Private jets

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How private jet operators are innovating in the age of Covid-19

Tthe current global situation is seeing wealthy customers increasingly look towards the world of private jets – allowing seamless and safe travel between destinations. Jet charter company PrivateFly says it saw an 85 per cent rise in inquiries in June compared with the equivalent weeks in 2019. It said that the Covid-19 pandemic is seeing more travel companies arranging private jets for its well-heeled customers, with travel trade partners such as Virtuoso and Black Tomato planning to introduce the service. Hannah Needs, PrivateFly’s head of partnerships, said: “With travel restrictions easing in much of Europe, we are very busy indeed with inquiries from travel agents, concierges and yacht brokers. They are telling us their clients are desperate to get away but are reluctant to fly on airlines until the risk of Covid-19 has reduced significantly – particularly those with families, or those who are older or in higher-risk groups. Agents are increasingly looking at private aviation as a solution, so holidays can go ahead safely and with peace of mind.”

Of course, it makes sense. According to Robb Report, London-based private jet broker Colibri Aircraft estimates there are around 680 fewer person-to-person touch points when flying privately as there are when using a commercial airline. Various trend-spotters, including Londonbased agency Globetrender, have noted the market is opening up to first

time customers – those who can afford private jets but have previously not seen their value when commercial business-class travel will suffice.

It has resulted in a number of partnerships, such as that of the Greek Villas company and Bookajet, which is providing customers with private jets to take them to their destination, as well as hotel-style service and bespoke travel insurance from Lloyd’s of London. As we report on p15, private jet charter company VistaJet is offering jet-to-yacht transfers so that guests can avoid exposing themselves to potential Covid-19 carriers. Guests must be able to travel to Malta and have their vessel waiting for them there in order to use the service. Ian Moore, chief commercial officer for VistaJet, said: “With a number of restrictions still in place during this time of uncertainty, those who own a yacht or are planning to charter one may be concerned about how they will reach it.”

Meanwhile, Jet Linx, which normally sells its jet card memberships on an annual basis, is offering 90-day jet cards targeted at the newto-private audience. The cost to join is just $5,000 (compared with the normal $17,500) and offers guaranteed availability at fixed hourly rates with 48 hours’ notice. The pre-set fees enable customers to avoid surges in prices during high-demand periods – something that may be increasingly likely as Covid-19 cases spike and flatten in different destinations at different times.

In March, Forbes reported that US private jet flights were down 40 per cent as borders began to close and the pre-lockdown rush to move somewhere else subsided. However, with ‘germaphobia’ a very real trend and private jet operators having played a significant role in repatriation in March and April – for example, JSX and its sister company JetSuite helped with the repatriation of 106 US citizens in one week at less than 48 hours’ notice, according to Forbes – the industry appears to not only have weathered the storm, but may emerge stronger.