Industry Insights

By Dan Kilkeary, SVP Sales Americas, Jetcraft

In the United States, Jetcraft has seen a tremendous uptick in demand for aircraft ownership driven by health considerations of the Covid-19 pandemic and a rise in global wealth in the financial markets. This trend is reinforced by record levels of capital raising and Initial Public Offering (IPO) activity, and buoyed by supportive public market valuations. Here are our key takeaways from the private jet boom.

Business is coming back

Business aviation users are demonstrating a pent-up desire to travel to locations that are currently being under-served by airlines. The pandemic has led to a reduction in flight routes and several US carriers have seen mass flight cancelations caused by staff shortages. Private flying in comparison regained momentum much quicker and purchasing a private jet is enabling owners to mitigate the limitations of commercial travel, reaching their destinations faster and via a more direct route.

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As an established aircraft transaction specialist, Jetcraft has a long history of finding creative solutions during times of turbulence and COVID-19 has proved no different. A key part of our success has been a deliberate decision to develop a global business structure, to ensure Jetcraft can withstand world events and continue to serve our customers.

Jetcraft is now located in more than 20 countries worldwide and our team are experts at dealing with regional aviation requirements and regulations. This ‘boots on the ground’ structure has enabled us to source and move business aircraft our clients would otherwise not have access to during the pandemic.

Forming a global structure

Jetcraft began as a predominantly North American-based organization. When Jahid Fazal-Karim, Owner and Chairman of the Board at Jetcraft, joined the company he brought a global perspective with him, guiding Jetcraft’s direction and growth strategies, and determining where staff should be located.

Since that time, we have transitioned to an expanding international corporation with the introduction of operations in Russia, Dubai, Switzerland, Asia, Turkey, Australia, Africa and the UK.

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Video: Today Jetcraft President Chad Anderson premiered the Market Forecast on YouTube where he talked through what we predict for pre-owned aircraft transaction volume and value.

12,261 pre-owned transactions representing $57.2B in revenue forecast over the next five years

Jetcraft, the world leader in business jet sales and acquisitions, is releasing its 5-Year Pre-Owned Business Aviation Market Forecast, introducing an enhanced data-driven methodology recognizing potential market opportunities and incorporating a greater number of global trends.

Jetcraft’s 2021 Market Forecast predicts pre-owned aircraft transaction volume and value will maintain their current healthy growth rates, reaching 2,647 transactions valued at $12.4B annually by 2025.

Jahid Fazal-Karim, Owner and Chairman of the Board at Jetcraft, says: “Since the pandemic, the true benefits of business aviation have been realized, particularly by new entrants who have had the means to fly privately but never previously the inclination, and we have seen our industry thrive.

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By Todd Spangler, Americas Sales Director, Jetcraft

With so many options out there, finding the right private jet for your needs can at first seem a daunting task. However, when armed with expert advice and the answers to several key questions, you can quickly narrow the field.

Most importantly, consider what types of mission you wish to fly. Will you be flying domestically, internationally or across the world? How many passengers will be traveling with you? Will you only be visiting major cities, or will you need to land at remote airfields?

Apply your answers to the six basic industry categories of business jet and you could soon be buying your first (or next) aircraft:

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This December,  Jetcraft will premier its annual Market Forecast, delivering a unique look at the pre-owned business jet market and the positive outlook for the industry through 2025.

With a new technique to fuel our data-driven approach, Jetcraft’s 2021 forecast will share predictions on total transaction volume and value, accompanied by detailed insight into changing market dynamics.

The report is set to answer key questions, including:

• How does business aviation capitalize on its post-pandemic boom?
• Will the industry maintain strong momentum into 2022 and beyond?

As the global leader in business aircraft sales, acquisitions and trades, Jetcraft evaluates past transactional data and customer insights to provide its annual analysis on the pre-owned market. The report offers a unique assessment of buyer behavior to determine business jet transaction value and volume during the next five years.

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By Danie Joubert, Vice President Sales - Africa

Interest in business jets has soared across Africa in the past 18 months. Whether responding to limited and declining airline options or pursuing the undoubted health and safety benefits of private jet travel compared to commercial flights, the business case for private aviation has gained in strength. At Jetcraft, we’re now receiving three times as many enquiries from potential new aircraft owners in Africa than before the pandemic.

Increasingly, many companies are today expanding with new business units across more countries in Africa. As a result, air travel and aircraft to suit remain essential. Demand for business jet ownership is rising dramatically across the continent, as seen in countries such as Angola, Uganda and Ghana. In Kenya, which already has a strong installed base of short-range private aircraft used for tourism, we’re seeing growing interest in larger jets for longer missions. Established markets such as Niger...

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By Chad Anderson, President, Jetcraft

In private aviation, the decision to upgrade or replace an aircraft has traditionally required an owner to sell their asset to fund their purchase, a process that often takes months and involves considerable downtime on the ground. Trade-in transactions, on the other hand, provide a swift, and seamless alternative, where the broker or dealer accepts a client’s current aircraft in exchange for another. With a trade, the owner simultaneously transitions into ownership of their new aircraft, eliminating the risk of holding and selling their asset and avoiding a costly crossover period.

Reducing transaction time and complexity

A trade-in transaction essentially combines two events – the aircraft sale and purchase. There is only one contract, and an aircraft owner will deal with one invested partner for the trade, rather than two disconnected parties with bilateral interests. Importantly, the pre-buy inspections will also occur at the same ...

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There has been much talk about the changing face of the first-time business aviation users, post-Covid-19, with clear evidence of mounting demand for private aircraft at all levels, whether via charter, card membership, fractional or outright aircraft ownership.

This had led to significant industry growth in the USA and Australia, where, due to the vast landscape, a four- or five-hour flight remains within the same domestic borders. The experience in Asia Pacific (APAC), and its key commercial locations of Hong Kong and Singapore, is different. Take off from Hong Kong and in five minutes you cross into China and Taiwan. Depart Singapore and 60 seconds later you can be in Malaysia or Indonesia. However, with many Covid-19 lockdown and quarantine requirements still in place throughout the region, such cross-border travel is difficult.

These ‘new’ constraints for business aviation sit on top of the region’s long-term infrastructure issues but despite this, my long-term view is that APAC remains on course to overtake Europe as the second biggest market after the US within the next five years.

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Our industry is experiencing a worldwide shortage of pre-owned inventory. According to the latest data from AMSTAT, 5.2% of the world’s business aircraft are for sale, the lowest rate for decades. The United States is seeing a particular increase in demand for pre-owned aircraft, fueled by pent up demand for leisure travel, and a surge in new users entering the business aviation industry through charter, jet-card and fractional platforms. At Jetcraft, we’re also witnessing first-time buyers heading straight to aircraft ownership, fueled by the disruption of airline schedules and a desire to protect the health of their ‘bubble’ during Covid-19.

Although the current climate is challenging, there are still opportunities for buyers. Here are our top recommendations.

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