Richard Zaher, Founder & CEO of Paramount Business Jets on 20 Years of Private Aviation Excellence
To mark the 20th anniversary of Paramount Business Jets in 2025, LUXUO sat down with founder and CEO Richard Zaher to reflect on two decades of transformative leadership in private aviation. A former pilot and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University alumnus, Zaher launched the company in 2005 from his New York City apartment with a mission to bring transparency, accountability and excellence to the private jet charter brokerage sector — an industry segment long defined by opacity and inconsistency. Here’s what he shared.
Congratulations on 20 years! Looking back, what were the key milestones that shaped your company into the leader it is today?
In 2008, we made a pivotal decision to build our proprietary CRM system — a move that proved invaluable when the pandemic struck. While competitors scrambled, we operated seamlessly, maintaining full business continuity.
In 2013, we were ranked No. 409 on the Inc. 5000 list with 1,093 percent three-year growth. We had been so focused on execution that we didn’t realize the scale of our success until that recognition.
The true test came in March 2020. Every flight was canceled – millions in revenue vanished overnight. Yet, within a month, we doubled our bookings. Our strength emerged in flexibility and resourcefulness: we delivered doctors, COVID test kits, and medical equipment to remote islands; we repatriated families and rescued teams using aircraft in operational regions while traditional routes were grounded. These crises didn’t just sustain us – they made us stronger, smarter, and more resilient.
Private aviation has evolved dramatically over the past two decades. How has your company stayed ahead of the curve in innovation, safety, and customer experience?
Paramount Business Jets has developed the industry’s most sophisticated charter booking platform, enabling our global team to deliver precision, 24/7 VIP service with unmatched efficiency. To begin the charter booking process clients are invited to our private jet charter service page to submit their itinerary and receive instant charter flight cost estimates.
On safety, we exceed FAA minimums by a wide margin. Every aircraft comes from our pre-approved global fleet – the top 10 percent of safest charter operators. Before each flight, the crew, aircraft, and operator undergo real-time third-party audits by ARGUS and/or Wyvern. If a report returns anything less than green, we mandate immediate replacement with an asset meeting or exceeding ARGUS Gold standards.
This fusion of elite human talent — advisors with decades of experience — and cutting-edge technology creates the perfect balance. Our consistent 5-star client ratings across platforms confirm we’re not just meeting expectations — we’re redefining them. For full transparency on pricing and value, clients often refer to our private jet rental cost guide, which breaks down every factor of renting a private jet as well as influencing charter rates.
Can you tell us about a time when your team went above and beyond to deliver under unexpected circumstances?
Our team turns pressure into performance. Here are three recent examples:
Last-Minute Lifeline: A client landed on a commercial flight and needed to reach a remote location immediately. Advisor Andrew R. booked a jet while the client was still in transit, arranged an Uber to the FBO, and had a pilot waiting at the door. A car was pre-positioned at the destination. The client departed within minutes of arrival – no delays, no stress.
Airport Slot Crisis: A mission-critical flight faced a blocked slot at the preferred airport. Advisor Joella pivoted instantly to an equally convenient FBO at no extra cost, personally checking in before departure, upon arrival, and post-flight. The client called it “flawless execution under fire.”
Dream Relocation with Dogs: A family relocating to Costa Rica with three giant breed dogs faced logistical nightmares. Andrew R. orchestrated every detail- door-to-door transport, customs paperwork, a light jet with champagne, and rentals waiting on both ends. The client wrote: “You made the price worth every penny. You treated us like royalty on a modest budget.”
These aren’t exceptions – they’re the Paramount standard.
Your clientele spans entrepreneurs, celebrities, and global executives. How does your team prepare for the vastly different needs and travel patterns of such diverse flyers?
We hire only the most experienced and ethical aviation advisors – some with over 15 years at Paramount. Weekly training keeps them at the forefront of industry knowledge. Every flight generates detailed client feedback on aircraft, crew, and service, which we integrate into our real-time database to refine future recommendations.
Our team has decades of VVIP expertise – serving A-list actors, recording artists, professional athletes, Fortune 500 CEOs, heads of state, and legacy families. Whether it’s a tech founder needing back-to-back transcontinental meetings, a performer requiring total privacy, or a multinational executive demanding biometric customs and circadian lighting, we anticipate, adapt, and deliver — flawlessly, every time.
Sustainability is a growing conversation in private aviation. What concrete steps has your company taken towards more eco-responsible flying?
In 2019, we launched the industry’s first instant carbon offset calculator – reducing a multi-day process to just two minutes. We then made it open-source, freely available for any operator or broker to install on their website. This single act has empowered the entire industry — including competitors — to make sustainability accessible and immediate.
Clients now see offset options embedded in every quote, with transparent pricing and direct donations to verified carbon-reduction projects. It’s not marketing – it’s measurable impact. Learn more at paramountbusinessjets.com.
Beyond travel, how do you integrate lifestyle services — like concierge support, in-flight dining, or exclusive event access — into the client experience?
We deliver true door-to-door luxury. Executive ground transportation is tailored to passenger count and comfort preferences — sedans, SUVs, or VIP vans — with live tracking until the client reaches their final destination.
En route, clients can order from any local restaurant; we collect and board their meal exactly to their preference. Through strategic partnerships with ultra-luxury yacht charter operators and VIP resorts worldwide, we secure exclusive accommodations, priority access, and preferential rates – transforming a flight into the gateway of a seamless, elevated journey.
What’s the most surprising or misunderstood aspect of running a private jet company that outsiders rarely grasp?
The glamour is a myth. We spend 99 percent of our time in front of screens and on phones – coordinating, auditing, negotiating, and problem-solving in real time. We rarely fly privately ourselves. The real work happens in the operations center, not the cabin.
What advice would you give to a younger version of yourself – or a startup in the luxury aviation space – based on what you’ve learned from 20 years at the helm?
Hang in there. Building a trusted brand in this industry is an ultra-marathon, not a sprint. Stay ethical when it’s inconvenient. Invest in systems early. Surround yourself with people smarter than you. And never confuse revenue with reputation – one compromises the other.
What emerging technologies or trends are you most excited about in the next 5 – 10 years of private aviation?
Vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft will revolutionise urban mobility – quiet, electric, zero-emission hops between city centers in minutes. Combined with AI-driven predictive routing, biometric security, and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) at scale, we’re entering an era where private aviation becomes faster, greener, and more integrated into daily life.
As you look to the future, what legacy do you hope your company will leave in the private aviation space?
That a recent college graduate with a vision proved you can transform an industry’s reputation – building a profitable, fast-growing company that never compromised on ethics, safety, or client value. I want Paramount to be remembered as the benchmark: where transparency, innovation, and integrity became the standard, not the exception.
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