The Top 3 Misconceptions About Flying on a Private Jet in 2021

It’s no secret that the economic disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic had a huge impact on commercial aviation.  However, the effects it had on private aviation are less well understood—or at least, they’ve been less well communicated. We’d like to take a closer look at three of the biggest misconceptions we’ve heard about flying on a private jet in 2021 and set the record straight.

1. Very few people will be flying on a private jet in 2021.

2020 was a landmark year for private aviation! The private charter jet industry was one of the year’s most impressive success stories.  While flight numbers flagged during the height of the pandemic, by the end of the year newer audiences were interested in flying on a private jet.

Commercial airlines have suffered, for sure, with passenger counts down by more than 50%. However, private air travel has already resurged to 90% of “normal” (pre-pandemic levels). Industry research has shown that companies have started flying whole teams to locations around the world in the interest of business continuity and 31% of U.S. firms are expanding their reliance on private jets for executive travel. 

2. Flying on a private jet this year is too risky for your health. 

On the contrary, a major report from Harvard University has confirmed that the risk of in-flight COVID-19 transmission is “below that of other routine activities during the pandemic, such as grocery shopping or eating out.” Another study by the DOD concluded that you’d need to “sit for 54 straight hours on an airplane to catch COVID-19 from another passenger.”

Not only has flying been demonstrated to be comparatively safe in these uncertain times, but many aircraft operators and charter firms are adopting innovative new health and safety measures. These include frequent disinfection of their aircraft and private terminals and even deploying safety programs that confirm that “every step of the journey from door to door would be verified clean.” 

The inherent safety of flying on a private jet, which helps travelers avoid crowds and further reduce potential exposure compared to commercial air travel, has even positioned the industry to appeal to a new audience: the 90% of people, according to McKinsey, who can afford to fly privately but have yet to take the opportunity.  

3. It’s too complicated to charter a private jet vs. purchase an airline ticket.

One of the biggest advantages of flying on a private jet is the flexible, customizable, fully expert service that you’ll receive from beginning to end. It may be relatively quick to book off-the-rack commercial flights, but in many ways it’s easier to charter a private jet, since you’ll have a dedicated team to take care of all the details for you while offering well-informed advice and suggestions. Not only that, but if you need changes, no one has more freedom to adjust the itinerary than folks flying on a private jet.

Even payment options in the private jet industry have more freedom to accommodate their audience.  For instance, Aviatrade recently became the first sales firm to start accepting cryptocurrency (such as Bitcoin) for the purchase of aircraft as high-profile as a $40 million Gulfstream G650ER.

Interested in Private Jet Travel? We’ll Handle the Paperwork.

Hangar 7 Aviation knows how daunting it can be to consider flying on a private jet when you’ve never done it before.  But trust us, it’s much simpler to navigate with our expert team of agents available to help. Call us and we’ll be happy to answer any questions and help you iron out a travel plan that suits your budget, timeframe, and convenience.