are getting overwhelmed on a Friday in June and they just can't deal with the traffic," said company rep Patrick Day. "At 4 o'clock, I have a helicopter right there."
