WorldCity Business Magazine

Sky Warrior: On the Medical Trail

by WC

Jonas Haeger uses South Florida as the base for his company, Surgical Team, which matches health care specialists around the world with the patients who need their services. The company makes arrangements for U.S. residents to see top Latin American specialists whose fees are more affordable, for Africans to undergo innovative procedures unavailable in their home countries and for Latin Americans to have elective surgeries that have been perfected in Europe. Haeger is on the road every other week and he says his travel is increasing.

You only put about 3,600 miles on your car each year. Do you spend all your time in planes?

I rarely drive. In many cities that I visit, taxi or public transport, especially subway, is much more efficient than renting cars. Some cities have large sections where cars don’t go, like central Milan or Stockholm, and that’s wonderful. I already spend too much

jet fuel getting around, so I try to compensate by saving some other way.

Do you have a pre-flight routine?

No, no routines. I travel very light you can get clothes washed anywhere. I just get a few things together and hop onto the plane.

Your most frequent destinations?

France, Switzerland, Chile, Argentina and Venezuela.

Any favorite eating spots?

I love good restaurants. The ones in Lyon are all excellent it’s the world’s capital for gastronomy! A good filet de perche on the edge of Lake Geneva is wonderful, or raw oysters in a corner brasserie in Paris are exquisite.

What’s your cell phone service?

I’m probably one of the few travelers who doesn’t bring a cell phone. I only use it when I’m home. People can leave messages at my office or hotel or send me an e-mail, and I’m very quick to get back to them. Also, I haven’t worn a watch for the past 10 years.

How do you pass time on a flight?

Sleep profoundly from takeoff to landing. I don’t even notice when they serve the meals.

What about the time in airports?

I read the Financial Times when it’s available. I’m still surprised that it is still so difficult to get the latest issues of foreign news publications in airports in Latin America. At the modern international airport in Santiago, there are no foreign newspapers at all.

Do you have a favorite airport?

I prefer the really tiny airports, those with only one tiny airstrip, one waiting lounge and one plane on the tarmac. One of my favorites is in St.Barthlemy in the French West Indies.

What innovation do you want most in airports?

Free wireless instant connection throughout the airport should be a must. Then there’s no hassle with going to hot spots, trying to log in or paying $10 for 24 hours’ usage when you only want two minutes of download.

Is there an airport you really dread?

Cuzco, Peru, in the fog. Also Linate in Milan is no fun in the foggy wintertime.

What’s the zaniest thing that’s ever happened to you on a business trip?

When we passengers in the lounge raided the control tower on the tarmac of the airport in Perpignan, France. The air controllers were doing temporary surprise strikes, and we had been sitting and waiting for hours. We had a brief fight with them on the stairs up to the control tower, but the police eventually came to disperse us. The good thing was that it worked. Five minutes later, we were airborne!