Business Aviation – A Valuable Tool

Business aviation is sometimes described as a ‘time machine’ because of the efficiency it delivers. It also contributes significantly to the economy, creating jobs, connectivity and business opportunities that would not otherwise exist.

To fully understand the benefits of business aviation, we need to consider the role it plays for individuals, corporations and economies, alongside the data that proves the industry’s value.

Individuals

Business aviation offers control, providing flexibility over travel times and destinations that aren’t always available from airlines. When time is money, business aircraft can travel to multiple locations within the same day, maximizing productivity.

The significant value buyers are gaining from their aircraft is further underlined by our data. Usage among corporate and individual buyers has doubled since 2020, while the average flying time of 184 hours per year over the last five years demonstrates the important role jets play for people with limited time.

Corporations

The corporate buyer roared back to life post-Covid – having briefly been overtaken by individuals at the height of the pandemic. This highlights the value businesses place on jet ownership for in-person meetings, with video conferencing a poor second to face-to-face dealmaking. Privacy and security are also core benefits, with executives able to carry out work discreetly while onboard.

The flexibility of business aircraft in terms of range and landing capabilities means the limitations of commercial airports don’t apply. Travelling to fixed-base operators (FBOs) ensures corporations can land closer to their final destination, limiting onward travel time for staff and maximizing efficiency.

The economy

Business aviation supports more than 1.2 million manufacturing and service jobs in the United States, according to data from the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA), while in Europe, 459,000 jobs are either directly or indirectly dependent on business aviation, according to the European Business Aviation Association (EBAA).

The industry is also a major driver of economic output, generating €100bn each year in Europe, according to EBAA data, while in the US, it contributes to $246bn in economic output. Each business aircraft landing in the UK supports 100 jobs on average.

Bringing much needed connectivity to communities unserved by the airlines is also a significant point to consider. There are more than 5,000 public use airports in the United States, and fewer than 500 are served by commercial airlines. Meanwhile, in Europe, business aviation connects more than 1400 airports, enabling passengers to travel to three times more destinations than scheduled airlines.

This increased connectivity is a lifeline to smaller communities and rural populations, which are directly linked to big cities and manufacturing facilities as a result, providing jobs and opportunity.

With business aviation such a powerful tool – delivering significant benefits to corporations, individuals and the economy – Jetcraft is committed to helping realize this potential. We achieve this through our ‘boots on the ground’ structure and unrivalled view of the market, which means we are perfectly placed to help buyers identify the right aircraft for their mission at the best price.