“Passengers are willing to splurge more for their peace of mind. For many [of them], a private flight may be the first aircraft they have stepped on in 2020 and the best way to jet off to a much-needed break,” he added.
Commercial airlines have been burning through cash since the onset of the pandemic due to plummeting passenger numbers. Air traffic started to pick up in recent months from their lowest levels during the March lockdown, but recovery has been weaker than expected and there are concerns that more carriers are expected to fold.
Private aviation
The private aviation sector, however, has been seeing a smaller disruption compared to their commercial peers, with demand for flights from businesses and residents rising since the easing of restrictions, according to Ghorbani.
“We foresee [that] private charter will increase until commercial flights are back to normal, which could take two to four years,” Ghorbani told Zawya.
Most of these flights, which could easily cost around $6,500 to $8,000 per hour, have been booked for essential business trips as well as for medical reasons, he added. Customers in the region have booked the private flights for trips between the Middle East and Europe as well as Africa.
Fleets being utilised for the private trips are heavy jets that can accommodate 10 to 13 people, usually booked for business trips, as well as ultra-long-range aircraft with 14 to 19 seats, popular among customers on business and diplomatic missions.
“[The] average price [these customers pay are] based hourly, depending on the type of aircraft. For heavy jets, the price would range from $6,500 to $8,000 per hour,” Ghorbani said.