PrivateFly’s fastest ever take-off has client airborne in 29 minutes
The private jet booking platform PrivateFly has recently clocked up a new speed record - arranging a take-off in just 29 minutes at the end of May. This is the first time the company has had a client airborne in less than half an hour.
The insight is part of PrivateFly’s latest quarterly report, Private Jet Charter Trends, which looks at the booking and flying behaviour of its global private jet customers. The private jet booking service sees over 100,000 flight searches per month on its website and app.
The new report also includes the following findings:
- Private jet customers spent 39% more per flight on average, compared to the same period last year, with £9,500 the average spent on a small jet flight, and £16,540 on a medium jet.
- Each flight had an average of 4.6 passengers onboard, an increase on last year. And 17% of them were children (under 16), up 55%.
- May 25th was the busiest day for take-offs in the Q2 period – the Thursday before the final weekend of the Cannes Film Festival and the Monaco Grand Prix. • Nice Cote d'Azur was the top destination for the first time, followed by London and Paris. Ibiza was at number four.
- While 9% of flights were booked to fly the same day (including the 29 minute take-off), overall lead times were longer, with more clients booking over 30 days in advance than previously.
Carol Cork, marketing director and co-founder of PrivateFly comments:
“Private aviation customers’ expectations around responsiveness and service are increasing, and PrivateFly’s combination of technology and expert team is evolving to meet them. We can fly at very short notice if required, and regularly do so in a matter of hours. Our previous speed record was 32 minutes, so we were thrilled to arrange a take off in less than half an hour in May.
“The client wanted to return to his home city of Dublin from Nice Cote d’Azur at very short notice to attend an event, and came to us at 14.18hrs (GMT) wanting to land before 17.00hrs. We quickly identified a suitable aircraft already in position, and he took off at 14.45, landing at 16.10.
“Other findings from our Q2 report are indicative of the increase in leisure demand in the warmer months in Europe – such as longer lead times and the destination mix. We’re also noticing a trend towards more seats being filled, including more children travelling in family groups. Customers are becoming aware that you pay the same for the whole aircraft for a private jet charter, regardless of the number of people onboard. So it becomes more cost-effective if you group up.
“We are also continuing to see increased spend per flight, up 39% this quarter compared to the same period last year. Some clients are flying for longer, and others are starting to trade up to bigger aircraft. This is an encouraging sign of returning confidence in the market, and in online booking platforms.”
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