CEO of private jet company offers to fly stranded German tourist to World Cup game
A private-jet company has offered to rescue viral German soccer fan Freddy after weather chaos left him stranded in Oklahoma City and fearing he would miss Germany’s World Cup showdown against Ivory Coast in Toronto.The internet sensation, known on X as @FreddyLA7, sparked an outpouring of support Friday after revealing that severe weather had upended his travel plans to Canada ahead of Saturday’s Group E match at Toronto’s BMO Field.“Our connecting flight from Dallas to Canada has been canceled due to weather,” Freddy wrote.“They rebooked us on a flight tomorrow evening.
We’re gonna miss the Germany match.”The post set off a frenzy among his more than half-million followers, who immediately began crowdsourcing alternate routes, flight options and even road-trip plans to get him across the border in time for kickoff.Then came an offer that seemed straight out of a movie.“Missing the Germany match is not an option.We’ll get you to Canada!” private aviation company Airshare posted on X.John Owen, Airshare’s chief executive, doubled down on the offer.“Do it @FreddyLA7! We will get you there,” Owen wrote.Minutes later, Owen said the company was prepared to move immediately.“We told @FreddyLA7 we have the jet ready and have him covered! Just need him to reach out.”Owen then told Freddy to stay in Oklahoma City.“We’ll take you direct to Toronto on the jet in the morning,” the CEO pledged.The offer wasn’t cheap.
Based on Airshare’s publicly posted charter rates, a private flight from Oklahoma City to Toronto would likely cost tens of thousands of dollars.The company advertises rates starting at roughly $6,000 an hour for a light jet and $8,000 an hour for a super-midsize aircraft.With Oklahoma City and Toronto separated by roughly three hours of flying time, the base cost alone could easily run from about $18,000 to $24,000 before taxes, airport fees, international handling charges and other expenses.Industry estimates suggest th...