“The future of air travel”: Nick Roberti joins Toronto-based air taxi startup NectAir

New year, new runway.

Nick Roberti has left the world of luxury consortiums, recently stepping down as director of global partnerships for Canada and the U.S. at Virtuoso, to join the exciting world of aviation, PAX has learned.

Roberti is now head of business development and sales for NectAir, a brand-new, Toronto-based air taxi company that provides regional flights through Ontario, Quebec, and the Northern U.S.

The “tech-enabled” startup aims to revolutionize short-distance air travel with flexible solutions.

NectAir’s point-to-point flights, which access a network of more than 1,000 regional and executive airports, use modern turboprop aircraft to bypass common travel hassles (like traffic congestion, crowds and security delays) for business and leisure customers.

Its concept puts travellers in control, allowing clients to build their own flight itinerary, around their own schedule—not the airline’s—so they can fly directly into communities, entirely on their own terms.

“It’s the first-of-its-kind service in Toronto and the next disruption in air,” said Roberti, speaking to PAX exclusively about his new role. “We’re aiming to make travel more flexible and more sustainable.”

In his new position, Roberti (who, in addition to Virtuoso, has previously worked at G Touring, The Travel Corporation and Collette) will oversee NectAir’s partnership and sales strategy.

This includes building relationships with Canadian travel advisors who have clients who prefer to fly privately. When booking, agents can choose a net rate, or build a commission into a quote, Roberti said.

Smaller airports, huge advantage

As a private carrier, NectAir specializes in same-day travel, but it can also do multi-day, depending on a clients’ needs.

It also opens access to destinations that you wouldn’t typically associate with aviation.

“We can fly out of Kitchener and land in Montreal, but we can also fly to Niagara-on-the-Lake and Muskoka. We don’t need big airstrips,” Roberti explained.

In Ontario, NectAir can fly to small towns like Collingwood, Parry Sound, Gravenhurst and Oshawa. But that just scratches the surface.

A quick look at the company’s flight map reveals hundreds of small airports, stretching across northern Ontario and Quebec, dipping into U.S. regions from Milwaukee and Detroit to Cleveland, Pittsburgh, and Buffalo, then fanning out to communities in New York and Massachusetts and reaching the eastern parts of Atlantic Canada.

At the centre of NectAir’s fleet is the Piper M700 Fury, a sleek, single-engine turboprop built for speed and efficiency.

With short-runway capability, the plane is designed for a broader network of airports, bringing customers closer to both their departure point and final destination.

“Time is valued more than ever”

The service comes as more people place greater value on their time, Roberti explained.

“Time is valued more than ever,” he said, “and choosing a private air taxi elevates the experience of flying. It saves so much time.”

And because NectAir flights are booked on request, there’s exceptional flexibility. Two-day business trips can instantly become same-day returns.

“We can pick a customer up in their hometown, they can show up 10 minutes before their flight, land in their destination, and fly home the same day,” Roberti illustrated. “The plane will wait for them. Its fully customizable.”

And because the planes are small, the price is “much more affordable than chartering your own jet,” he added.

Private vs. commercial

Quotes are available on request, but a chart on NectAir’s website comparing the company’s prices versus commercial flying gives you a rough idea of what to expect.

NectAir says a flight for up to four travellers, flying from Toronto to New York, will start from $6,500.

This option operates from more than nine airports, lets clients arrive just 10 minutes before departure, completes the trip in one hour, 30 minutes—including airport arrival and rental car pickup—and offers expedited customs clearance. 

At the other end of the spectrum, NectAir says the same route and booking on a commercial carrier costs about $3,200—but it’s limited to five airports, requires at least four hours of time, and comes with potentially long security lines, crowded terminals, and unpredictable boarding.

“More people are looking at how much time they spend commuting. We’re a fast, flexible and affordable option,” Roberti said.

Air travel, the premium way

Corporate customers make up the bulk of NectAir’s business – sales execs in mining and gold who need to get to Timmons and Sudbury, for example – but there is significant opportunity to grow into leisure.

Need a quick, stress-free flight from Toronto to New York City? NectAir will depart from Billy Bishop (YTZ), Toronto’s convenient downtown island airport, and land at Teterboro Airport in nearby New Jersey—a private facility away from the congestion of LaGuardia or JFK, for example.

While the company’s four-seat turboprops can’t carry mountains of heavy luggage, Roberti noted that ground handling solutions are available for those cases.

Another target market? Pet parents who refuse to leave Fido in cargo.

“You can bring your dog on the plane,” Roberti said.

The electrification of air travel

It’s a convenient option, but NectAir’s ambitions go beyond providing on-demand flights.

The company is notably gearing up for the electrification of air travel, which is “the future,” Roberti said.

Today’s electric air-taxi movement, led by companies like Archer and Joby, is already happening in the U.S. in big cities like Los Angeles and Miami.

Electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft are being developed for urban air mobility networks—a technology that could soon appear in Canada.

“Air is one part of the travel industry that has not yet been disrupted by tech. It has been the same for so long,” Roberti said. “This will be the next big change. I’m excited to be part of this company.”

Next destination? Parenthood

It’s a thrilling moment for Roberti, who has experience across many areas of the travel industry, but has yet to really venture into aviation.

“I’ve always been passionate about airplanes,” he said.

NectAir’s concierge-level service certainly draws similarities to Virtuoso, where Roberti previously collaborated with five-star hotels and travel advisors serving ultra-high-net-worth clientele.

He’s also found a more suitable work-life balance for himself, recently becoming a Dad.

“One thing I’ve learned from my experience so far is that this new responsibility comes with making very difficult decisions, both personally and professionally,” Roberti wrote on his LinkedIn page, where he announced his exit from Virtuoso last week.

“After 10+ incredible years of travelling the world to attend conferences, experience product, meet with clients, speak on stages and ultimately to grow my network and career, I’ve made the difficult decision to take a step back from the travelling lifestyle to be more present with my family.”

He said his time at Virtuoso allowed him to work alongside a “collaborative, complex network of the industry’s finest members and partners,” including “world-class entrepreneurs.”

“Virtuoso has opened doors into meetings with executives, partners and people that I truly admire,” he wrote. “I will always be grateful for the lessons I’ve learned and the time spent here.”

It’s tough to step away from a job you love, but priorities guide the journey.

“Being a father is the most important thing in the world,” said Roberti, “and I know I won’t ever regret the decision to be home more often.” 

Nick Roberti can now be reached at nick.roberti@flynectair.com.

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