Private Jets: More Popular Than Ever

NetJets is responding to record demand by pushing to increase its fleet size.

there has never been a busier time for private aviation

than 2022. Record numbers of travelers have looked to fly private, commonly citing flexibility, convenience and safety as key motivating factors.

The primary cause for these increases was the widespread switch to private flying as a result of Covid-19, but various industry watchers believe it’s likely to continue even as societies move out of the pandemic phase. (92% of the members of Private Jet Card Comparisons, an online buyer’s guide to private-aviation solutions, said they would fly the same or more in 2022 compared with 2021.)

Further fueling the boom in private-jet travel is the increased demand for business aviation. WingX, a data research and consulting company that tracks the businessaviation industry, reports that 2021 was the busiest year on record for global business-jet activity, with 3.3 million business-jet flights worldwide in 2021, the most on record for a single year and 7% more than the previous high point in 2019.

More Aircraft Needed

NetJets (a Berkshire Hathaway Co.), the world’s largest private-jet company, expects the heightened flight demand for business and leisure travel to continue, as NetJets customers are flying nearly 40% more than they did prior to the pandemic (regularly exceeding 700 flights globally per day), with demand exceeding all other highs in the company’s 58-year history.

“For business travelers, NetJets believes the increase in travel is a result of the drive to return to in-person meetings,” said Patrick Gallagher, president of sales, marketing and service at NetJets. “Meanwhile, the increased demand from leisure travelers can be attributed to those who are opting for private aviation for the first time as they re-evaluate the value of the safety, security and efficiency that it offers.”

Like other industry leaders, NetJets is responding to the record demand by pushing to increase its fleet size. In 2021 the company paused aircraft disposals, pulled

Private-Jet Plans for 2022

Private-jet fliers planned to fly more in 2022 than 2021, but they are looking at new providers as the industry struggles with demand and supply-chain issues, according to research from Private Jet Card Comparisons.

Source: Private Jet Card Comparisons

41%

FLY ABOUT THE SAME AS LAST YEAR

9%

FLY LESS THAN LAST YEAR

51%

FLY MORE THAN LAST YEAR

forward deliveries where possible and exhausted all production capacity from its manufacturer partners. In November and December 2021 NetJets purchased 14 aircraft, bringing the total for the year to 55, and the company is planning on acquiring more than 75 new aircraft in 2022. To support the increase in owners and flights in 2021, NetJets recruited more than 630 new staff, including 300+ pilots, with recruiting continuing into 2022, bringing the total to nearly 4,000 pilots worldwide.

Focusing on Sustainability

Sustainability remains a key focus across the industry; in 2021 NetJets became the first private-aviation company to buy a stake in the production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) by partnering with WasteFuel®, a next-generation waste-to-fuel business that converts municipal waste into SAF. The partnership will establish up to five biorefineries; the first will be in Manila, Philippines, and is slated to be operational in 2025.

Going Above and Beyond for Passengers

In light of the record demand, private-jet companies are looking to stand out from the competition by creating guest experiences that go beyond just getting them from one place to another.

NetJets’ owner services team creates personal connections with customers while providing personalized service. Crews create experiences around emotional moments, such as decorating the cabin for a birthday, providing a special dessert for an anniversary, or lining the cabin with beach-themed gifts for a family’s vacation.

Seeing as how families with children and pets are expected to continue to use private jets more regularly in 2022, myriad operators have begun offering greater accommodations, outfitting their planes with booster seats and sleeping areas where a child can nap comfortably. A growing number of private jets feature entertainment systems designed to keep children occupied on long flights, with refreshments on-board that are healthy and appropriate for little ones. Going forward, it’s inevitable that aircraft staff will be increasingly trained to handle milk and baby food, storing it in appropriate locations that are easy for parents to access while in flight.

In-flight culinary experiences are of growing importance, too. NetJets has appealed to discerning owners departing from the New York City metro area by forging new partnerships with the renowned city restaurants Sadelle’s and Parm, as well as the legendary chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten.

40%

NetJets customers are flying nearly 40% more than they did prior to the pandemic (regularly exceeding 700 flights globally per day), with demand exceeding all other highs in the company’s 58-year history.