But following the widely successful vaccination programme and the easing of rules around quarantine for amber-listed countries, we are starting to see positive green shoots. In addition, with the reopening of US flight routes to the UK, the private travel sector is preparing to capitalise on the opportunities for recovery.
Private travel is set to grow exponentially over the next few years as flyers have come to appreciate the comfort, convenience and increased safety and hygiene it offers.
We are already seeing increased demand from new customers, including first-time private flyers who might have previously travelled in first or business class on commercial airlines and large multigenerational families who value the safety of travelling within their “bubble”. Private airports on average have just 20 touchpoints, compared to almost 700 in commercial airports, greatly reducing any potential infection risk.
We expect the expanded UK green and amber list to provide the boost the sector needs. Interest is surging after months of pent-up demand for international travel to second homes abroad, a relaxing getaway in the sun or to spend time visiting family after months of restricted travel.
In early summer we witnessed 114% increase in private flying enquiries compared with 2019 prior to the pandemic and since the most recent update to travel restrictions, we have seen a sharp increase in demand for last-minute getaways to destinations such as the Greek islands and Croatia. We also saw a spike in enquiries for Nice after France was removed from the Amber-plus list.
There is also an opportunity here for the trade. Air Partner’s dedicated account managers work closely with tour operators and the wider travel community to offer a completely bespoke service for every client, something we are proud to have delivered for the past 60 years.
Increasingly, they are introducing customers to our JetCard programme, which was introduced during the pandemic, and allows clients to buy private jet flying hours in advance and to cancel flights with 24-hours’ notice. The JetCard 5 option is proving extremely popular, with a prepaid package of only five hours’ time, which gives travellers the flexibility required for today’s changeable travel market.
Recently we have also experienced a growing demand for pet-friendly travel arrangements. The rise in pet ownership and the increased amount of time we have spent with them in the last 18 months has led to clients increasingly wanting to take them on holiday or to stay for extended periods of time in a second home abroad. We welcome them onboard and always provide them with plenty of treats and toys to keep them entertained.
After a challenging period for the travel industry, the outlook for recovery is positive, as more countries are being added to the green or amber lists and rules are eased around quarantine. We are seeing confidence return in travel to destinations such as the Greek islands, Croatia and the Balearics. Many people are yearning to explore the world and start making memories again and we look forward to helping them on their journey.
Kevin MacNaughton is managing director, charter, Air Partner
