Faced with multiple connections and stopovers, a direct private flight looks ever so appealing.
London Biggin Hill AirportThe Covid-19 pandemic has changed the way millions of travelers view commercial travel. Now more than ever, the thought of crowded airport terminals and cramped aircraft cabins have led leisure travelers to consider flying private for the first time, with various private aviation providers reporting unprecedented interest among new customers.
While the longstanding incentives for choosing private jet travel—personalized VIP service, avoidance of crowds and lines, onboard social distancing, hassle-free security checks—remain unchanged, private jet industry insiders say that these elements are more desirable than ever in the face of the pandemic.
“It’s at times like these where the speed, efficiency, flexibility, and safety of private aviation comes to the fore. The ability to fly anywhere at a moment’s notice and get home quickly is proving invaluable,” says Pascal Bachmann, Raleigh, N.C.-based Jetcraft’s SVP of sales. “By avoiding large crowds of people and minimizing contact with others, private aviation can help limit the spread of infection for those who must travel.”
“During past economic downturns and adverse world events, spending on private aviation by individuals and businesses was usually one of the first expenses cut and the last to resume. Because of the inherent safety afforded by private aviation in a Covid-19 world, this time around has been different,” adds Megan Wolf, COO of Cleveland, Ohio-based Flexjet. “We are seeing record interest from those completely new to travel by private jet. Recent statistics released by McKinsey show that over 90% of people who can afford to fly privately do not, so we believe private air travel is well positioned for a continued rebound and growth.”
Another facet of the growing demand has been the cuts to commercial flights servicing various small- and mid-size cities, leaving travelers with undesirable options. Faced with multiple connections and stopovers, a direct private flight looks ever so appealing.
“Our primary demographic remains the ultra-high-net-worth individuals from all walks of life. What is different is their motivation for engaging with us,” Wolf says. “Now they are trying to avoid crowds to reduce their potential exposure to the coronavirus on top of all the other benefits to flying private, like time savings and the ability to reach more airports directly.”
Added Safety Measures
To illustrate the unprecedented steps private aviation companies have taken in response to the pandemic, Flexjet shared a long list of expanded safety measures the company has enacted. While some are straightforward and in line with various commercial airlines—every cockpit and cabin is thoroughly cleaned and disinfected after each flight, all aircraft are fully stocked with personal protective equipment kits for travelers and crew members—others demonstrate the extra steps private carriers are able to take. For example, Flexjet’s entire fleet and ground facilities have been treated with MicroShield 360 antimicrobial (which protects against the coronavirus and other pathogens that live on cabin surfaces for up to 12 months).
New Clients Who Want to Avoid Commercial
Sentient Jet’s president and CEO, Andrew Collins, reports his Massachusetts-based company saw the most new customers it has ever seen in June, with more than 50% of sales coming from first-time customers, almost double pre-Covid levels. (June 2020 had 127% growth in new customers compared to June 2019.)
Collins, who regularly speaks with current and prospective clients, says he has noticed that clients’ needs for private jet travel depend greatly on their personal lives and desire to avoid the large number of touchpoints associated with commercial travel.
“For example, one new client, who had never flown privately pre-Covid, currently lives on the West Coast and has an aging parent on the East Coast. In order to safely visit and care for her parent, she invested in a private jet card and shared that she will not be returning to commercial travel,” Collins says. “Another first-time customer shared that his wife is immunocompromised and needs to avoid crowds when traveling.”
Richard Thompson, president of Air Charter Service’s Americas division, echoed the others’ comments while revealing that his company—the world’s largest global aircraft charter broker, with 27 worldwide offices—reported a 75% increase (year-on-year) in inquiries during May and June 2020.
“Those who normally travel in first class commercially are elevating their experience with personal well-being in mind, especially for older clients who have more health concerns. It’s a more streamlined process to get from A to B,” Thompson says. “Half of our calls are from new customers.”
According to David Gitman, president of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based Monarch Air Group, his company saw an uptick in charter flights not long after President Donald Trump announced a national emergency on March 13th. “A lot from first-time fliers, mainly people traveling to their second homes,” Gitman says. “We’ve seen a large shift from business travelers and families on vacations to people that are concerned for their health.”
Monarch Air’s June 2020 performance more than doubled its June 2019 numbers, with 52% of flights last month made by first-time private fliers. (10% of Monarch’s June 2020 flights had pets on board.)
Meanwhile, New York City-based evoJets managing partner Rich Palese reports that by June 2020, his company had surpassed its entire new client total for all of 2019. “The demographic for private aviation has expanded. If only the [top] 1% was flying prior to Covid-19, likely that has grown to the top 3% or more, based on request volume,” Palese says. ”
Columbus-based NetJets, which claims to be responsible for around one in seven private jet takeoffs/landings in the U.S. on any given day, reports that new prospect calls and website inquiries have consistently increased from April onward.
“Our April YTD new lead volume was up 60% year-over-year, 100% in May, and June showed a 195% increase year-over-year, indicating continuous and growing interest,” says Pat Gallagher, president of JetJets sales, marketing and service. “We closed as many new customers in May and June of this year as we did in the first six months of 2019.”
These trends have extended across the Atlantic as well. Luxaviation UK reported a rise in inquiries and bookings for the summer months, following low activity in the springtime months to Covid-19.
“We are seeing an influx of new clients to private aviation—whether that’s chartering for the first time or buying an aircraft,” says George Galanopoulos, CEO, Luxaviation UK, based in Stapleford Tawney, Essex. “They are concerned about the health risks of flying commercially and the limited airline schedules. They want to take advantage of keeping their families safe throughout the journey and being given the freedom to fly at a time which suits them best.
Sometimes, Galanopoulos says, it’s a matter of cost efficiency. “The cost of flying business or first class has gone up on some airlines—for a family or group of friends, it can be cost effective to charter one aircraft,” he explains.
Isobel, who asked to go by first name only, from Epping, England, recently flew private for the first time with Luxaviation. She said she and her family usually fly business, but she decided to fly to Nice, France, with her three kids on a Luxaviation jet. “We just wanted to get there quickly without coming too close to other people—and that’s exactly what happened,” she explains. “There were no queues, we were able to keep within our bubble for the whole journey.”
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July 25, 2020 at 07:00PM
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In the Face of Covid-19, More Leisure Travelers Try Private Planes - Barron's
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