What role will private jet availability play in 2022?

Private aviation surpassed all expectations in 2021. Globally, according to WingX data, 3.3m flights were operated last year, 7% higher than pre-Covid 2019. Two main reasons justify that trend: hygiene uncertainties surrounding the pandemic and an extended collapse for commercial aviation.

Furthermore, those numbers were even more impressive at the end of 2021 compared to the previous peak in 2019, with a global surge of 23%. Those numbers were even more astonishing for the domestic market in the US, with 46% more operations than two years ago thanks to the Christmas and New Year period.

A historic year for private jet activity, however, exposed a lack of private jets in the market thus compromising one of the industry’s main traits: availability. The reliability of the market, or the lack of it, is an issue that must be fixed moving forward by the main players in the industry, especially considering that private aviation demonstrated that its controlled process regarding hygiene during a pandemic, is a coveted asset.

Can availability of private jets be secured for clients? Not entirely, although Martin Baldoma Jones, CEO, and co-founder of Welojets has a vision of how the industry can cope with such potential shortages, as it expects even more demand than in 2021.

“Planning. That key word for passengers and companies alike will be paramount for 2022. It helps having access to over 7,000 aircraft worldwide, as Welojets does, although leaving travel arrangements for last minute will result in a challenge to accommodate to all requests, especially type of aircraft, says Baldoma.”

Impact of lack of private jet availability

Furthermore, as operators place orders for new jets, the delays by manufacturers have also impacted the equation, with fewer used aircraft, increased disruptions for spare parts due to reduced cargo airliners in the sky, and more owners opting to use their aircraft more, or lending it to their families and friends, and chartering less. You can imagine what this means for jet card programs worldwide, who strive on market excess, as they adapt their offering to an on-demand stance.

The challenge continues on the maintenance side of the runway, as an aircraft that wasn’t scheduled until March for maintenance has to be taken care of now. Spoiler alert: MRO’s are also booked. Now that’s a headache for operators . . .

Back to planning. As Baldoma Jones stated, looking ahead is a quick and safe fix to tackle the increased demand for clients and especially private jet providers. The solution depends on the capability of the entire ecosystem to find new ways to maintain a seamless service without impacting the perception of the first-time and frequent flyers. Is it too late for that?

“The perception surrounding private aviation as a flexible service has not been entirely impacted yet. The increasing number of requests and demand is a solid indicator that supports that notion. And while controlling to a large extent the experience of a flight is the main promise made by a charter company, with today’s demand, it is paramount to set the expectations clearly with customers, while maintaining an open line of communication to reduce any uncertainties regarding their next flight, says Baldoma.

In essence, availability will play a major role in the private jet industry in 2022, as all experts are predicting that demand will continue an upward trend. This is a great opportunity and challenge for the industry, as it seeks to continue delivering a consistent service with less aircraft in the market and more demand.

“It is a happy problem that requires a multilayered approach, and at Welojets we are committed to become part of the solution as a global private jet provider”, concluded Baldoma Jones.

launch.welojets.com

BlueSky Business Aviation News | 27th January 2022 | Issue #638

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