Ocean Casino in Atlantic City Launches Helicopter Service to New York City

Posted on: May 7, 2024, 12:42h. 

Last updated on: May 7, 2024, 02:36h.

Devin O'Connor @CasinoorgDevinO Read More
Expertise: Asia Pacific Gaming, Commercial Gaming, Legislation, Politics.

Ocean Casino Resort announced the liftoff of its newest amenity on Tuesday — direct helicopter service to and from New York City’s Manhattan to the Atlantic City beachfront property.

Ocean Casino Resort Atlantic City helicopter
Guests arrive at Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City via the property’s helipad. Ocean is expanding helicopter service to the resort from New York City this summer through a partnership with Blade Air Mobility. (Image: Ocean Casino Resort)

Ocean installed a helipad atop its parking garage last year. Casino reps say VIPs have been using the landing pad for many months, but the resort is launching a new commercial booking service to make helicopter travel accessible to a wider range of guests.

Our customers have enjoyed privately chartered trips since we built our helipad last year. Adding a scheduled best-in-class travel experience provides yet another fantastic amenity to our award-winning beachfront resort,” said Bill Callahan, Ocean Casino general manager.

Ocean has partnered with Blade Air Mobility, an aviation company headquartered in New York City, to provide helicopter service to the Boardwalk casino this summer. Blade will begin offering direct helicopter rides from its terminal on West 30th Street in Manhattan to Ocean on Saturday, May 25.

Quick But Costly

Manhattan to Atlantic City is about a 130-mile drive, but with traffic, the commute can take up to three hours. Blade says it can whisk riders from NYC to the New Jersey casino town in about 40 minutes.

The flight, of course, doesn’t come cheap. Blade’s online booking tool shows that rides from Chelsea near Hudson Yards to Ocean Casino Resort start at $695 per person each way. Because of weight restrictions, guests are permitted only one carry-on bag and one checked bag no heavier than 25 pounds.

For a couple to use Blade roundtrip to Atlantic City, the toll comes to about $2,800. An added benefit of using the helicopter service is that Ocean room stays receive complimentary suite upgrades. Ocean concierge also meets Blade travelers upon landing atop the parking garage.

Blade primarily caters to wealthy Manhattanites seeking an escape to the Hamptons or quick access to a nearby airport. Blade Chief Marketing Officer Roisin Branch said the company has seen an uptick in charter requests to Atlantic City in recent months, and the launch of its commercial service to the casino town will make “flights more accessible to a broader audience over the summer.”

Each Blade flight to Atlantic City can accommodate up to six passengers, meaning it will cost $4,170 to rent the helicopter exclusively each way. Moët & Chandon is co-sponsoring the Blade offering with Ocean and will provide each passenger with an exclusive champagne tumbler. Ocean overnight guests additionally receive a chilled bottle of Moët Imperial upon arrival. 

NYC Competition

Ocean partnering with Blade could be part of the casino’s initiative to secure as much VIP market share in New York as possible before casinos come to the Big Apple. New York next year is expected to determine which three casino bids win licenses for the downstate area.

Several major casino companies, including Caesars Entertainment, Wynn Resorts, and Mohegan, are proposing integrated resort casinos in Manhattan. Several others like MGM Resorts, Genting, Hard Rock, Las Vegas Sands, and Bally’s are developing bids in the five boroughs, Long Island, and Westchester.