Security lines have grown significantly, legroom is shrinking and personal device holders are replacing inflight entertainment screens on some airlines. Second, airlines are pulling back from less-profitable routes to smaller airports, complicating commercial travel to second-tier destinations.Īnd third, elite flyers who typically travel business class are getting fed up with some hassles of flying commercial. The newer players are capitalizing on three trends.įirst, cautious travelers are seeking ways to avoid crowded airport terminals and packed aircraft cabins during the COVID-19 pandemic. That has resulted in an increase in the accessibility to flying private through different digital platforms that connect the consumer to a private aircraft.”

“With more companies and individuals buying private aircraft, more jets are flying under capacity, so they look for different ways to offset their cost of ownership. “The private jet industry is currently booming,” says Andres Morales, executive vice president of global operations for the aviation consultation company Skyline Group MC. The latest wave of growth is just the beginning. In the space pioneered by venerable players such as NetJets and XO, nimble newcomers are redefining what we’ll call “affordable private jet luxury.” You no longer necessarily have to pay thousands of dollars per flight all you need is an app, as little as a few hundred bucks and, often, a tolerance for tiny aircraft.įor the latest travel news, deals and points and miles tips, sign up for our daily newsletter.

Today, alternatives to commercial air travel are entering the “Uber age,” making airplane travel an on-demand perk as accessible as ordering up a car. Later, other rich people realized they could buy shares in a jet instead of owning one since rare was the person who needed to use it on a daily basis. Once upon a time, extremely wealthy people bought their own planes. Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information.

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