VistaJet
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Thomas Flohr, the 65-year-old founder, chairman, and CEO of VistaJet, based in St. Moritz, Switzerland, about his daily routine. It’s been edited for length and clarity.
I started my career at a Chicago-based technology firm in 1985 and rose through the ranks. I later acquired most of the company’s European operations through my company, Comprendium Investment.
My frequent business travel in the early 2000s exposed me to the shortcomings of private aviation. At the time, I found the private jet experience to be inconsistent and underwhelming. The service quality didn’t match the level of luxury that clients paying $10,000 to $15,000 an hour expected. I didn’t see a good solution in the market and initially thought about paying for fractional jet ownership before deciding against it.
After exploring all other options, I bought a Learjet 60 in 2003, and that plane became the foundation for starting VistaJet in 2004. Vista is a private aviation subscription service that provides access to over 270 customized business jets for clients in 187 countries.
My primary job is building client relationships and setting the company’s strategic direction. Here’s what a typical day in my life looks like.
8 a.m. — Coffee, quiet time, and clearing my inbox
Our company is headquartered in Dubai, but I travel frequently and usually work from any of our 25 offices worldwide, including my home office in St. Moritz. I wake up at different times, depending on where I am. If I’m in America, I start earlier to sync with Europe. In the Middle East, I work late into the night to overlap with American and European business hours.
In St. Moritz, my mornings start around 8 a.m. I shower, grab coffee, and ease into the day. I don’t eat breakfast.
I prefer not to reach for my phone right away. About 45 minutes after my coffee, I’ll respond to overnight emails and messages before diving into the day’s activities.
9 a.m. — Home, office, hotel, or en route
I maintain several offices in different locations so my executives can use them when I’m not around. If I’m home, I’ll work from my home office. If I’m on the road, I’ll work on the plane or at my destination.
Sometimes, I work from the hotel in the morning and knock out key business tasks. If I’m in Dubai, London, New York, or a city with a VistaJet office, I’ll head there in the afternoon for team and client meetings.
I often sit where the action is with the team or join executive committee members in their offices.
10 a.m. — Clients, above all else
I prioritize client meetings before internal ones and don’t believe internal meetings should take more than 20 to 30 minutes unless there’s a compelling reason.
When clients call me directly, it’s usually because they’re about to make a significant decision, like buying a plane or finalizing a global flight plan. I also work on product development, brainstorming new services and product feature updates between calls and meetings.
As a founder, I’m still very hands-on, and I’m in constant communication with my finance and operations teams.
12:30 p.m. — Light and simple healthy lunch
For lunch, I keep it very light and healthy. I usually eat vegetable soup, a fruit platter, or a light Japanese sashimi dish.
If I’m having a client lunch meeting, I prefer to eat at restaurants that use high-quality ingredients. Some of my favorite restaurants include Scott’s in Mayfair, London, and Gaia in Dubai. When I eat out, I mostly get grilled seafood and boiled potatoes — nothing fancy.
2 p.m. — Creative solutions to global logistics challenges
The afternoon often means syncing with our US and European teams. In our business, there’s no shortage of unusual requests that require creative solutions. One memorable request involved helping a client run three marathons on three continents in one week. It was a significant logistical undertaking, but we successfully pulled it off for the client.
Another request involved helping a corporate client coordinate the flight of executives from four continents to a board meeting in India, ensuring they all arrived precisely on time and returned home safely afterward.
4:30 p.m. — A brief break to recharge
If there’s a gap between meetings, I’ll take a 10-15-minute break to walk outside and get some fresh air. I try to prioritize these short breaks to clear my head and reset, but most of the time, the day runs nonstop.
6 p.m. — Daily exercise as business preparation
By 6 or 6:30 p.m., I head to the gym and spend an hour training. Once I’m done working out, I hit the steam room for 15 to 20 minutes to relax and recover. Staying fit keeps me sharp.
I’m a firm believer in an integrated life. I don’t view work and life as separate entities that need to be balanced against each other. Instead, I see everything in life as one endurance effort, whether in business or sports like car racing.
8:30 p.m. — Dinner and a little bowling
The time I eat dinner varies depending on my location. In some countries, I eat at 7 p.m.; in others, at 9 or 9:30 p.m. I adapt to the time zone and cultural norms. When I’m home, I eat dinner around 8:30 p.m., but I’m always available for client calls if needed.
I enjoy cooking and dining with friends and family. I have a bowling alley in my home, so we head downstairs for a few rounds after dinner. It’s a great way to unwind and stir up friendly competition.
11 p.m. — Winding down with classical music or late ’70s and early ’80s rock
With so much digital stimulation during the day, I avoid screens at night. I don’t watch TV, but I listen to classical music or rock from the late ’70s and early ’80s before bed.
I usually fall asleep around 11:30 p.m., sleeping seven hours on weeknights and nine on weekends.
Weekends — Markets and nature
Despite flying around 500 hours annually, I make time for things I enjoy. I’m a big fan of simple living and doing things in nature, like walking, hiking, and shopping at my local market for fruits and vegetables.