The pandemic outbreak has been a major blow to the global travel industry. Private aviation, although less affected than commercial flight, has been forced to diversify its services to maintain the number of operations. Furthermore, a shift in consumer behaviour has been registered by charter jet companies, with passengers opting to fly private thanks to a higher perceived safety and overall reliability.
What will happen with private jet travel post Covid-19? Business and pleasure flights are projected to regain shape during the third quarter of 2020, and the flexibility of this segment will allow planes to depart and land in almost any runway in the world.
Monarch Air Group projects that the same top private jet destinations prior to the pandemic outbreak will reclaim the lead in terms of activity and number of operations, thanks to their strategic locations and infrastructure.
Here, they take a closer look at the top five.
1. New York City via Teterboro Airport
Teterboro Airport is arguably the most common private jet hub in the United States and a top five option worldwide. It sits just 12 miles away from downtown Manhattan, a highly coveted destination for business and pleasure travellers alike. One of the main reasons why this terminal ranks first is almost 99 per cent of its operations are private jet based, resulting in less crowds and traffic on the runway.
2. Las Vegas via Henderson Executive Airport
Is Vegas still on your bucket list? Flying post Covid-19 might be a great idea if crowds are not your thing. Usual private jet bookings to Las Vegas are for two or three days. Whether for business or pleasure, the entertainment capital of the world brings a special vibe. Henderson Executive Airport is conveniently located only 13 miles from the city, registering more than 70,000 private aviation operations on a yearly basis.
3. Los Angeles via Van Nuys Airport
Van Nuys Airport serves the main city on the United States west coast. The Los Angeles area – famous for Hollywood, a strong sports industry and important business and tech hubs – has a huge demand for executive aviation. The terminal sits 20 miles from downtown LA and registers a whopping 200,000 movements a year. Although those numbers are pre-pandemic, charter jet companies are convinced that this destination will regain its demand sooner rather than later.
4. London via Luton Airport
London, by definition, is one of the top five destinations in Europe. When you give private jet passengers the possibility to land at a gold standard private terminal as Luton, chances are that ranking is even higher for the executive traveller. Number one in England, Luton is located 35 miles from the city centre and it’s the main hub used from private jet flights from the United States.
5. Paris via Le Bourget Airport
Europe’s most private jet hub, Le Bourget registers more than 50,000 operations a year. It’s a very safe bet to estimate that those numbers will recover, mainly thanks to Paris. The city of lights is one the world’s main destinations and private jet travellers are always seeking to avoid landing at crowded Charles de Gaulle airport. Le Bourget is also home of the International Paris Air Show, set for June 2021.
Although these are only projections, more local travel is expected overall during the initial months post-pandemic, considering commercial and private aviation as a whole. Once travellers perceive it is safe once again to travel regularly, routes will get longer and bookings more regular. Private aviation is better positioned because it allows the passenger to control almost every step of the travel process, granting clients piece of mind and reducing uncertainty.
Established in 2006, Monarch Air Group is a leading provider of on demand private jet charter, aircraft management and long-term aircraft lease. Among Monarch’s customers are Fortune 500 corporations, leading entrepreneurs, government agencies and world leading NGO’s.
