Skift Take
The need for hands-on, personalized customer service cannot be overlooked in private aviation, even as technology is disrupting the legacy business model.
There’s no symbol of luxury quite like a private jet.
Travelers skip the lines and every nuisance associated with commercial travel. Flight schedules are completely tailored to the whims of the traveler’s schedule, and there's no need to deal with other passengers.
But there are also questions around the morality and longevity of private aviation amid rising concerns of cost transparency and the impact of planes on the environment.
Despite this, the market for private aviation seems to be growing. As we reported in 2018, consumers’ shifting prioritization from ownership to access is shaking up traditional luxury markets, including private aviation. With a healthy economy and constant search for outdated markets in need of disruption, on-demand corporate flight travel is ripe for the picking.
The democratization of private aviation started with the introduction and growth of new networks, platforms, and services making private jets, or at least a seat on one, more shareable, either through fractional ownership or the ability to sell open seats.
The on-demand or sharing economy drives system efficiencies. This means greater accessibility at lower price thresholds, which makes private flights available to a broader market cohort.
The private aviation market has been ripe for disruption for some tim
