Lawrence Hunt is an entrepreneur and was the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Silverjet Aviation Limited, a British-owned business-class airline. Silverjet suspended operations on 30 May 2008.[1]
Involved with start up businesses since 1984, Hunt has held a number of posts at various global companies. At Novell, a US technology business which listed on NASDAQ in 1987, he was the Distribution and Product manager; at BMS, a technology consulting partnership, sold to Cap Gemini in 1992, Hunt held the position of Head of Sales and Marketing; he was Sales and Marketing Director of Database Management Sciences Limited, sold to IBM in 1993; he founded Rapid Travel Solutions Limited, sold to Telewest Communications Plc in 2003; and at lowcosttravelgroup.com Limited, founded in 2004 by Paul Evans, Hunt currently is a director.
Hunt’s inspiration for Silverjet came from his own unsatisfactory experiences travelling business class, paying high prices for poor service. He felt that the traditional model of business passengers paying higher rates in order to subside the cheaper economy seats was nonsensical, and that a business-class only service, based on the single carriage model of low cost carriers, was a viable business idea.[2] With his help Silverjet was able to launch in 8 months. Innovative ideas such as a separate ladies bathroom, private terminal and carbon neutral status, enabled Silverjet to offer passengers a different experience. Silverjet won 14 awards in its first year of operation and carried over 100,000 passengers. It achieved load factors of 80% on its first aircraft and 70% across its fleet of 3 when it suspended operations in June 2008.
However, trading of Silverjet's shares on the AIM was suspended on 23 May 2008, and the company suspended operations on 30 May 2008. A reasonable and objective synopsis of Silverjet's history is found at.[3]
Hunt returned to lowcosttravelgroup (www.lowcostholidays.com) and is responsible for acquisitions.