Private Jet Travel and the Global Pandemic

The global pandemic severely affected the aviation industry, with both commercial airline travel and private jet travel declining as borders closed. But private jet travel is now seeing an increase compared to commercial travel. During the first half of 2021, private jet travel experienced slight year-on-year growth compared to commercial airline travel, which continued to decline.

Considering the fear of viral infection in a crowded airline cabin, it's not surprising that more people are resorting to private jet travel. On study indicates that, compared to commercial air travel, flying in a private jet is about 97 percent less likely to result in viral transmission. Other experts also point out that taking a commercial flight, which includes passing through a large airport, can result in 500 or more touch-points, while a private jet flight only involves around 50.

In addition to the health and safety factor, a private jet flight allows travelers to have more control and greater flexibility regarding their flights. They are less likely to experience sudden cancellations and worry when the next flight will be available. Private jet travel companies typically deal with clients in a more personal way, and actively work to accommodate passengers when issues do arise.

With borders opening, traveling by private jets for summer travel is picking up. Currently, the top destination for US private jet travelers is Europe. For one private jet company, US-to-Europe flights increased by 184 percent from July 2020 to July 2021. The top destinations for US summer travels are Spain, France, Italy, and Greece.

What is interesting to note is that the uptick in travel is not only from existing members of private jet programs and frequent private jet passengers. One private jet company reports that, in the past year, over 70 percent of new incoming applications were from people who do not regularly travel by private jet. One company projects that there will be an increase in private jet travel from people who previously traveled business class or first class on commercial flights.

In the US, there is also an increase in domestic flights using private jets. In addition, there is an increase in light and medium weight jet bookings, with these smaller jets being ideal for domestic travel. Flights between New York and Florida have seen close to a 70 percent jump from 2019 levels.

In Australia, families and friends pooling their money to travel by private jet has become more popular. The pandemic has increased the demand, as private jet travel is considered a safer alternative. Industry participants see even more families taking private jets in the future, as they can spend unrestricted time together and enjoy the safety of staying in a family bubble.

Private jet travel has always been associated with the wealthy, celebrities, and heads of state. The global pandemic has resulted in the broader use and a new appreciation of this mode of travel. This increased popularity extends to seeing sales of private jets as one of the bright spots in the aviation industry. Once considered a luxury, private jet travel is now viewed by many as a necessity.