Meet the 'get set', the normal people using private jets to travel during the pandemic

Private jets are the preserve of moguls, movie stars and monarchs. A seat on a private plane represents a level of exclusivity and elitism topped only perhaps by a seat on Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic spaceship. But Covid-19 has changed all that. While commercial airlines struggle to operate amid global uncertainty and reduced demand, the private charter aircraft business is booming. Existing customers are using private aviation more than ever. Those who previously flew business or first class are turning to private charter as a viable alternative. And family and friends are now joining the “get set” and clubbing together to charter flights and spread costs.

This influx of new patrons has been drawn to the once exclusive mode of travel thanks to the flexibility and convenience private aircraft travel has provided through the pandemic when for many it has been the only option.

Giles Vickers-Jones is chairman and founder of SHY Aviation, which charters 1,400 flights a year from airports around the globe for a range of clients.

He explains: “It’s still the choice for high-net-worth individuals, but we are getting enquiries and bookings from a much broader range of clientele since the pandemic. This is a pattern we expect to see continuing because once you’ve flown by charter jet, it is very hard to go back.”

The reason for returning business has much to do with the level of luxury and convenience flyers experience. SHY can arrange onboard catering ranging from three-course meals from top London restaurants to fast food deliveries. Pets are not an issue. (One client travelled with her 16 cats.) Occasionally, human passengers do not even feature. Aircraft have been chartered to deliver Hermès handbags to new owners abroad and to carry gold bullion.

On-board comfort depends on the type of aircraft chartered. Trappings usually include Art Deco furniture, versatile and deep recliner chairs, a full complimentary bar, Wi-Fi, multiple plasma TV screens and an abundance of pillows, mattresses and deluxe duvets.

Giles adds: “It will always be a luxurious and aspirational way to fly, but there are also more practical considerations that are driving this new client base. Private charter is quicker, easier and you don’t spend hours in an airport terminal with thousands of other people.”

This, as Giles points out, is a key consideration for many post-pandemic travellers worried about exposure. Recent scenes at Heathrow Airport, in which passengers from a flight from red list India queued for hours next to travellers from other flights, illustrate the problems commercial aviation faces and the fears that exist. As destinations open and the world begins flying again while Covid continues to ravage parts of the globe, travelling will continue to pose risks for some.

“When you travel through a terminal in a commercial airport like Gatwick there are maybe 500 touchpoints. When you travel via charter through a private terminal there are around 50,” says Giles. “You can go wherever you want when you want from whatever airport you want. You don’t have to wait for an air route to open up. You don’t lose hours in the airport.”

And while charter flights will never compete with easyJet or Ryanair on price, they can be less expensive than you think, particularly when friends and family travel together to spread the cost. A jet to the South of France, for example, can be chartered for under £8,000. At this price range the four-passenger aircraft will cost between £1,500 and £2,000 per person.
Charter aircraft brokers are seeing an increase in group bookings. Scores of private flights headed out of UK airports to Portugal for the Champions League final in Porto recently. SHY Aviation had a dozen aircraft taking passengers from UK airports to the game.

Giles explains: “It’s a misconception that private air travel is only for the mega-wealthy. It is a luxury and is not as cost effective as flying BA, but it can certainly be less expensive than people think. We had 12 jets going to Portugal and in two there were groups of friends clubbing together. One group of 12 paid £2,500 each. All the commercial operators hiked up prices and it was impossible to get flights there. The group came back at 1am so did not have to stay overnight.”

Quarantine rules apply to all passengers, whether flying commercial or private, and charter aviation passengers are advised to enquire well before travel about the regulations that apply to destinations they are travelling to.

“We provide a full rundown of all entry and exit material needed. We are hot on the pulse of minute-by-minute travel updates, so rest assured we provide a smooth journey,” explains Giles.

Demand for business jets is expected to increase in the coming years as passengers who were forced to use charter aviation when commercial airlines grounded their aircraft during the pandemic become converts. Some charter jet brokers report a 20 per cent rise in booking from the same time in 2019 and are expecting a 100 per cent uplift next year. Orders for new private jets are also up 80 percent to satisfy the demand. Most private charter flights are booked for travel within 30 days, due to continued uncertainty over destinations.

Flying by private jet is environmentally costly. A report by campaign group Transport & Environment (T&E) published in May calculated that CO2 emissions from private jets in Europe increased by nearly a third between 2005 and 2019.

According to the findings, a four-hour private flight emits as much as the average person does in a year. While the amount of fuel burnt is a lot lower than a commercial jet, there are fewer people on board. Some estimates say private jets produce 10 times the amount of carbon per passenger.

Andrew Murphy, aviation director of T&E, said: “Flying on a private jet is probably the worst thing you can do for the environment.” The group wants fossil fuel-burning private jets to be replaced by hydrogen and electric planes by 2030. Some private jet companies are trying to address the issue. SHY Aviation, for example, offsets 100 per cent of its flights through a United Nations certified scheme.

The scheme involves calculating the carbon footprint of flights and paying per tonnage to a carbon emission brokerage, which then facilitates distributing those funds out to environmental projects. Critics of offsetting, such as Greenpeace, say the system does not reduce carbon emissions entering the atmosphere and allows companies to continue unsustainable behaviour.

If private jet travel is a little rich for your blood, there are more affordable ways to minimise exposure in airports.
Private terminal operator Signature provides a service called Elite Class at Luton for easyJet flights and for all flights at Gatwick. At a cost of £970 for two people travelling from Gatwick and £450 for two from Luton, passengers travelling by commercial airlines can enjoy all the benefits of a private terminal and avoid the masses. The service allows clients access to a private VIP lounge with dedicated security, baggage check-in and customs and immigration and car transfers to and from the lounge to the aircraft.

Guests can relax in a private suite with a glass of champagne and light refreshments prior to boarding. Safety, hygiene and flexibility with as few touchpoints as possible are paramount considerations. Without queues clients can arrive 90 minutes before departure or less for short-haul flights.

June Sebley, head of customer relations at Signature Elite Class explains: “Everything is done in the private terminal … People are cautious but they want to travel and this gives another option for those who are not quite in the private jet league. We have a 50-point checklist to make sure everything is sanitised and safe. Demand is growing and we expect it to continue growing as more countries move on to the green list.”

The verdict

The family

Miles Gilbert, 33, from Southport, works in his family’s care home business and hired a jet with his family last February to ski in France. “In the party there were four adults and four young children with lots of luggage. Covid was beginning to spread so we decided that private charter was the safest way to go” he explains. “None of us contracted the virus, which so many did during the February half term.”

The trip cost the party around £14,000 return, and since then the family have also flown to the Balearics on a chartered Pilatus PC-12 single-engine turboprop, ‘which was great value for money’ says Miles.

The nervous flyer

Tim Manna, 27, from London is a venture capitalist and uses charter aviation for holidays and business. His last trip was to Meribel, skiing with family and friends in a Challenger 850, which cost £28,000. “The experience and service is extremely different, especially when travelling with young children. It is much more personal and accommodating with food to meet needs of the fliers, plenty of space and a hassle-free airport experience. It’s just you and your party, so you don’t have to worry about kids annoying other people and the size of your luggage.

“I’m more likely to use private aviation after the pandemic because it’s cleaner and quicker. As a nervous flyer, I also like the fact that I can talk to the pilot, which I find comforting.”

For more information, see shyaviation.com and signatureeliteclass.com